Judith Butler (gender theorist)

Judith Butler is a gender theorist known for her idea that gender is not a fixed trait but a social construct shaped by cultural, social, and personal factors. She argues that gender roles and identities are performative, meaning they are repeated behaviors and expressions rather than innate qualities. Butler emphasizes that these performances create the illusion of a natural gender, challenging traditional views of gender as binary or biological. Her work encourages understanding gender as fluid and dynamic, highlighting the importance of individual experience and social context in shaping gender identity.