Gender Roles In Butler's Gender Trouble

Society has created a set of norms and standards which imply that you are supposed to behave, dress, and do things based on your gender. However, Queer theorist, Judith Butler, does not agree with society. Instead, Butler believes that gender roles are not biologically constructed. Butler’s 1990 novel Gender Trouble, examines the extent to which gender and sexuality are performative. Butler’s concept of performative gender is depicted in Michael Chabon’s novel Summerland. The fantasy novel revolves around the protagonist, Ethan, and his friends, who all play baseball and must stop the Coyote from ending the world. In order to stop the trickster god Coyote, Ethan travels through Summerland with a small troupe of friends, playing baseball in
is a girl who enjoys playing baseball which is not a sport society would associate with girls. Girls are usually affiliated with gentle sports such as softball, which does not require much upper body strength or the possibility of getting hit with a hard ball. Butler’s concept of performative gender argues that gender roles are socially constructed by society. Butler believes that gender is performative and does not determine who you are. Chabon portrays Jennifer T. as opposite of what society would expect from a girl. Although Jennifer T. is a female, she enjoys activities that society does not label normal for her gender. In fact, she is the best player and performs better than the boys on the baseball
Feld insisted on maintaining the family tradition although he could not make the pancakes the way his wife cooked them. Mr. Feld’s change of gender roles supports Butler’s claim that gender is performed. Mr. Feld attempted to perform in the manner which was natural for his wife being that she was a woman.
Through Mr. Feld, Chabon shows how a man can perform the roles ascribed to a woman and remain a man. Butler believes that gender is not inherited and one must be taught how to perform their gender. Butler claims that gender is not who you are, it is something you do. Cooking pancakes for himself and Ethan does not make Mr. Feld any less of a man. Society says that women are supposed to cook for her family however, Mr. Feld takes on Dr. Felds’ responsibilities in order to take care of his son.
Jennifer T., Ethan, and Mr. Feld are all female and male regardless of their behavior and attitudes in the novel towards baseball and other characters. Judith Butler examines the idea of gender identity and gender roles. She does not like to associate gender to specific roles which society has constructed us to believe is normal. Rather, Butler challenges the idea and creates a different approach on the issue. Jennifer T. is the best baseball player on a team popular for boys, but she is also sensitive and cares about her friends especially, Ethan. The protagonist, Ethan, is a young boy who does not play baseball well, but he feels the need to protect Jennifer T. and save his helpless