Judith butler bodies that matter pdf

In the first chapter, Butler explores the necessity of questioning philosophical discourse from a contemporary feminist position.

Feminist theory takes a critical stance toward what is called “idealism” in poststructuralist philosophy, which focuses on discourse as the dominant category worthy of study.

Judith butler bodies that matter pdf

Butler also notes that poststructuralism’s position regarding the body is problematic due to an understanding of materiality as subordinate to discourse—elevating mind over matter.

However, Butler is also critical of the feminist focus on the female body, urging a broader investigation of exclusionary mechanisms and power dynamics that shape feminist discussions around the category of “women” and the concept of materiality.

Moving away from a simplistic understanding of cultural construction, Butler proposes investigating the specificity of the process of construction. Alon