Gendered Discourse and the Social Formation of Identity

Summary

This unit explores the concept of gender as a social and discursive construction, rather than a fixed biological reality. The essentialist perspective views gender roles as innate and unchanging for instance, the assumption that boys are naturally strong and girls are inherently gentle. In contrast, thinkers like Judith Butler challenge this view, proposing that gender is not something we are, but something we do. Through her theory of performativity, Butler argues that we become “men” or “women” by continually enacting socially prescribed behaviors, speech patterns, and gestures. This echoes Simone de Beauvoir’s famous assertion that “One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman.”

Language plays a key role in sustaining these roles across media, education, and daily interaction. Scholars like Penelope Eckert further highlight the fluidity of identity, noting that we continually move between different social roles—such as student, sibling, or professional often adjusting our language and demeanor unconsciously in each context.

Reflection

Before engaging with this material, I hadn’t fully questioned how much of what we consider “feminine” or “masculine” is learned and reinforced rather than innate. I tended to accept gender differences as natural, until I began noticing how language perpetuates certain expectations whether through being reminded as a girl to sit “like a lady,” or observing how assertiveness is received differently depending on who expresses it. Once this lens clicked into place, I started seeing gender performance in everything: from TikTok trends and advertising to classroom dynamics and casual conversation.

This topic felt especially relevant because of my own background. Coming from Chitral, where traditional expectations around women’s speech and conduct are prominent, and now studying in a university environment that encourages vocal participation and assertiveness, I’ve become acutely aware of how I adjust my self-presentation between these spaces. It’s more than just switching languages; it involves shifts in tone, posture, and even the degree of confidence I project. I never used to think of this adaptation as “performativity,” but now the concept clarifies so much of my daily experience.

Ultimately, I found this perspective empowering. If gender is performed, it means it can also be reinterpreted, reimagined, and reshaped. Understanding this has given me a greater sense of agency in how I present myself across different contexts. This wasn’t just theoretical learning it prompted me to reflect on how I’ve been taught to “be” a woman, and to recognize the profound role language plays in shaping that ongoing performance.