“There is no gender identity behind the expressions of gender; identity is performatively constituted by the very 'expressions' that are said to be its results.”
What this quote means
Butler deepens her reflection: gender identity is not a cause but an effect. It is not our expressions that stem from who we are; it is by repeating them that we become who we are. In other words, we are not born men or women, we become them through our daily acts. This perspective demystifies identity: it is not set in stone but shaped by our choices. It encourages us to explore different ways of being, without fear of betraying an essence that does not exist.
How to apply it daily
Consider a gender expression you adopt out of habit. Try another, even modestly, and observe how it changes your inner feeling.
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