What is Gender?

Judith Butler says: '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.' (Gender Trouble, p. 25). In other words, gender is a performance; it's what you do at particular times, rather than a universal who you are.


Butler argues that we all put on a gender performance, whether traditional or not, anyway, and so it is not a question of whether to do a gender performance, but what form that performance will take. 

Therefore Gender is an Act 

http://www.mediaknowall.com/as_alevel/alevkeyconcepts/alevelkeycon.php?pageID=gender

‘Male’ Gender Traits	‘Female’ Gender Traits
Independent	Dependent
Rational	Irrational
Rough	Gentle
Nasty	Nice
Brave	Cowardly
Insensitive	Sensitive
Aggressive	Placid
Competitive	Co-operative
Physical	Emotional
Disobedient	Obedient
Active	Passive
Unhappy	Happy
Assertive	Unassertive
Confident	Unconfident
Uncaring	Caring