Vartanian 1

Tina Vartanian
John Kubler
English 114B
23 March 2013
Gendered Identity Construction: Annotated Bibliography
Because there is neither an 'essence' that gender ex- presses or externalizes nor an
objective ideal to which gender aspires; because gender is not a fact, the various acts of gender
creates the idea of gender, and without those acts, there would be no gender at all (242
Butler). According to Judith Butler, author of Performative Acts and Gender Constitution: An
Essay in Phenomenology and Feminist Theory gender is only an allusion. In other words what
society considers gender to be, is simply the idea that we have created for each gender.
Although many people believe that gender is something that you are born with and sexuality is
either gay or straight, others believe that gender can be altered or constructed and sexuality
goes beyond the two most common sexual orientations. Personally, I have not yet decided on
which group I would fall into because of the evidence and knowledge I have acquired on the
subject.
In our current society, we have different influential factors that lead us to a certain image
or point of view, and we unconsciously follow their lead. One of the main influences, especially
in the younger generations, is the media. The media can be categorized into many different
sections from: advertisements, television shows, movies, radio and even some articles or blogs.
The media covers essentially all topics that are of current issue or concern. In the past 15 years
the topic of sexuality has been very popular. The term sexuality has so many different branches
such as heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, transgender, drag, pansexual and the list goes on
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and on. The topics that are newer to the public such as transgender and drag are getting a lot of
attention.

Butler, Judith. "Performative Acts and Gender Constitution: An Essay in Phenomenology and
Feminist
Theory." JSTOR. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2014.
This article questions the idea of gender and what it really means. It also gives reasonings as to
why our society feels comfortable in certain situations. I can use this perspective to show the
reader that gender is an idea created by the individual and it can be changed or altered.

To Wong Fu. 20. Mar. 2014.
This movie shows the reader the journey of three drag queens and the struggles they face with
fear of acceptance. When they finally are accepted they show the joy and how they do not harm
anyone but rather help others. I can use their journey to pinpoint certain scenes and use it to my
argument.

"A Girl Like Me The Gwen Araujo Story." YouTube. YouTube, 05 Mar. 2013. Web. 26 Mar.
2014.
A true story based on events that happened to Gwen. It tells the story of her gender construction
and her fight against acceptance. I will use this as a reference to other transgendered individuals.