11.1, 11.2of ch. 11 & ch 12 & ch 13 of History and Philosophy of the Humanities
by Leezenberg 2018
& Gender Treouble by Judith Bulter 1990
Lecture
Relationship between science and gender theory
Main focus is demonstrating oppression of women In and by scientific knowledge
Theorization of gender
Butler applies Austin and Wittgenstein to gender identity
Meaning of words determined in use
Category of women, subject of feminism, are restrained by institutions emancipation
is sought for
Gender identity is interwoven with institutions and practices of power
Phallogocentrism: privilege of masculinity of speech, writing, thinking
Heterosexual matrix
1. Gender is distinguished from biological sex (p. 318). Explain this distinction.
Gender: different social and cultural roles, norms, traits ascribed to men and woman based
on their biological sex
Sex: biological characteristics between men and women
butler disagrees and says also sex is coded, no such thing as sex, sex as effect of
apparatus of cultural construction designated by gender
2. Explain the meaning of the term gender metaphor (p. 320).
Characterization, representation, imagination of things or phenomena as typically masculine
or feminine
Gender identity and gender metaphor are getting more varied there is more in between
3. Evelyn Fox Keller argued that understanding the development of modern science
requires paying attention to the role of gender metaphors in science. One
example of Fox Keller, discussed in Leezenberg (2018, pp. 323), concerns the
17th century view on witchcraft by mechanist’ philosophers and scientists. Explain
how this example illustrates the role of gender metaphors in science.
Witchcraft as the work of the devil, deriving from women´s lust interacting with the devil. This
is a gender metaphor concerning female sexuality, claiming that due to the carnal lust of
women they interact with devil and practice witchcraft.
In 17th century, it was said that science should be masculine
4. What does Judith Butler mean with the term heterosexual matrix (p. 329)?
The normative assumptions that people as normative beings are naturally heterosexual and
that this assumption functions in science and society. Heterosexuality as normal and
anything else as abnormal
5. According to Judith Butler, gender identities are performative (p. 329). What
does this mean?
by Leezenberg 2018
& Gender Treouble by Judith Bulter 1990
Lecture
Relationship between science and gender theory
Main focus is demonstrating oppression of women In and by scientific knowledge
Theorization of gender
Butler applies Austin and Wittgenstein to gender identity
Meaning of words determined in use
Category of women, subject of feminism, are restrained by institutions emancipation
is sought for
Gender identity is interwoven with institutions and practices of power
Phallogocentrism: privilege of masculinity of speech, writing, thinking
Heterosexual matrix
1. Gender is distinguished from biological sex (p. 318). Explain this distinction.
Gender: different social and cultural roles, norms, traits ascribed to men and woman based
on their biological sex
Sex: biological characteristics between men and women
butler disagrees and says also sex is coded, no such thing as sex, sex as effect of
apparatus of cultural construction designated by gender
2. Explain the meaning of the term gender metaphor (p. 320).
Characterization, representation, imagination of things or phenomena as typically masculine
or feminine
Gender identity and gender metaphor are getting more varied there is more in between
3. Evelyn Fox Keller argued that understanding the development of modern science
requires paying attention to the role of gender metaphors in science. One
example of Fox Keller, discussed in Leezenberg (2018, pp. 323), concerns the
17th century view on witchcraft by mechanist’ philosophers and scientists. Explain
how this example illustrates the role of gender metaphors in science.
Witchcraft as the work of the devil, deriving from women´s lust interacting with the devil. This
is a gender metaphor concerning female sexuality, claiming that due to the carnal lust of
women they interact with devil and practice witchcraft.
In 17th century, it was said that science should be masculine
4. What does Judith Butler mean with the term heterosexual matrix (p. 329)?
The normative assumptions that people as normative beings are naturally heterosexual and
that this assumption functions in science and society. Heterosexuality as normal and
anything else as abnormal
5. According to Judith Butler, gender identities are performative (p. 329). What
does this mean?
