Posted by Tamar on July 25, 2005, at 18:05:21
In reply to Re: gender differences, posted by Dinah on July 23, 2005, at 18:09:14
About gender differences…
I’ve read a bit of evolutionary psychology, and it can be quite fun. But I’d like to suggest another possibility: I’m quite interested in the work of Judith Butler… (e.g. "Gender Trouble" which might be hard reading, but IMHO ultimately worthwhile).
It seems to me that evolutionary psychology seems to assume that gender is essential, whereas Butler argues that gender is performative. I think the distinction is crucial, especially in an online forum, because here we are all performing our identities to some extent.
So I tend to think that none of us actually ARE male or female, but we might behave in ways that are intended to suggest masculinity of femininity. (I’m oversimplifying wildly, I admit.)
But as to how the theory applies to admin here… I suspect that a performative account of gender (rather than an essentialist account) might be more useful in exploring how gender norms are policed and indeed transgressed at Babble.
Just my two cents...
Tamar
poster:Tamar
thread:525223
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20050716/msgs/533377.html