Ben Waber reviewed Gender Trouble by Judith Butler (Routledge Classics)
An Intriguing But Anachronistic Philosophical Exploration
3 stars
This is a very down-the-rabbit-hole examination of the essence of gender in the Western world prior to the 21st century, for better and for worse. I appreciated the critique of the subject, but the reductive arguments and the constant referrals to Freud's long discredited theories significantly detract from the rest of the book. Still, the ideas put forth here are important to consider as a foundation for gender studies.
This is a very down-the-rabbit-hole examination of the essence of gender in the Western world prior to the 21st century, for better and for worse. I appreciated the critique of the subject, but the reductive arguments and the constant referrals to Freud's long discredited theories significantly detract from the rest of the book. Still, the ideas put forth here are important to consider as a foundation for gender studies.