Judith Butler’s theories
Locate an advertisement that depicts an image of women, girls, men and/or boys in a respectful and/or empowered manner that deviates from the traditional gender norm.
Post the URL so that others can view it.
Referring directly to our readings for the week,
Describe how the advertisement you chose “rewrites the rules.”
Is intersectionality represented in your chosen advertisement? Please explain.
Use Judith Butler’s theories to explain why the creator of the ad may have made the choices we see here in terms of the way the characters “do gender.”
What impact might this advertisement have on real-life opportunities and possibilities offered men and women in their personal and professional lives?
Intersectionality is represented in this ad as it speaks to multiple identities beyond just being a woman; for example, the different athletes featured throughout have varying racial backgrounds, physical abilities and sexual orientations which shows how broader forms of oppression can intersect with gender when considering experiences within athletic arenas. Through Butler’s theories we can see why this ad was made from the perspective that gender “is not a stable identity or locus of agency from which various acts follow; rather…gender is an identity tenuously constituted in time - an identity instituted through a stylized repetition of acts” (Butler 1993). By having these womxn speak up about their stories and achievements despite all of the obstacles they faced due to their gender identities, this advertisement works towards normalizing new ways that genders can be expressed making them less taboo but also inspiring viewers to be emboldened enought o challenge preconceived notions about femininity and masculinity while engaging with activities outside those typically associated with their sex assigned at birth.
This advertisement could potentially have positive impact on real-life opportunities offered both men and women: viewing strong empowered images such as these compared against traditional ones could inspire people across diverse genders appreciate themselves more fully while also feeling comfortable exploring uncharted territories without worrying about conforming strictly to certain roles based on societal norms surrounding one's sex.