To what extent do you agree with Judith Butler's theory that gender roles are socially constructed? Use examples from the media in your response.

In today's society we highly influenced by our surroundings, media and role models. This falls nicely into the subject on feminism, raising a number of questions with the topic. The main one i am looking at is Judith Butler's theory that gender representation is socially constructed?

Judith Butler a believer in the idea of post feminism disagree's in the way traditional feminism was handled. She believes that the separation is not biologically  other than the clear differentiation of giving birth, but the idea that gender representation is a 'performance.' This means that we are told to behave a certain way due to our gender by the way society pressures us into it. This is something i agree with.

Simple things from such an early age such as what colour baby grow your child wears, or further years down the line to what toy your child is told to play with. I agree with Butler's theory as society takes such a horror and mellow dramatic reaction to a 6 year old girl walking into supermarket giant 'Morrisions' and picking up a action man in the blue boys toys section. The supermarket was earlier last month criticised for sectioning their toys into blue boy toys and pink girl toys. This re-enforces the idea that gender representation is in fact a performance The media plays such a big part in this idea that gender representation is a performance also.

It seems like a ridiculous gesture but even featuring a boy in a Barbie doll advert is totally obscure, however this shouldn't be the case. A 2011 poll showed 79% of all TV adverts have some form of fixed gender representation. This could be anything up to stereotypical L'oreal adverts to cleaning products. You then have role models in media promoting certain products in a certain gender stereotypical way, influencing young children and possibly go as far as to use the hypodermic theory in this sense.

However an argument against Butler is that the separation between the two gender's is that women cannot be offered the top job's because they have the ability to become pregnant  They lust for a family a high earning job and being the breadwinners, maybe this is a fantasy? And this is where Judith Butler is challenged in her theory. There are attempts to salvage this public issue with shops like Marks & Spencers as they have chosen to get ride of boys and girls toys and have a clear section named unisex toys and a number of other shops have followed this also. But the question still remains is it Butler's theory correct?

In conclusion i believe that Butler's theory is spot on. We live in a society where the media is probably the most influential thing in the world and the most powerful. Bold statement? yes but people who don't know or understand certain things will, especially children, will see how people on television react to it. How does a 5 year old boy know that the 'male is expected to propose' to the female, through media. And i think we do underestimate the power of the media and Judith Butler's idea of performance is something i agree with.