Performativity and Punitive Measures

[Johnny Pav]

An example that I always find both interesting and somewhat bizarre is in the act of ordering a drink in a pub or bar. Men are traditional expected to order beer, larger, whiskey or red wine whereas women are expected to order sweet shorts, rose or white wine and maybe half a larger. I personally prefer really like sweet tasting drinks so I tend to order sweet liquors or mixers. This is often commented on by my female and male friends, “why are you ordering a girls drink?” So for me to correctly perform my gender I am expected to only order certain beverages. I also have female friends that order pints of larger sometimes so that they don’t have to keep going up to the bar. They often feel a bit insecure in this act as they assume people will perceive them in a particularly negative way. People also equate sexuality with the beverage choice of individuals I’ve heard comments like “is that a gay drink?” and “is she a dyke?” I find the thought that the consumption of drinks are gendered and the subversion of this connoting sexual orientation astounding especially in contemporary western culture. The punitive measures then for someone not getting the performative right in the consumption of alcohol are social ridicule and assumptions about the type of character and sexuality of that person.

[satsuma]

During my secondary school time I have a boy classmate who acted very girlish such as speak and laugh in a high pitch, always do some feminine hand gestures etc.
Part of the other boys think he is strange and queer, they don't play with him. This should be the punitive measure to him for not being a normal male.
And I think the most interesting thing is after a summer, he suddenly become very masculine like the others.
We tried to ask him why and he said he just feel like this no specific reasons.

Performing  masculine or feminine is a free choice. 
Any form of punitive measures cannot bring changes, but only hurt the person.
So, personally I prefer kind and acceptable attitude towards gender issue.

[honeybunny]

i would argue that although society doesn't want to been seen as an institution that enforces punitive measures against those who do not perform their gender, it is. The film 'Hedvig and the angry inch' illustrates an example of how the act of cross dressing can assume such measures. social exclusion, although not expressed out right (on some occasions is) is reinforced throughout much of society. For example, when applying fro a professional role, someone who dresses in drag will not be taken seriously and consequently, never offered the job.

[bumblebee]

An interesting example of gender performativity is like Johnny Pav has said is the gendering of drinks. This has happened on many occasions where I have myself even commented I only like girly drinks. I think that the punitive measures in this sort of circumstance however would be limited. The individual is liable to change their drink if they feel like they are uncomfortable, but it does not change their gender, nor does it highlight gender norms, other than preferences. However something more along the lines of a tomboy would be seen as a very interesting example of gender performativity. Often tomboy is used to describe a girl who is into more ‘boyish’ behaviour such as football (the most rudimental example). However I think that tomboy is a word that is associated more with children rather than adults. This is a limitation as although still gendered, most children do not develop the physical attributes of gender until adolescent. However it could be seen to highlight the nature of performance. Often children develop at different ages or depending on other factors such as upbringing. If a female child was living solely with males, then the performance that she would view would be male gendered performance. Therefore by imitation which is how we all learn gender roles she would be more ‘male’ as this was the performance she saw most of.

[dell_boi]

In my opinion we see gender performativity everywhere we go. The best example, i believe is when a person is getting ready for the day. I might be behind closed doors but with our society there seems to be a (literal) divide between how the two sexes get ready. The standard stereotype of a woman getting ready for the day would be very different than that of a male. By which i mean that if a woman was to be seen wearing makeup there would an immediate reaction to this by women.

A fundamental difference between a man and a woman on the perforative side is that men are meant to be seen as manly, low voices, muscly and aggressive. Some men are not specifically this stereotype and try and fulfil these attributes to feel complete. The same goes for women. So you could say that men working out at a gym are creating a sense of performativity.