I call sex a material element only because Butler describes sex as a material
product of power upon a body. Butler wants to remove from sex (sexuality)
any hint or trace of biological (natural) determinations. I think Butler
does equate sex with sexuality (sexual identity(s), the actual act of sex, the
motivation of sex, the desires leading to sex, etc.) as opposed to gender
(identifications, behaviors, social roles based upon feminine and and maculine attributes). The basic distinction between sex and
gender is not sufficient for Butler, or Foucualt, because sex can be imagined
as a biological manefestation, and gender as a social manefestation, if one
wished to conceive of them in such terms. Butler wants not only gender
to be conceived of as a social prodcut, but also sex (sexuality). As such,
sex is material (a tangible, physical creation), in that it is a social product of discursive and material forces.
product of power upon a body. Butler wants to remove from sex (sexuality)
any hint or trace of biological (natural) determinations. I think Butler
does equate sex with sexuality (sexual identity(s), the actual act of sex, the
motivation of sex, the desires leading to sex, etc.) as opposed to gender
(identifications, behaviors, social roles based upon feminine and and maculine attributes). The basic distinction between sex and
gender is not sufficient for Butler, or Foucualt, because sex can be imagined
as a biological manefestation, and gender as a social manefestation, if one
wished to conceive of them in such terms. Butler wants not only gender
to be conceived of as a social prodcut, but also sex (sexuality). As such,
sex is material (a tangible, physical creation), in that it is a social product of discursive and material forces.