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ReadingWillow structured literacy program for Australian students

Dictionary Entry

performativity

noun

Find the meaning of the word performativity, plus dictionary definition, pronunciation, thesaurus-style synonyms, antonyms, and related vocabulary.

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Meaning

Dictionary meaning in a clear, student-friendly format.

The way actions, behaviors, or expressions create or reinforce social roles, identities, or realities, often in a way that is performed or enacted.

Example Sentence

Judith Butler argued that gender is not an innate quality but a matter of performativity, constantly enacted through our actions and expressions.

Usage Note

Used in social sciences, gender studies, and philosophy to analyze how behaviors and expressions shape our understanding of identity, roles, and social realities, often highlighting the difference between inherent nature and enacted presentation.