Queer Rigidity: Habit and the Limits of the Performativity Thesis

• Published in: Critical inquiry Vol. 50; no. 4; p. 610
• Main Author: Brilmyer, S Pearl
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago University of Chicago, acting through its Press 01.06.2024
• Subjects: Gender identity; Habits; LGBTQ culture; Performance theory; Sexual orientation; Theory
• ISSN: 0093-1896; 1539-7858
• DOI: 10.1086/730351

Queer theorists have argued that sexual preferences and identities are not fixed, but rather the result of social practices and behaviors. Judith Butler's theory of performativity suggests that gender and sexuality are constructed through repeated acts that congeal over time to produce the appearance of stability. However, this view overlooks the potential rigidity of desires and behaviors. Nineteenth-century theories of habit offer a different perspective, emphasizing the role of repetition in shaping a person's character. Habit formation involves a tension between what one is and what one does, and it can lead to the crystallization of desires and behaviors. This understanding of habit challenges the dominant queer theoretical paradigm and suggests that desires may be more rigid than they appear. By examining the concept of habit articulated by Felix Ravaisson, peoplecan gain insights into the limits of desire's flexibility and the potential for change. This alternative perspective encourages to critically interrogate the distinction between rigidity and fluidity in queer theory and consider the role of constraint in shaping sexual subject formation.