A Genealogy of Gender: Tracing the Ideological Roots of Queer Theory

This webinar will sketch some of the ideological antecedents of Queer Theory and its radical (re)conceptualization of gender, which many therapists and psychologists may not be aware of. In doing so, it will focus primarily on the postmodern critique of language and two of its most influential figures: Jacques Derrida and Michele Foucault, both of whom profoundly influenced Judith Butler’s queer theory. It will also give an overview of Butler’s appropriation of philosopher J.L. Austin’s idea of a performative utterance in the creation of her concept of ‘gender performativity’ and contrast her understanding of gender with that of gender critical feminists such as Holly Lawford-Smith and Kathleen Stock.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand some of the intellectual roots of Queer Theory and the way it conceives ‘gender’
• Review Judith Butler’s idea of ‘gender performativity’ in relation to ‘performative utterances’ or speech act theory
• Understand how the concept of ‘gender’ has evolved as a result of the postmodern critique of language

Bret Alderman received his PhD in Depth Psychology in 2013 from the Pacifica Graduate Institute in Carpinteria, California. His publications include the books Symptom, Symbol, and the Other of Language: A Jungian interpretation of the linguistic turn (2016) and Eternal Youth and the Myth of Deconstruction: An archetypal reading of Jacques Derrida and Judith Butler (2024). He is also a contributor to Cynical Therapies: Perspectives on the Antitherapeutic Nature of Critical Social Justice. His recent interests include ideological possession, deconstruction, gender, and the interface between psychology and philosophy, as well as the encroachment of political ideologies into therapeutic settings. He currently resides in Oakland, California.

Therapy First has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7505. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Therapy First is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. This webinar provide 1.5 hours of CE credits.