For me, Judith Butler's essay "Imitation and Gender Insubordination" really enforced the subjectivity of the determining gender characteristics within labels of "butch" "lesbian" "heterosexual" etc. It is almost impossible to place individuals is such categories because sexuality exists in a continuum of varying degrees. Our language assumes certain characteristics associated with different labels of sexuality, yet Butler points out that even when one "comes out of the closet" the new group they are placed into encloses them into another "closet" because they may not fit completely fit within the predetermined characteristics of that group. For example, social constructs of gender roles are so ingrained in our society that we find the need to determine the "butch" in a lesbian relationship as the "male" of the pairing to make sense of the relationship. This prevents us from seeing the couple as merely two individuals with a common attraction and forces us to associate gender roles in each situation.
The boy, Jake, in the essay "Uncle" seems to face the same difficulty of fitting in with the language and social norms of sexuality. He describes all of these emotions building up, yet does not understand them as sexual implications. Rather, he feels that something is "wrong" with these feelings due to his social upbringing of being a "though" boy (as a his father wants) and growing up normally/heterosexually (as his mother wants). As a six year old, his intentions may not necessarily be sexual. They are more of a desire to be loved by the only man who has shown him compassion and a curiosity to understand everything about the man he would like to emulate.
- Mandi Brooksbank
Reading your comments about "Uncle" actually helped me to better understand the essay; I especially liked the point you made about Jake's desires not being necessarily sexual, and rather more desiring of love from another man. I do, however, believe that some of his desires stem from undiscovered/unexplored budding sexuality.
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