Judith Butler's 'Who's Afraid of Gender?' Analyzes Global Anti-Trans Movements and Academic Divides

Judith Butler's new book 'Who's Afraid of Gender?' examines the global rise of anti-trans sentiment, linking it to conservative alliances including the Catholic Church, the World Congress of Families, and politicians like Viktor Orbán, Donald Trump, and Jair Bolsonaro. Butler, whose 1990 work 'Gender Trouble' popularized the social construction of gender, argues that 'anti-gender ideology' stems from fantasies of patriarchal and white supremacist pasts, fueled by existential insecurities. The book critiques 'gender-critical' feminists, particularly in the UK, suggesting they displace patriarchal trauma onto trans people. Butler was inspired to write after being attacked in Brazil in 2017 while attending a conference. However, the text avoids addressing common public concerns about transitioning risks, such as parental dilemmas, and is described as inaccessible outside liberal academia, with Butler labeling opponents as suffering from 'psychosis' and anti-intellectualism. Butler calls for aligning gender rights with anti-capitalist struggles and critiques colonialism's role in exporting gender binaries, though this approach is questioned for romanticizing precolonial societies. The review notes the book may not shift debates but confirms existing views, amid polarized discourse contributing to 'identity fatigue'.