What else can the body be? Judith Butler's theoretical contributions beyond the sexual dimorphism

Abstract

The present study goes over one of the theoretical approaches taken into consideration at the Gender Issues [Problemas de Género] panel during the 9th Argentinian and 4th Latinamerican Congress on Physical Education and Sciences [9 º Congreso Argentino y 4 º Lationamericano de Educación Fí­sica y Ciencias]. Given those research works which make reference to Judith Butler in order to question the naturalized criteria used to classify the bodies, this study is an attempt to expand on and deepen some of the speakers' thoughts. With this aim in mind, questions raised on this point at the debate are put forward, while at the same time, particular emphasis is placed on arguments employed in the research papers that favour alternative ways of thinking about the body beyond essencialist explanations. Finally, some reflections from the debate after reading the papers that focused on the teaching of physical education as the place for both reproducing and transforming gender norm and sexuality are taken up again