Gender Performativity in Tui T. Sutherland’s Runaway

Abstract

This article applies Judith Butler’s theory on gender performativity to Tui T. Sutherland’s Runaway. This article will analyze how female character show gender roles. Butler argues that gender is produced by “repeated acts” rather than received naturally. This article show that Foeslayer, and other female characters repeatedly perform gender performativity, showing how they are subverting the traditional female characteristics. Using qualitative method and close reading, this article identifies multiple passages, utterance, toughts that represent gender performativity happening. The findings of this article suggest that Runaway portrays female as an active female, unlike the typical female stereotypes.