Polityka przymusu wobec ciała. Filozofia społeczna M. Foucaulta w kontekście problematyki płci

Abstract

The aim of this study is an interpretation of the gender’s problem by Foucault’s conceptual framework. Foucault was not interested in gender studies but his philosophical vocabulary could be, and it actually turned out to be, an appropriate articulation of the feminist political postulates. The essay shows that there are connections between feminist thinkers and Foucault attempts to explain on which common ideas it is based. This interpretation of the problem of gender displays that sex (gender) should be considered: 1) as artificial reality established by powerknowledge; 2) not as prior to the discourse about sex (gender) but rather as a result of this discourse; 3) not as natural and politically neutral phenomenon but rather as politically useful tool of coercion – especially with regard to women who are subjected by men. According to Foucault’s philosophy, the concept of sex is constructed by social context connected with power and domination, and not by human biology – this main idea is familiar to the second wave of feminism. Therefore, the study shows that Foucault’s social philosophy pioneered queer and gender theory.