The article shows how the reception of Judith Butler's philosophy in Scandinavian gender research has been closely linked to debates in the Scandinavian countries about the fundamental concepts in this field of research.
In particular, the question of how Scandinavian gender research terminology should reflect the English language’s distinction between "sex" and "gender" has been at the center of debate.
Butler as the central figure
Hoffart shows how Butler has been the central theoretical figure around which these conceptual discussions constantly circulate, from the 1990s reception of the gender theoretical works "Gender Trouble" (1990) and "Bodies That Matter" (1993) to the 2020s debates about "anti-gender" and Butler's latest book "Who's Afraid of Gender?" (2024).
The article examines the encounters between Butler's philosophy and the basic concepts of gender in Scandinavian gender research. By highlighting a number of examples, Hoffart illuminates the intertwining of terminological considerations, scientific theoretical reasoning and political considerations in Scandinavian interpretations and translations of Butler's philosophy.
Scandinavian examples
Hoffart also presents some particularly illustrative examples from the last four decades, taken from Swedish, Norwegian and Danish texts within the field that is today referred to as gender research or, in Swedish, gender research.
The article is published in the journal Agora No. 1-2 2025, which has the title and theme "Judith Butler". The issue will be launched with a panel discussion at the Tronsmo bookstore at Universitetsgata 12 in Oslo, Thursday 4th of September at 4:30 p.m..