Body and Performativity: a critical review from the point of view of psychoanalysis

Considering the hegemonic status of Judith Butler's theory on the performativity of gender in both feminist theory and social sciences, a critical review of its strengths and limits has become necessary. In this paper I face this task from a particular angle, that of the tension with psychoanalysis -specially the works by Freud and Lacan-which appears as a constant in the work of the queer theorist. Although this tension is well known, it has generally been identified to the controversy "sexual difference versus gender". In order to bring up to date the discussion, I propose to focus on the various notions of body that Butler elaborates in the consecutive moments of her production, and the way they are articulated to the open debate with lacanian psychoanalysis.