The Sexed Body, the Plumed Hat, and the Automobile. Phénoménologie de la Perception Read from a Feminist and Performative Perspective

Abstract

This paper presents the Merleau-Pontyan theory of sexuality contained in his Phénoménologie de la perception, firstly in the context of other early Phenomenological approaches to the same topic, and then within the gnoseological framework of the work. The scope of J. Butler’s early criticisms of such a theory in terms of androcentrism, naturalization of sexual difference and male dominance is then evaluated. By this means, it becomes possible to define the resources and limits of the Merleau-Pontyan description of the sexed body as “expression” and “body style” for the elaboration of a non-essentialist conception of sexuality akin to performative theory.