Revisiting gender theory in fan fiction: Bringing nonbinary genders into the world

Abstract

While these facts are generally ignored, nonbinary gender is a theme in fan spaces, and Judith Butler's theory of gender creation mostly excludes the possibility of any genders outside of the binary. When brought together, classic queer studies and fan studies texts offer explanations for both and indicate that nonbinary genders are at the core of fan fiction. Fan fiction communities, although often transphobic, practice bringing into the world genders outside of the binary gender system. Judith Butler's gender theory and classic fan studies research inform one another; when they are brought together, it is clear that fandom is a ground for the creation of genders, which in turn are embodied outside of fandom and are objects of attraction that exist outside of binary-gendered attraction models.