Things always leak out of everything else – the sham of ‘masculinity’ and the dissolving of ‘subjectivities’

Abstract

abstractIn this perspective I use memory work, inspiration, frustration, conversation and theorising to poke holes in the traditional concept of ‘masculinity’ (and ‘femininity’). I aim to show, through a combination of theorising on ‘leakiness’ (through Margrit Shildrick), ‘subjectivity’ (through Shildrick, Lacan, Ahmed, Irigaray, Deleuze and Guattari) and ‘masculinity’ (and ‘femininity’) through Butler and Freud, that the latter are self-perpetuating illusions or shams. The article starts off with an alternative feminist version of The Lord's Prayer – a source of strength and inspiration. It then goes on to describe ‘leakiness of bodies – sensations and connections’ and theories around ‘subjectivity’. Here I combine a review of theories with poetry and memory work, and question people's sense of individuality and ‘subjectivity’ through examples of fleeting connectedness. Thereafter I analyse a short excerpt of a conversation on ‘masculinity’. Finally I posit that in order that we may free ourselves of the cages that are ‘masculinity’ and ‘femininity’, we need to consciously accept and expose them for what they are: shams.