The idea of time is a central aspect of human experience. We live in it; it shapes our lives.
How do we understand its nature? What does it mean to become who we are through time? In this essay, I will explore these questions using Transformation Transgender Theory, which proposes that our sense of identity emerges from changes over time. This theory provides an innovative way of thinking about personal growth and development while also raising important philosophical issues related to temporality and becoming.
Transformation Transgender Theory was developed by philosopher Judith Butler and sociologist Joan Scott in their book "Gender Trouble" (1989) as a critique of traditional feminist ideas about gender roles. According to this theory, genders are fluid identities created through social norms that change over time. As individuals move through different stages of life - childhood, adolescence, adulthood - they adopt new gendered behaviors based on what society expects from them.
A boy may be expected to play with trucks during childhood but later grow out of that behavior as he becomes a man. Similarly, a woman may be expected to dress more conservatively as she ages, even though her biological sex remains constant throughout her life.
Butler argues that these expectations are not natural or innate but rather socially constructed. Gender is something we learn from others around us, including family members, peers, and media representations. It's a performance that requires practice and repetition to master. And since there's no fixed script for being masculine or feminine, people can choose whether to conform to these norms or challenge them.
This perspective has implications for how we understand the evolution of selfhood. We don't just have a fixed identity at birth; instead, our sense of self develops gradually as we take on various roles and identities over time. This process involves trial and error, experimentation, and reflection. We try things out, see which ones fit, then adjust accordingly until we find an identity that feels authentic and meaningful. In this way, Transformation Transgender Theory challenges the idea that we are born into a single "essential" identity that determines who we are forever. Instead, it suggests that becoming is an active process that takes place over many years.
This theory also raises questions about temporality and becoming. If our identities are mutable, does this mean they can change radically in any direction? What if someone decides one day to become completely different from who they were yesterday? Is such radical transformation possible? Or do some aspects of our identity remain constant despite changes over time? These issues are explored further by philosophers such as Martin Heidegger, who focuses on "becoming" through his concept of Dasein (a word that means "being-there"). He argues that we exist only in relation to others and the world around us; without interaction with others, we cease to be ourselves.
Transformation Transgender Theory provides an intriguing approach to understanding personal growth and development while raising important philosophical questions related to temporality and becoming. It invites us to rethink our assumptions about gender roles and identities while also opening up new possibilities for how we understand human experience. Through its insights, we can gain greater insight into ourselves and better appreciate our role in shaping the world around us.