Misgendering z perspektivy filozofie jazyka

The book deals with misgendering, a phenomenon of misidentifying a person’s gender in communicative situations, combining perspectives from gender studies, feminist philosophy, and the philosophy of language. The author shows that misgendering is not always deliberate and hostile, and presents a typology of various forms of misgendering, including unintentional errors in reference caused, e.g., by confusion. This is done using François Recanati’s concept of mental files, which focuses on speakers’ modes of reference. In examining gender as part of communicative behaviour, she draws primarily on Judith Butler’s notion of gender performativity and on the work of theorists concerned with trans* studies, such as Jack Halberstam, Talia Mae Bettcher, and Robin Dembroff. The author takes a critical approach to language practices in which gender is assigned for referential purposes based on socially conventionalised features such as appearance, gestures, voice, or clothing. Although they may seem straightforward, these features can be interpreted as confusing, ambiguous, or “incorrect,” and it is at these moments that misgendering occurs. By analysing model situations, the author reveals the limitations of Recanati’s conception of mental files, particularly when it comes to viewing the gender aspect of reference as obvious and unproblematic. The book is a contribution to both gender studies and the philosophy of language.