Självet, begäret och etiken hos Judith Butler  och Jessica Benjamin : (O)möjliga möten mellan modern genusteori och psykoanalys

Sammanfattning: The gender theory of Judith Butler is based on both philosophical and psychoanalytic notions of the self. Although greatly inspired by both early and contemporary psychoanalytic thinking, Butler has also questioned some of its core notions such as the meaning of gender complementarity and conceptions of desire. In a dialogue in Studies in Gender and Sexuality she discusses these and other theoretical and ethical issues with the influential psychoanalyst and gender theorist Jessica Benjamin. The exchange is a unique example of an attempt at dialogue and theoretical reflection between a prominent contemporary gender theorist and psychoanalyst. It reveals disagreements and theoretical difficulties I will show to be directly attributable to radical differences between Butler's and Benjamin's conceptions of the self. In a direct comparison, the two perspectives on the self seem to be irreconcilable. Only in reference to a third perspective, that of psychoanalyst Donald Winnicott, emerges a potential possibility of congruity. I will describe how Winnicotts conception of the self comprises two irreconcilable aspects, and then suggest that one of them has consistently been the essential focus of Butler's interest and attention, while the other has remained the main focus of Benjamin's. In light of this analysis I will discuss the notion of congruity and mention the potential relevance of Butler's philosophy for an expanded understanding of Winnicotts conception of the self.