Gender Performativity in The Novel "Shine" by Jessica Jung (2020)

Abstract

This study explores the representation of gender performativity in Jessica Jungs Shine (2020), focusing on how the main character, Rachel Kim, performs and negotiates her gender identity within the K-pop industry. Using Judith Butlers theory of gender performativity, the research analyzes how social norms, company regulations, and public expectations shape Rachels femininity. The study employs a qualitative descriptive method, with data gathered through close reading and textual analysis. The results show that Rachels gender identity is socially constructed through repeated actions, language, and behaviors regulated by the entertainment system. Rachels resistance, self-assertion, and fluid identity reflect Butlers idea that gender is not fixed but constantly produced and negotiated through social performance. Thus, Shine reveals that gender in the K-pop world is a performative act shaped by institutional power and personal agency.