Melancholy Gender and Compulsory Sexuality: Theoretical Considerations on Asexual “Erasure”

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  • メランコリー的ジェンダーと強制的性愛 —アセクシュアルの「抹消」に関する理論的考察
  • メランコリー的ジェンダーと強制的性愛 : アセクシュアルの「抹消」に関する理論的考察
  • メランコリーテキ ジェンダー ト キョウセイテキ セイアイ : アセクシュアル ノ 「 マッショウ 」 ニ カンスル リロンテキ コウサツ

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Judith Butler’s theory of melancholy gender echoes some findings in asexuality studies; however, it does not consider asexual agency. Thus, this article aims to review Butler’s literature from the standpoint of asexuality studies. I argue that Freudian theory denies the possibility of asexuality because of its hypothesis of primary narcissism. Similar to melancholia, primary narcissism has the “trace” of the object. However, Butler overlooks the significant difference between melancholia and primary narcissism. Unlike melancholia, primary narcissism is not marked by the experience of selfberatement; thus, it does not contain any affects that can be converted to political expression. In the system of compulsory sexuality, asexuality can be situated in a similar position. Based on the above points, I refer to the prohibition of homosexuality in melancholia as “foreclosure” and the denial of asexuality in primary narcissism as “erasure.” In this way, Butler’s framework is extended in order to theorize the possibility of resistance in asexuality.

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