Identity and Difference: Complicating Gender in Archaeology

TLDR

Archaeology of gender has historically been linked to feminism, yet recent trends show a fraying connection, with many studies still reflecting dated, dualistic views of women and gender as intersectional, while opposition often conflates feminism with postmodernism. To advance gender’s study in archaeology, practitioners must address identity and difference concerns from third‑wave feminism, embracing feminist approaches that view gender non‑normatively and multiscalarly, and overcome resistance so that archaeologists can diversify the field, explore difference, and tackle sociopolitical issues. Engagement has produced more equitable, relevant, and sound reconstructions of diverse peoples and practices, yet examinations of labor divisions expose shortcomings.

Abstract

From its inception, the archaeology of gender was entwined with feminism. Engagement has engendered reconstructions of complex, diverse peoples and practices that are more equitable, relevant, and sound. Yet, for many archaeologists, the connection with feminist perspectives has frayed in recent years. Their studies of gender articulate dated ideas about women and epistemological frames that highlight duality and universality. Examinations of labor divisions typify shortcomings. To advance gender's study and archaeology, practitioners need to consider several concerns about identity and difference emerging from third-wave feminism. Gender is envisioned as intersection. Bioarchaeology, especially, will benefit from feminist approaches that reflect critically and regard gender in nonnormative and multiscalar terms. To this end, resistance to feminism must fade. Opposition stems from its imagined relationship with postmodernism, but conflation misconstrues feminism's sociopolitical commitment to emancipatory change. For their part, archaeologists can utilize feminist perspectives to diversify the field, explore difference, and tackle archaeological issues with sociopolitical resonance.