Challenging Essentialism

A Quick Guide

Taxonomies & Eugenic Sciences

Anatomy is Destiny
Identity, intelligence, and personality type was believed to be
written on the body.
Race, gender, sexuality and other identity and intelligence traits
could be determined by measuring the body.
Mimetic theory or literal interpretations (in Literary Criticism =
not taking context or culture into account when interpreting)
Platonic Ideal of True Forms

Saartjie Sara
Baartman

Critiques of Biological Essentialism

Essentialists argue that the characteristics of
persons or groups are largely similar in all human
cultures and historical periods, since they are
significantly influenced by biological factors.
Example: race as a biological (as opposed to
socially constructed
Biological Essentialism/determinism: the belief
that biology determines fundamentally all behavior
and actions. Example: explaining the concept of
love only through the lens of the chemical or
biological.
In Western ideology, classifications and definitions
are often based in binary oppositions. One is
privileged (considered superior or normal), one
is unprivileged (inferior or The Other).
Examples: good/evil, reason/emotion,
nature/culture, man/woman, male/female,
heterosexual/homosexual.

Logocentrism:
Critiques of
the
Western
Essentialism
proclivity for
desiring a
center: the
belief that there is
an ultimate reality
or center of truth
that can serve as
a basis for all our
thoughts and
actions. Even in
the act of
questioning a
center, we
establish a new
one.