A Gendered Life in the Hebrew Bible

When considering the topic of a gendered life in the Hebrew Bible, Eve makes for an interesting case study. In this essay, a number of aspects of the gendered life, both ancient and modern will be considered in terms of the literary figure of Eve as initially presented in Genesis 2–4. It will be shown how Eve in all of her gendered identity has been framed, constructed, but also how she is shown to perform, and in some instances, subvert such gendered constructions and framings. In this regard, contemporary gender theory is important as it seeks to interrogate/challenge/queer/ broaden what is considered normative, in particular demonstrating that gender is indeed a social construct and challenging the gender scripts associated with the binary construction of e. g. man/woman. Gender theory as evident in Judith Butler's seminal work Gender Trouble helps us to be cognisant of the fluidity of such gender constructions and in particular of the widely accepted notion that gender can be said to be performative in nature. Moreover, in Butler's other important works, including Precarious Lives and Giving an Account of Oneself, themes regarding the link between subjectivity, vulnerability, and relationality are important considering the theme of the gendered life in the Hebrew Bible.