Recent literary studies consider gender performativity as a critical point in power and gender identities. This thesis studied the representation of feminine identity as a performative act in Hugh Howey’s Wool through the lens of Judith Butler’s theory, namely her theory of gender performativity and feminine identity. According to this theory, gender identity is shaped through some performative acts in political, cultural, and social contexts. The focus of this study was on the main character, Juliette Nichols. It was argued that she subverts the feminine identity imposed on her by the dominant masculine system in the silo and deviates from the hierarchical and traditional gender roles through her performative acts, including body, language, and physical strength. Her acts represent rewriting and redefining assigned gender roles as she paves the way for others in the silo to revive and reshape their own gender identities. Furthermore, this study also dealt with two other female characters in the silo, Mayor Johns (Ruth Johns) and the former sheriff’s wife, Allison, whose gender identities are different from each other and also, different from Juliette’s. The findings of this study imply that such studies of gender identity can improve feminist attitudes in science fiction and post-apocalyptic narratives by accentuating how female subjects in the modern period deviate from the hierarchical traditional system. Finally, this study can illuminate the way in contemporary society speculative narratives challenge power dynamics when gender identities of individuals are misused.
