A name of one's own: gender and the politics of naming

This paper aims to contribute to the critical comprehension of the politics of the proper name and their role in relation with state regulation of gender. We depart from an exploration of the violence involved in the relationship between the proper name and its referent, following different approaches from the philosophy of language. We make use, specifically, of Judith Butler's understanding of proper names as gender performatives. Finally, we address the recent history of legislation and administrative practices in Spain in order to expose the disciplinary character of state naming policies and, in particular, the administrative violence that, as Dean Spade puts it, accompanies processes of gender transitioning.