In Judith Butler's "Gender Trouble," the concept of a liberated sexuality, unbound from traditional heterosexual frameworks, is critically examined. This idea proposes a utopia where individuals experience sexuality without the constraints of power dynamics that often dictate sexual identity. However, Butler argues that this vision overlooks the persistent influence of power relations, which continue to shape women's sexual experiences, regardless of whether they identify as heterosexual or lesbian.

Butler emphasizes that even in scenarios where women are thought to experience liberated sexual identities, the impact of societal power structures remains relevant. The complexities of sexuality cannot be fully understood without acknowledging the ways in which these dynamics govern and often limit women's freedom, revealing the contradictions in the pursuit of a truly liberated sexuality.