19 editions of The Female Marine were published between 1815 and 1818, a prominent show of its wild popularity at the time of its publication. Social perspectives Judith Butler consolidated a new gender theory focusing on “performativity”. In recent times new gender roles like “performativity” are more widely accepted and enable society to more likely accept phenomena such as crossdressing or transgender bodies. Society is the main proprietor of gender and how it is perceived by the people, and this perception differs across the globe. John Money coined the term gender in 1955 and said that gender is based on the social enactment of sex roles, which is exactly what Lucy Brewer explored in her disguise as a marine to live, fight and act as a man. Brewer knew what it meant to be a woman and what opportunities were given to men stepping outside of her comfort zone with tremendous success. She took great risks in assuming a male role in society to fully explore the other side of the gender role. Brewer was mindful of the male ego and physical thirsts quenched by the allure of women desirous of men in uniform. The strength of the characteristics which define masculinity are due to bodily performance, but Lucy Brewer excelled as a marine in flexing her muscle as she fired a musket just well as any soldier could take aim and fire. Her character challenged the role of masculinity in her time period proving that women can assume the male gender role with relative ease and that it is indeed possible to explore gender outside of what is marked “socially acceptable” and still be respected in society. Lucy's crossdressing would be perceived by society no differently today than in the past. Regardless of how judgmental mankind is through the hardwiring of male and female mindset across America, a sense of humanity and empathy reigns in us whether born male or female. When Lucy's pamphlets circulated, people were not overly shocked or appalled by her actions, but rather intrigued that woman was able to conquer the male role. Society's overall reaction was a reflection on how it evolved and had become more apt to accept transgender actions as well as cross-dressing. References External links The Female Marine and Related Works: Narratives of Cross Dressing and Urban Vice in America's Early Republic / Edited with an Introduction by Daniel A. Cohen