Both Foucault and Butler argue that sexuality is not what makes us who we are, that it is simply a social construct. Furthermore, both believe that by submitting to the mechanisms of power and categorizing ourselves sexually we give impetus to our own submission. Although they have similar beliefs in many ways, and much of Judith Butler's work is based on the work done by Michael Foucault, Judith Butler diverges from Foucault's ideas. The reason Butler revisits Foucault is that his concept of biopower leaves no room for resistance to power. For Foucault, in the 17th century, the shift from a top-down monarchical model of power centered on the individual gave way to a political technology for the control of entire populations. This system of different control techniques, called Biopower, consists of all the regulatory mechanisms of our society. One regulatory mechanism about which Foucault shows particular concern is social categorization. Judith Butler agrees with Foucault about the dangers of categorization, particularly when it comes to gender. Butler interprets Foucault through notions of repression and social norms, ignoring the concepts of technology that form a crucial part of Foucault's thought. Foucault and Butler really begin to diverge in thought when Foucault states that power in modern societies is essentially a creative force, while Butler believes that power is a repressive force. It is here that we see Judith Butler bring a revision of Foucault's work, this revision is based on Foucault's understanding of modern power as used rather than possessed, flowing through the collective body of society. For Judith Butler, this model of power circulating rather than emanating from the top down leaves no r... middle of paper... is always or only symptomatic of self-inflicted homophobia. Indeed, a Foucauldian perspective might argue that the affirmation of "homosexuality" is itself an extension of a homophobic discourse." (320/121) As we can see, Judith Butler believes that resistance to identity is a means to resist power from without His revision of Foucault arises as a means of doing this since Foucault's notions of power leave no room for resistance from without. Judith Butler and Michael Foucault can certainly be said to hold similar ideas of submitting to the mechanisms Power through categorization gives impetus to the means of our own submission. However, Judith Butler distances herself from Foucault's ideas and ultimately makes revisions to Foucault's work leaves room for resistance to power.