William M. Burton

William M. Burton is an Assistant Professor in the Department of French at the University of California, Berkeley, with affiliations to the Center for Science, Technology, Medicine, and Society; Department of Gender and Women's Studies; Program in Critical Theory; and Canadian Studies Program.

Education:

• Ph.D., French and Romance Philology, Columbia University (2020)
• M.Phil., French and Romance Philology, Columbia University (2017)
• M.A., French and Romance Philology, Columbia University (2015)
• Maîtrise ès arts, Études anglaises, Université de Montréal (2014)
• B.A. (First Class Honours), Lettres et traduction françaises, McGill University (2010)

Research Focus: Burton examines how 18th- and 20th-century literary authors engage with philosophy, politics, and science to assert literature's political and epistemic value. His current project analyzes Monique Wittig's reinterpretation of Rousseau to critique heteronormativity and gender essentialism, arguing both writers pioneered social-constructionist views of sexuality. Earlier work explored queer translation frameworks and Québec's decolonial literature.

Publications: His interdisciplinary articles bridge literary criticism, intellectual history, and queer theory, frequently analyzing Francophone texts through frameworks of gender, power, and linguistic subversion. Recent works demonstrate sustained focus on dismantling binary conceptions of identity.

Teaching & Advising: Courses include critical explorations of gender binaries in Francophone cultures, feminist movements, Montreal's social history, and linguistic politics. Currently not accepting new advisees.