Queer Theory : Gender And Gender

This reminded me a lot about ‘Doing Gender’ because we learned that we view ‘doing gender’ as an accomplishment. This is similar to heteronormativity because in society we do gender and learn gender based off of these heteronormativity ideals and ‘norms’. These are examples of how heterosexuality can be viewed as normative through culture.

Sexual orientationism is best described as discrimination or prejudice against homosexuals on the assumption that heterosexuality is the dominant, or normal, sexual orientation. Within society there are many barriers, assumptions, and stigmas placed upon the queer community, numerous of which steam from this heterosexist stance that has become the dominant ideology. This stance has historical significance in trauma, and oppression of those within the sexual minority, and how this can play on representation.

Across generations, we contend that education needs to be queered and queried in ways that disrupt normative presumptions regarding sexuality and that questions

Thirdly, queers challenge the categories as well as binaries of sexual and gender by questioning the categories and binaries’ reasonability. Queer theorists concern about how and why the categories of gender and sexuality are shaped, thinking the main reason is to better control people so as to achieve political goals. As de Lauretis (1991) stated, the existing strategies of homosexual, which is created based on the existing categories of gender and sexuality, is to ensure the “ center” integrated. Moreover, they reject and question the usefulness of categories. According to

The literal definition of the word “queer” according to the Oxford dictionary is strange, or odd. The definition, however, after its adaption by the feminist and alternate sexual orientations movements has gained a much broader frame of understanding. Some suggest that “queer” is a word that defines a situation or circumstance and not a person. There have even been people to propound, as an extension, that by this definition, everyone is in some part or the other “queer”.(1) my concentration will be limited to defining “queer” in spectrums of sexual orientation and gender identity, with a specific exploration of class, space and inclusivity.

Within this paper, the umbrella term “queer” will be used to encompass many different sexual identities mentioned. While once used as a derogatory term, it has been rebranded and revitalized as a term of unification for members of the LGBTQIA+ community. In order to prevent erasure of the narrative of subsets of members within the larger queer community, their identities will be included. When discussing the larger implications of the development of sexual minority identification, queer will be employed.

The consequences of breaking the norms implemented by society when regarding gender specifications can result in an individual being dubbed as queer. Although, society has recently been able to understand and assess the damage caused by foolish presumptions surrounding gender expectations, conventional ways of thinking still persist.

This essay focuses on how Maretelle Ludik’s Spring/Summer 2016 collection and how it relates to how heteronormativity is viewed in modern society. Firstly I will define what is meant by heteronormativity and provide the difference between sex and gender. Secondly I will give an overview of one of the readers discussed in class and an external reader, furthermore I will discuss how heteronormativity and gender has evolved over the years. Thereafter I will dissect Martelle Ludik’s Spring/Summer 2016 collection and show how it relates to heteronormativity and gender. Lastly I will provide a conclusion that will summarise my argument.

An important study that has been conducted, by Julie L. Nagoshi and her team, is the first piece of evidence in this essay that allows us to see how homosexuals, heterosexuals, and trans genders view themselves. The idea of sexual orientation was also very connected, by the participants involved in the study, to the definitions of gender identity and gender roles as well as previous research and theories compared to present day studies. Nagoshi and her team summarize that gender roles are the way society believes someone should act only based on if you’re male or female, gender identities as executing roles that are masculine or feminine according to the genitalia one was born with, and transgender as breaking both of those views

A gender study is a subject that majors on gender identity and their representation in the categories analysis. It includes women, feminism, queer studies and men studies. It closely relates to sexuality. Queer theory looks at the similarities between lesbians, gays, and bisexuals. Gender studies and queer theory look at issues of sexuality, power, and marginalized population. Feminism criticism influences much work in the gender studies and queer theory. Gender studies and queer theory main primary concern is the manner in which gender and sexuality are discussed.

Why is it that ‘Queer’ is perceived as odd, strange, or out of place? Whenever there is a community of individuals, no one should be viewed as out of place because of their sexual orientation. Believe it or not, the term ‘queer’ can be seen as an insult. But of course this is still prevalent today due to the fact that ‘queer’ disrupts alleged stability between ‘biological sex’, gender and sexual desire. Queer Theory challenges the apparent coherence of heterosexuality, which is actually unstable and insecure, and depends on carefully constructed individual performances. The apparent coherence of heterosexuality also constantly denies and excludes homosexuality as an equal possibility for sexual desire and gender roles. The fact of the matter

This is not coincidental, as Queer Theory lent the movement a language that could describe a seemingly inexpressible experience many of its members shared. Through its capacity to imagine beyond categories, Queer Theory seemed to adeptly describe not only the mechanisms of gender transition but the political potential the transgender experience via its supposedly-innate ability to deconstruct the monolithic social index of the gender binary. Again, there should be no surprise that recent iterations of the trans movement have challenged the more traditional markers of being a Woman in Western Culture (visible biological signs, socially-controlled regulating behavior, etc.), and in doing so call into question the beliefs that have long constructed the given parameters of women’s (and, more directly, women’s-only)

Gender subjectivity is another important aspect of the debate around gender because it focuses on a move away from the idea of innate sexual identity characteristics that divide human beings into male and female (Encyclopedia of Critical Psychology, 2014). This type of view challenges the essentialism of sexual difference into something more then a binary between male vs. female, heterosexual vs. homosexual, etc., as it recognizes that these dichotomies are problematic because the term of gender encompasses a whole range of identities across a spectrum. In particular ideas like what does it mean to be equal? (Butler) and seeing division of gender into binary conceptions of identity can be seen as a process of ‘othering’ (de Beauvoir) are some of the areas that this topic examines.

The problem with queer theory is the lack of education that heterosexuals have for this theory. Tyson speaks about his students having a lack of knowledge about the author’s personal lives (whether they are heterosexual or not). Tyson states, “the readers are given little biographical information about a writer’s lesbian or gay sexual orientation, and how the orientation affects their life and

Queer theory questions creations of normal and divergent, insider, and outsider.2 Queer theorists analyse a situation or a text to determine the relationship between sexuality, power and gender. Queer theory challenges basic tropes used to organize our society and our language: even words are gendered, and through that gendering an elliptical view of the hierarchy of society, and presumption of what is male and what is female, shines through. Queer theory rejects such binary distinctions as arbitrarily determined and defined by those with social power. It works to deconstruct these binaries, particularly the homosexual/heterosexual binary.4