POLS 2150 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Queer Theory, Heteronormativity, Masculinity
11 Apr 2016
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Document Summary
Sex gender and political change: sex, gender and politics reprised. More radical theories of positive feminine identity: established feminine subjectivity and social standpoint, woman identified woman. Refused to interact with patriarchy: lesbianism was adopted as a political stance. Gender was paramount there was a feminine identity, not focused on the sexual identity: questioned compulsory heterosexuality" and argued that heteronormativity is part of misogynist patriarchy. Criticized for being essentialist, shutting out men: feminineness" was seen as something inherent in someone born with a certain set of genitals. Stable same-sex identity constituted through the gay and lesbian movement: eve sedgewick: binary of heterosexuality/homosexuality focused on only one aspect of sexual possibility, exclusion of non-conforming people. Queer theory is seen as a threat by feminists and gays: normalizing identity important to political demands but also limiting. Butler argues that the concept of gender as a self identity is problematic. Reinforces the stable masculine and feminine identity which reproduces heterosexuality as a norm.
