Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Journal Review & Thoughts - February 2014


Kirsch: Queer Theory
Queer Theory has an interesting approach, the belief that sex and gender should be treated separately on their own instead of identifying with past movements and theories. By separating itself from the movements that initiated LGBTQ rights and led to advancements such as gay marriage, queer theory has managed to alienate itself from public support, some of its own communities and the ability to effectively fight for change and freedoms of those ignored by society. By doing so queer theory might have in fact unintentionally reinforced homophobia and resistance to support for queer individuals.
Kirsch has a good remedy for the situation in mind. Instead of identifying with or as a specific category, sex and gender should be viewed as fluid. This is a way of thinking that can be safely applied to any and all identities while allowing those currently excluded to have the same freedoms we all enjoy today. We should fight to support each other and collectively fight for the advancement of rights across the board for all members of society.
Q: Why do you think identities were so important to the birth of social movements, why is it still harder to fight for equal rights for all human beings?

Gammon: Troubling the Canon
In this article, the authors explain how bisexuality is a unique issue within queer theory and actually any movement it is involved with. On one side bisexuality aligns with queer theory and its quest to blur the lines between sexualities and the rejection of identities due to the ambiguity and duality of bisexuality. However, bisexuality also implies that there is a connection with dual identities, which opposes the core movement of queer theory, since identities are unnecessary and opposed by queer theory
Q: Do you agree with queer theory that it is best/beneficial to avoid identities in general?

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