What is queer theory and how does it help explain the production of knowledge about sexuality?

Type :

Term papers

Pages :

6 pages

Format :

.doc

Published date :

01/13/2009

Category :

Social studies

Sub category :

Psychology

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Summary :

Introduction.
The social constructionist vs. essentialist debate.
Defining the queer theory and the purpose of the definition.
Gay liberationist and lesbian feminist understandings of identity.
The notion of identity.
Epistemological and methodological criticisms.
Potential dangers and negative-side effects of queer theory.
Conclusion.
Bibliography.

Abstract

The term "queer" is slang for homosexual. It is also a synonymous of odd, curious or suspect. It is also the most recent in a series of words that have constituted the semantic field of homosexuality. But "queer" is not simply the latest example in a series of words that describe same-sex desire; it is rather a consequence of the constructionist strain of thought which calls into question any supposedly universal term. In recent years, it has indeed been used to qualify marginal sexual self-identifications or to define an emerging theoretical model exploring the contestations of the categorisation of gender and sexuality notably by opposition to the traditional lesbian and gay studies. It is narrowly linked with the post-structuralist movement and with postmodernism focusing on deconstruction and on the role of language. The problem is that, as Michael Warner says "the appeal of "queer theory" has outstripped anyone's sense of what exactly it means ". In fact, the definitional indeterminacy and elasticity of this notion is one of its essential characteristics and its political efficiency depends on its resistance to definition .