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Queer Theory (1)

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27 views25 pages

Queer Theory (1)

Uploaded by

distrust639
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Queer theory

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- Lesbian
- Gay
- Bisexual
- Transgender
- Queer / Questioning
- Intersex
- Asexual
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Queer theory
WHAT is QUEER?
an umbrella term that can refer to just about
anyone in the community.

considered as one of the most respectful and


inclusive way to refer to people with diverse
sexualities and genders.
WHAT is QUEER?
It originally entered the English language in the
early 16th century, meaning "strange," "odd," or
"peculiar"

By the late 19th century, people started using


"queer" informally to describe men who were
attracted to other men.
John Sholto Douglas
often cited as an early user of queer as a slur
against same-sex attracted men.

a British nobleman, remembered for his role


in the downfall of the Irish author and
playwright Oscar Wilde.
WHAT is QUEER tHEORY ?
field of critical theory that emerged in the early
1990s, building on the foundations of feminism,
gender studies, women's studies, and lesbian and
gay studies.
Teresa De Lauretis
was the first to coin the term "Queer
theory" in 1990 during a conference at
the University of California, Santa Cruz.

De Lauretis suggested gay and lesbian


sexualities should be studied, not as
deviations of heterosexuality, but on
their own terms.
WHAT is QUEER tHEORY ?
This theory criticizes the dominant heterosexual binary—the idea that
there are only two fixed genders, male and female.

This binary system places heterosexuality at the center, treating it as


the norm, while other sexualities are labeled as “abnormal”, “illicit”, or
even “criminal”.

Queer theory challenges the foundations of heterosexuality,


particularly its homophobic and patriarchal elements.
HEtereNormativity
the belief that heterosexuality is the standard or “normal” way
of being.

This belief is deeply rooted in institutions like the family,


church, school, legal systems, media, and politics.

For heteronormativity to work, it enforces a strict division


between “normal” (heterosexual) and “abnormal” (non-
heterosexual) behaviors.
Historical
origins of
Terms
Sodomite: Used in the past to describe individuals engaged in
same-sex relations, based on the biblical story of Sodom and
Gomorrah.

Hermaphrodite: From Greek mythology, referring to individuals


with both male and female attributes. Modern term: "intersex."

Homosexual: Describes being sexually or romantically attracted to


people of one's own sex.
The history of
Sexuality
Michel Foucault's work, especially
"The History of Sexuality," points out that
the traditional heterosexual/homosexual
binary is unstable and socially constructed.
He explains that sexual identities are
created by society.
Hélène Cixous Luce Irigaray Julia Kristeva

Several French theorists that explored the idea that


identities are fluid and influenced by social factors.
Sexual identity is intertwined with other aspects of
identity, such as race, ethnicity, social class, and
nationality.
l e a ut ho rs and
Notab
liter ar y t ex ts
Gender Trouble
Judith Butler

This groundbreaking book introduces


the concept of gender performativity
and challenges traditional notions of
gender.
epistemology
of The Closet
Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick

This book explores the binaries of


heterosexual/homosexual and how
these categories shape our
understanding of sexuality.
Borderlands
La Frontera
Gloria Anzaldúa

Highlights the intersections of identity


and experience, particularly for queer
people of color.
Giovanni’s Room
James Baldwin

This novel explores the complexities of a


man's relationships with other men,
challenging traditional heterosexual norms.
THANK YOU SO MUCH

Jesse Kane S. Adino


AB Literature 2B

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