What the Heck is Queer Theory?
A (somewhat) short essay on the amazing theory that shapes how I see the world. Let's dive into queer identities, hegemonic values, and what it means!
Queer (V).
To queer is to make change or to act in a way that is disruptive of normativities, which is to say in ways that rejects both the normal and norms as a matter of principle, particularly but not entirely limited to matters of sex, gender, and sexuality.
A friend in my (now old) Graduate Cohort sent out a message to the twenty odd souls that are still in a group chat. They wanted to know what “queer theory” is, as they were having a conversation with someone and they needed a clear definition.
We all immediately jumped in, overloading the chat with GIFs, emojis, and powerful statements. It was overwhelming for sure and absolutely did not provide a clear definition.
It did, however, spawn a new queer theory book club that a few of us go to, where we sip coffee and have hard conversations about the confusing nature of queer theory.
In my friends’ mission for a clear definition, they decided to send out a Google form for everyone to fill out, and collect all of that data. They sent the completed list my way the other day, and I was able to sit down with it and look through everything we all said.
The confusion increases.
A couple of key points from the responses deal with the use of the term “queer” and the failings of language, otherness and marginality, resistance to heteronormativity, and intersectionality. There are also some points of disagreement found throughout the eighteen-page document.
The disagreements concern the actual scope of queer theory. For example, some are enthusiastic about applying queer theory to anything unconventional or marginal, while others express skepticism about stretching the concept too far beyond its roots in sex, sexuality, and gender.
There is debate over how central sex, sexuality, and gender should be to queer theory. Some see them as foundational and worry about losing focus if the theory is applied too broadly; others believe queer theory’s power lies in its flexibility and applicability to all forms of normativity and power. One response distinguishes between "queer" as a collective/political identity within the LGBTQIA+ community and as a broader theoretical stance, noting that not all LGBTQIA+ people identify with "queer" in the same way.
This is made even more difficult to arrive at a consensus because, by definition, queer theory resists definition.
Frustrating I know.
To help make sense of Queer Theory, I’ll provide my best attempt (at this time) at providing some clarity. Keep in mind, I am coming at this from a literary perspective that dabbles in cultural values.
For those of you who have never dabbled, queer theory’s definition is difficult to pin down. It exists as a response to categorized differences, and frequently seen as the antithesis to heteronormative values. Michel Foucault explores this further in their work The History of Sexuality, where a central argument explains that heteronormative behavior is the norm, meaning it is visible in all public spheres of the cultural construction, thus queerness or otherness must exist in the unseen spaces.
It exists behind closed doors, in whispered tones and code language.
In Jay Stewart's chapter on Genderqueer and Nonbinary Gender they highlight Foucault’s standpoint, stating: “Establishing categorisations for ‘abnormal behaviour’ means to often draw on stereotypes, social expectations, and concepts of gender ‘norms.’” For some reason, heteronormative colonialism demands that objects have labels. Things need to be seen or clearly identified by the normative gaze, in order for it to make sense. This appears in a multitude of roles, specifically within families. As children, boys are given monster trucks, guns and blue clothes, while girls are given baby dolls, beauty pageants and pink. Heteronormative households would look like the nuclear family: Mom, Dad, Jack and Jill, safe and sound in suburbia behind a white picket fence.
Stewart goes on to state: “Queer theory and politics necessarily celebrate transgression in the form of visible difference from norms. These 'Norms' are then exposed to be norms, not natures or inevitabilities. Gender and sexual identities are seen, in much of this work, to be demonstrably defiant definitions and configurations.” The statement is clearly drawing upon earlier works from Judith Butler, specifically Gender Trouble, establishing that gender and queerness are determined by performative roles, not necessarily sexual orientation.
This stance sparked some huge debates that we can still see today. Hop on Instagram, threads, or Reddit, and I’m sure you’ll find someone arguing “what is a woman?” J.K. Rowling has also negatively weighed in on this conversation with her own transgressive viewpoints and damaging rhetoric. Because of the fluidity that exists in the natural world, gender roles are constantly shifting and reorganizing themselves, thus movements of gender, from a social standpoint, consistently redefines their own assemblages.
Returning to family values, when compared to the nuclear family, the single father raising two daughters is a queer family–even if the father is not gay—because it is ‘othered’ by heteronormative social paradigms. The purpose of queer theory is not meant to limit itself only to the configurations of singular sexual identity imposed by hetero values, but rather shed those labels to create more inclusion and acceptance, so society can actually progress forward. The theory allows for us, scholars and writers, to break down what exactly is being said by analyzing that queer other to arrive at unique conclusions.
One of my favorite standouts from the questionnaire is:
The goals [of queer theory] are to identify moments/opportunities that highlight the disparities between disenfranchisement and the cultural/social norms by focusing on those underrepresented groups impacted and then examining what these groups change and challenge about society. Apply it anywhere! Queer can be a verb!
The quote at the very top of this article comes from New Discourses, positioning the word queer as a verb. Queer theory is a way for everyone to learn, grown and move to a more inclusive future, but only if we put it into action.
The next time you’re out and about in the world, even grocery shopping, try and think more about how to be queer.