Queer Theory

Brittany Ricketts

Section I. Short Essay:

A. Queer Theory

a. Jagose in her introductory chapter explains that one’s sexuality is not as cut and dry and society may make it seem to be. There is a much more fluid definition of sexuality that is expressed in Queer Theory. “Queer” is an an umbrella term to include any form of sexuality or sexual preference that does not adhere to the mainstream heterosexual norm. In other words, “queer” is a place where one whose sexuality is not deemed, “traditional” can find a home. This includes and is not limited to: lesbians, gays, hermaphrodites, cross-dressers, transvestites, among many others. Because of its inclusive nature, queer is powerful in uniting everyone whose sexuality has had a history of discrimination. No longer are they the weird, outcast minority, but together they become the majority and can fight together and unite in a common cause. On the other hand of this, many don’t like the term queer because of its generic nature and the fact it includes so many people. Criminal acts like peodfilia and beastiality technically fit under the term queer, and some who fall under those categories use queer as a justifiable identity to their criminal acts. Secondly, because it blurs the lines of strict identification, some women’s rights movements feel that it is a generic term that wipes out women and casts them under a thicker cloak of invisibility. For women specifically, being a lesbian and having that identity is so important especially in comparison to the gay male identity. They want to be known that they suffer special injustices because they are gay AND because they are women. It is in the intersectionality that is important to the cause and cannot be thrown away or thumped in with the term queer.

B. “No one asked me if I was gay when they called out ‘Medic’!”

b. This quote is from George Dohmann who saw action at Normandy & Battle of the Bulge

c. WW2 turning point for...