Queer Theory
So I was talking to my professor yesterday and he introduced me to this really interesting theory in sociology called Queer Theory. This theory completely blew my mind, well I guess not completely, because I had been thinking about some of these issues for a while now, but it was nice to know that others have thought about this before me.
From my understanding, at the heart of queer theory is the notion that the categories and labels that we have in society (often related to identity, etc.) are limiting to our human creativity and nature and actually limits how we think and interact with the world. In its most radical form queer theory looks to abolish all forms of categories and live in a world where the labels that we have for each other does not exist and we just are. Queer theory often focused in the concepts of sexuality and gender, although the principles can apply to any identity.
With regards to gender, can you imagine society without the man and woman binary? Why does the biological sex that we are have so much to do with our roles in society and what we should dress like, how we should act, etc. Gender is a social construct that is limiting and oppressive in its very nature.
Queer has a very broad definition, but anyone can be queer with regards to queer theory, it has nothing to do with sexual orientation, but rather just the willingness to be controversial or question the things that we take for granted in society.
I normally don't trust wikipedia, but for once it gives a pretty good overview if you would like more information.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queer_theory
From my understanding, at the heart of queer theory is the notion that the categories and labels that we have in society (often related to identity, etc.) are limiting to our human creativity and nature and actually limits how we think and interact with the world. In its most radical form queer theory looks to abolish all forms of categories and live in a world where the labels that we have for each other does not exist and we just are. Queer theory often focused in the concepts of sexuality and gender, although the principles can apply to any identity.
With regards to gender, can you imagine society without the man and woman binary? Why does the biological sex that we are have so much to do with our roles in society and what we should dress like, how we should act, etc. Gender is a social construct that is limiting and oppressive in its very nature.
Queer has a very broad definition, but anyone can be queer with regards to queer theory, it has nothing to do with sexual orientation, but rather just the willingness to be controversial or question the things that we take for granted in society.
I normally don't trust wikipedia, but for once it gives a pretty good overview if you would like more information.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queer_theory
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