Key Terms
Liberal/assimilationist approach
Foregrounds privacy, individual autonomy, equal access to institutions (marriage, military). Queer approach: demands pub
Work
After the Party: A Manifesto for Queer of Color Life (2018) Core claim: Explores how music and art affect audiences; cre
David Halperin
Historian of classical Greek culture; provided historical evidence for Foucault's theoretical claims; argues using moder
Jonathan Ned Katz
Argues heterosexuality is also a social construct and a modern invention; stripping it of normalizing power is the goal.
Core concept
Sex-gender system Definition: "The set of arrangements by which a society transforms biological sexuality into products
Limitation
Like Rubin, treated sex as biological and unchangeable; kept a nature-nurture binary in place. Later conceded Suzanne Ke
Significance
Harbinger of queer theory; directly influenced Butler.
Critique of Gender Trouble
Ignored the materiality of the body and real sex differences. Butler's response (Bodies That Matter, 1993): Sex is a reg
Direct quote
"Masculinity must not and cannot and should not reduce down to the male body and its effects." Parallel to Newton: Just
Transgender studies
Interdisciplinary field that challenges discursive and institutional regimes of normativity. Distinction from queer theo
Assimilationist
Strategy to gain access to or assimilate into existing social structures like marriage or the military.
Homonormativity (coined by Lisa Duggan)
Activist work by LGBTQ+ groups that represents the interests of white middle-class gay men; supports assimilation into i
Neoliberalism
Political ideology favoring economic liberalism, trade liberalization, financial deregulation, small government; accepts
Heteronormativity
The assumption that heterosexuality is the default, normal, or preferred sexual orientation and that gender exists as a
INTERSECTIONAL
Overlapping or intersecting social identities (race, class, gender) produced by social structures of inequality. Coined