Key Terms
Antiquarianism
The study of history with particular attention to ancient artifacts and archaeological and historical sites.
Queer theory
Often considered an aspect of critical theory with roots in feminism. It is counterhegemonic.
Critical theory
Reflective assessment and critique of society and culture using social sciences and humanities to reveal and challenge p
Counterhegemonic
Confrontation or opposition to a status quo or hegemonic power and its legitimacy.
Normativity
The phenomenon of designating some actions or outcomes as good/desirable/permissible and others as bad/undesirable/imper
Heteronormativity
The belief that heterosexuality, predicated on the gender binary, is the norm or default sexual orientation.
Queer emphasis in archaeology
"instability of the subject" and "fluidity of identity."
Binary oppositions
Words and concepts considered direct opposites (example: man/woman, male/female).
Bioarchaeologists
Those who study human remains in archaeological sites. Term coined by Grahame Clark in 1972.
Pamela Geller on ancient Maya remains
"femaleness and maleness reside at opposite ends of a continuum with ambiguity situated in the middle. A strict binary o
Processual
The methodological study of cultural change and variability in archaeology.
Gender fluidity
A person's gender identity may change throughout the life cycle or in different contexts.
WARNING FROM SCHOLARSHIP
Maya transsexuality was a strategy for understanding cosmic power. Projecting fixed, public trans identities onto ancien
Abjection
The state of being cast off; one who is abject has been rejected.
Michel Foucault (The History of Sexuality)
Sex and sexuality are embedded in discourses shaped by power. Experts in medicine and science played a role in creating