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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Queer theory - and what it means in extremis

54 replies

deepwatersolo · 04/09/2018 16:14

I have signed up again after a long pause, particularly because I wanted to share this in the light of current events, and because questions about Queer theory were asked (I lurked on here), and I just saw a revelatory talk about it on you tube.

Derrick Jepsen boils it down to:
violating social norms, in order to subvert power structures.

You could argue that how the Soufragettes acted was 'not normal' at the time, same for Gays&Lesbians with their Parades, and it indeed worked and freed them. You could make the same point for people who defy gender norms (trans umbrella), to subvert the prison of gender expectations. (Of course, most would argue that this is fine, as long as women's rights are respected. Queer theorists might however argue that the fact that women's rights are a social norm now means, women now are the oppressors).

However, Queer theorists basically say every social norm is an expression of oppression and must be subverted - which also leads to the rationalization of paedophilia. Here is an interesting summary of Queer theory's position on paedophilia in form of a quiz at a uni lecture by Jepsen:

(I recommend the whole lecture, also about anarchy and mysogyny. the paedophilia section as a whole starts at 1:51:30: .

I found that quite enlightening and thought, I'll share it on here. Smile

OP posts:
terryleather · 04/09/2018 16:59

I've never understood how "violating social norms" or queering does anything to change systems and structures of power - it only seems to allows for individuals to change themselves, so as an e.g a female can trans and escape the position of subordination in the gender hierarchy ("I'm alright Jack"), but it does nothing to address the actual patriarchal power structures themselves. The individual is all, no class analysis - very neoliberal.

It also strikes me as very masculine in it's ideas about transgressing boundaries as a good in and of itself.

carceralfeminist · 04/09/2018 16:58

What is this video, and who are these entitled assholes who can't even listen to a person reading what sounds like eco-poetry?
Give them some cough drops and tell them to turn their fucking phones off.
They're just as bad as the Scientologists trying to punish "suppressive persons."

VickyEadie · 04/09/2018 16:37

"Queer theory" looks to me like nothing more than a means of making some people's appalling kinks 'acceptable'.

NameChangedAgain18 · 04/09/2018 16:35

Dear god, the tantruming kids in that classroom. What pathetic brats.