Academic journal reviewing and queer theory

[oggbogg]

Hi all, I have a question and I have a specific reason to ask this but I am going to keep it quite general as I am worried it could be outing. If you are an academic whose broad area covers gender / feminism / inequality, would you be willing to review a paper that uses queer theory, especially one that uses the term cisgender? I would be really interested in people's response to this. Thanks in advance!

Absolutely - provided the paper is interesting to me and within my area of expertise. A review provides an opportunity to debate these issues, to explore if theory is being used effectively, and to alert the author and editor to drawbacks of particular terminology.

Picking battles is also important, though. I would decline if I thought it was going to take me so long to explain what was wrong with the paper that I'd do better to write a paper of my own on the subject. I would also decline if the review invitation materials (title, abstract if provided) were such well-tossed word salad that I thought it would be a waste of my and the editor's time to even look at the paper itself - and I would tell the editor so.

If you are nervous to give your honest opinion to the editor, especially if you are a junior or insecurely employed researcher in a conformist field (I don't recall if you've disclosed that elsewhere) then declining to review on grounds of lack of time could be the right decision.

No because I don't understand what cisgender is. I got sent something a while back that talked about 'cisgender mothers'. I don't even know what that is. If I were to review honestly I'd probably get into trouble. Frankly, it's not worth it.

Hmm. Really interesting thoughts, thanks. I was happy to review something on queer theory if it was about destabilising norms etc etc. However, once it starts to introduce terms such as cisgender with no reflection or interrogation, I struggle. I have gone back to the editor and explained those difficulties, and suggested that given my misgivings about the fundamentals of the theoretical approach, I may not be best placed to review. (But I also recognise that if as academics we are nervous about respectfully challenging those fundamentals that is really problematic.) So, no idea if I have done the right thing and really concerned about how the editor will respond. And also feel stupid - maybe I should have just said no. Thanks again for thoughts.

I probably would, if as reviewer I was permitted to review the term 'cisgender' and its use by the author(s).

Hi laughinggenome - I have checked that with the editor and will do so. It will be interesting to see how this goes.