Academic Game Changers: Queer Theorists

Refresher: What is Queer Theory? A “queer” is anyone who feels outside of the societal norms in regards to gender, sexuality, ect. Queer theory examines the socially constructed nature of sexual acts and it challenges the idea that sexuality can be defined as an identity. It includes any sexual activities or identities that fall into normative and/or deviant categories. Queer theory focuses on mismatches between sex, gender, and desire, including topics such as cross-dressing, intersexism, gender ambiguity, and gender corrective surgery.

Judith Butler

Date of Birth: February 24 th, 1956 Nationality: American Childhood: Judith was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and her parents were Russian and Hungarian.

Judith Butler Post-Secondary Education: Judith got her BA at Bennington College. She also went to Yale University and got her PhD in Philosophy in Adult Life: Since 1993, she has been working at the University of California in the Department of Comparative Literature & the Program of Critical Theory.

Judith Butler Most Prominent Works and Publications: Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity (1990) Bodies That Matter: On the Discursive Limits of Sex (1993) Undergoing Gender (2004) Frames of War: When Life is Grievable (1990) An Interesting Fact: Judith has her own tagline: “Slowly step away from the Barbie doll and out your hands in the air”

Judith Butler Theories/Ideas: Third-Wave Feminism – began in the 90’s and dealt with issues such as race, class, stereotypes, and gender role expectations. Women readopted “feminine traits” such as wearing lipstick and high heels, and proudly showing cleavage, which was not done during the first two waves of feminism = “Pinkfloor”. Pinkfloor – “It is possible to have a push-up bra and a brain at the same time” Critical Theory – Applying knowledge from the social sciences to assess and critique society. Post Modernism Post Structuralism

Judith Butler How They Changed Things: Judith changed understandings and perspectives for academia and laypersons by teaching such subjects at Universities. Judith also published books and other articles for those who are not experts on this particular field of study.

Michel Foucault

Date of Birth: October 15 th, 1926, in Poitiers, France. Died: in 1984 from an AIDS-related illness Nationality: French Childhood He was the second of three children, he has an older sister and younger brother. He came from a middle-class family. His fathers and grandfathers were all surgeons/doctors, and Michel was encouraged to enter a profession in medicine.

Michel Foucault Post-Secondary Education: Michel graduated from Saint-Stanisias School where he studied philosophy. He also attended Lycée Henri-IV Michel was ranked the 4 th highest in his class and had a very impressive academic record. In 1946, he attended the École Normale Supérièure d’Ulm, which was the most impressive French-humanities school. Michel received his doctorate d’état in Michel received his doctorate d’état in 1959.

Michel Foucault Adult Life: Michel was openly homosexual and was in an intimate relationship with his partner, Daniel Defert, for 25 years. In the 1950’s, he worked in a psychiatric hospital. He taught French at the Universities of Uppsala, Warsaw and Hamburg In the 1960s’, he was the head of the philosophy department at the University of Clermont-Ferrand

Michel Foucault Most Prominent Works/Publications: “The History of Sexuality” “Discipline and Punish” “The Birth of the Clinic” “The Order of Things” An Interesting Fact: Foucault was one of the most influential yet controversial post WW2-era scholars.

Michel Foucault Theory: “The History of Sexuality” – An intro into gender studies that explained how sex is a fundamental part of religious, scientific and political conversations. Sexuality comes from the influence of institutions and discourses. Foucault’s theory explained how we should focus on what sexuality produces rather than what produces sexuality. Scientia Sexualis – Breaks sexual discourse up into three categories: psychoanalytic, political and scientific. Homosexuality is produced through dialectical exchange, it is not discovered. Sexuality is tied to truth.

Michel Foucault How They Changed Things: Foucault was a major influence on the study of gender and queer theory. He sparked interest on the construct of sexuality, power, culture and society. He created a theoretical platform for future queer theory students. theory students.

Gloria Anzaldúa

Date of Birth: September 26 th, 1942 Died: May 15 th, 2004 Nationality: American Childhood: Gloria was born in South Texas Rio Grande Valley but moved to Hargill, Texas at age 11 She worked on the fields from her childhood until she was in college and her father died when she was 14 years old. Gloria did very well in school, she graduated from Edenburg High School in 1962, and was the only Chicana in advanced classes, however she was mocked and punished by her teachers because she only knew how to speak Spanish. After high school, Gloria wanted to become a writer.

Gloria Anzaldúa Post Secondary Education: Gloria attended Pan American University where she received her bachelors degree in English and Art in Gloria also received her masters degree in English from the University of Texas. Adult Life: Gloria worked as a preschool and special education teacher. She moved to California in 1977 to teach creative writing, feminism and Chicana studies in Universities. Gloria won many awards throughout her life. She was completing her PhD in Literature while dying from diabetes but it was awarded to her in 2005.

Gloria Anzaldúa Most Prominent Works and Publications: Co-edited “The Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Colour” (1981) One of the most cited books in feminism history Her autobiographical narrative, “Borderlands: The New Mestiza” (1987) The narrative explores her identity as a Chicana lesbian feminist. It was listed under the 100 best books of the century.

Gloria Anzaldúa Interesting Facts: Gloria was a Chicana dyke/lesbian feminist, poet, writer, and cultural theorist. She began menstruating at age 3 – a symptom of endocrine condition that caused her to stop growing at age 12. When reflecting on her illness, she announced “I was born a queer.” Gloria felt an intense sexual attraction towards her own father, animals, and trees when she was growing up. She later ended up being attracted to both men and women,

Gloria Anzaldúa Theories: Gloria was the first author to combine feminist, queer, and Chicana theories in poetry, narrative, and autobiographical works Wrote a speech called “Speaking in Tongues: A Letter to Third World Women Writers” Focused on the shift towards an equal and just gender representation in literature. Introduced “mestizaje” to U.S. audiences. “A state being beyond binary” “New mestiza” – challenged binary thinking in the Western world.

Gloria Anzaldúa How They Changed Things: While race normally divided people, Gloria called for people of different races to confront their fears and move forward to a less hateful world. Her work challenged the status quo and made real change in the world.

Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick

Date of Birth: May 2 nd, 1950 Died: April 12 th, 2009 Nationality: American Childhood: Born in Dayton, Ohio where she was raised in a Jewish family, with an older sister raised in a Jewish family, with an older sister and younger brother. and younger brother. She was very interested in queer theory.

Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick Post-Secondary Education: Eve went to Cornell University from 1967 to 1971, where she received her undergraduate degree. She also attended Yale University from 1971 to 1975 where she received her PhD. Adult Life: Eve was a poet, artist, literary critic and teacher, who was always wanted to find or create environments filled with the freedom and support that she needed.

Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick Adult Life Continued: Eve was a Professor at The City University of New York Graduate Center where she taught English graduate courses. In 1969, she married her spouse Hal Sedgwick. On April 12 th, 2009, Eve passed away after a battle with cancer at the age of 58. Most Prominent Works and Publications: How to Bring Your Kids Up Gay Queer Performativity Henry Jame’s The Art of the Novel Jane Austen An Interesting Fact: Eve was known as “the queen of queer theory”

Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick Theories/Ideas: Queer theory studies build upon feminist challenges to the idea that gender is part of the essential self and upon gay/lesbian studies. Queer theory focuses on “mismatches” between sex, gender, and desire. How They Changes Things: Eve influenced people to change their views on gays/lesbians for the better. People began to believe that everyone was the same and equal.