Normalcy or Queerness
Some new acquisitions this week, none of which are available at Borders so my personal shopping day privilege will be in vain:
Beyond the Closet, Steven Seidman
The Trouble with Normal, Michael Warner
Virtual Normal, Andrew Sullivan
These are all additional readings to Professor Kenji Yoshino's Covering. Warner and Sullivan belong to two opposing camps that split the gays, technically speaking. Sullivan represents the group that calls for the embracing of politics of assimilation. His normalcy claim urges the gays to reject notions of sexuality as cultural subversion, because it will further alienate the majority of gay people who not only accept the natural origin of their sexual orientation, but wish to be integrated into society as it is.
Warner vehemently reviles Sullivan's view-he believes the society should integrate into the gay culture. He argues that people who are defined by a variant set of norms (namely, straight norms), commit a kind of social suicide when they begin to gauge the worth of relationships, thoughts, and ways of life by the yardstock of normalcy. This radical emphasis on schism from mainstream (meaning straight norms) is conducive to queerness.
I see myself in neither of the spheres. I don't flaunt my homosexuality but I don't mind holding hands or showing affection in the public. The men in speedos and women with bare breasts at Gay Pride are being criticized for propping up misconceptions that further undergirds inequality. I think it's another way of expressing, or flaunting their belief that they think it's equality. But I won't walk around naked simply not because I think it's a shame, but rather a personal condition. I believe in a level of commitment to autonomy: choosing the axes of which I wish to cover or to integrate. Gays should be given the freedom of coming out at the expense of their own time frame.
Beyond the Closet, Steven Seidman
The Trouble with Normal, Michael Warner
Virtual Normal, Andrew Sullivan
These are all additional readings to Professor Kenji Yoshino's Covering. Warner and Sullivan belong to two opposing camps that split the gays, technically speaking. Sullivan represents the group that calls for the embracing of politics of assimilation. His normalcy claim urges the gays to reject notions of sexuality as cultural subversion, because it will further alienate the majority of gay people who not only accept the natural origin of their sexual orientation, but wish to be integrated into society as it is.
Warner vehemently reviles Sullivan's view-he believes the society should integrate into the gay culture. He argues that people who are defined by a variant set of norms (namely, straight norms), commit a kind of social suicide when they begin to gauge the worth of relationships, thoughts, and ways of life by the yardstock of normalcy. This radical emphasis on schism from mainstream (meaning straight norms) is conducive to queerness.
I see myself in neither of the spheres. I don't flaunt my homosexuality but I don't mind holding hands or showing affection in the public. The men in speedos and women with bare breasts at Gay Pride are being criticized for propping up misconceptions that further undergirds inequality. I think it's another way of expressing, or flaunting their belief that they think it's equality. But I won't walk around naked simply not because I think it's a shame, but rather a personal condition. I believe in a level of commitment to autonomy: choosing the axes of which I wish to cover or to integrate. Gays should be given the freedom of coming out at the expense of their own time frame.
7 Comments:
I read about Covering a short time ago and definitely want to pick up the book. I'm with you on the not fitting into either category. I am what I am.
Greg, I strong recommend this book. I met Professor Yoshino at an informal setting and the conversation with him on growing up as Asian American makes me think of covering in a new light.
What always plagues me is when people ask me where I come from. Lately I have experienced reverse-covering demand when I visit Asia. I tried not speak perfect English in Hong Kong just so I don't get pummeled for being arrogant. But in return, I fielded questions like, where do you come from?!? I was often mistaken as ABC or Japanese!
I am what I am. Yoohoo!
Jeff said to me about two years ago that the Georgia Equality Campaign was approaching the marriage protection legislation wrong. For one, it was going to be passed by a landslide no matter what. Furthermore, they needed to change their angle to showing tha GLBT people are just like everyone else and are nothing to fear. Regardless of how different some gay people may feel, many of the things we desire are universal no matter who we love. Ironicaly, the Georgia Equality Project is now taking this approach.
Hi Matt,
Thanks for linking me to your blog. :)
Jef-
I was reading about how women, especially married women who have had kids, they would limit their maternity leave to only 6 weeks in order to downplay their motherhood. There exists in the work atmosphere that women who have given birth to kids will be softened by pregnancy - that they will not work as hard when they return. So this kind of covering and reverse-covering bullshit prevail for women in a man-dominated sphere such as politics and work. Equality is something that can never be achieved. There will be demands to cover.
My straight friends expect me to "do all the gay things" like going to dance parties with undertow of uninhibited sex, cruising bars, getting pedicures, dressing up like a barbie doll, and hitting the gym. Well...I hit the gym for health purpose but I certainly don't mind the second glance! :)
Matt,
You provided the specific opinion I have unfortunately not heard for too long. The idea that personal deportment is by mandate fully autonomous in this country, and must be supported as such.
While I have a hard time seeing progress stalled to any measureable degree because dykes on bikes drives through the parade, that is something I am willing to live with. Mandating people conform to rigid expectations of the dominant culture is plain and simple good ol' oppression in its original form.
Excellent post and interesting blog.
Al-
Thanks for stopping by. I was reading a book about covering, reverse-covering and assimilation, which inspire me to babble about the subject. I feel we haven't heard noises about how social minority groups are being divested of their civil rights, or, to be more accurate, human rights.
Many of the cases that are brought to courts reflect the fact that courts do make distinction between "being" and "doing". Discrimination against the disabled, the gays, the women are surely disfavored, but there exists a more subtle force that mandates people conform to rigid expectations of the dominant culture.
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