How Does Stychin Understand the Concept of Queerness - Essay Example

? Questions and answers What is queer theory? Queer theory refers to the radical reorientation of the earlier gay and lesbian scholarships. This theory tries to expound on the subversion of dominant discourses and the potentials for transgression. Queer theory tries to explore the explore on the identities of the lesbian and gay communities with respect to postmodern roots. It is imperative that the queer theory highlights on the shifts between the sexual acts and identities. This theory therefore, underscores the permeability of the sexual boundaries. 2. How does Stychin understand the concept of ‘queerness’? According to stychin, queerness is a form of resistance towards the boundaries of identity and binaries. This is due to its imposition on the lesbian and gay communities. He argues that queerness to some extent is a form of reaction to the perceived exclusions that accrue owing to the classification of sexual identities into various categories. Stychin points out that, queerness is a product regarding to the movements of sexual orientation with respect to politics and liberal assimilation. He perceives queerness a response to the politics of liberal assimilation. Stychin also describes queerness as a form of resistance to the lesbian and gay politics in that core basis of sexual identity depends on the individual subjectivity. According to stychin, queer finds its anchor on the cultural experience of devastation. He states that, queer poses great challenge to the sexual identities that were developed beyond the unitary aspects of sexual identities. It is apparent according to stychin, that queerness encompasses the contingency of all boundaries especially with respect to social practice and identity. Stychin asserts that queerness represent subversion of categorical thinking owing to its capability of networking constantly to achieve political objectives. He argues that, in the realm of sexuality, queerness seeks to challenge the opposition regarding its theory and practice. In essence, Stychin points out that queerness enhance the approaches of post-culturalism and deconstruction. Therefore, queerness may be employed to fast track the relationship between political activism and the sexual practices. Pertaining the concept of queer theory, Stychin describes heterosexuality as securing the self identity through the protection of ontological boundaries. It is evident that, the queer theory poses a big challenge to the foundational categories of gays and lesbians. Stychin underscores the assertion that, the discursive constitution depends on the constant enactment of the endangered identities. He asserts that the queer theory outlines the normative performance with respect to gender. Basing on gender theory, it is clear that there is no original gender since the homosexuals and the lesbians tend to deviate. His views from a sociological perspective exude radical rejection of identity categories. He criticizes the queer theory stating that, it lacks credibility to account for the obvious social structure foundations, especial with respect to gender and sexuality. According to stychin, it is imperative that the material feminists have a capacity of criticizing the dangers associated with the queer theory. 3. What is ‘queer legal theory’? Queer legal theory is a theory, which envisions the formation of the queer community and consciousness. It is imperative that, the queer legal theory is enhanced by sensibility owing to the community’s attainment of sexual minority hood such as gays, lesbians, and bisexuals. The initiation of the queer legal theory aims at resolving the opposition to the encroaching subordination. The legal queer theory governs the progression of the sexual minorities to queer consciousness and sexual minority hood. The queer legal theory tries to guard the queer social practices in the field of law. This includes issues regarding the assertion of sexual identities and transgression. This law strives to guard against permeability of sexual boundaries with regard to homosexuality manipulation by law. It is important to note that, the queer legal theory strives to retain the preparedness to the interrogation of the legal, social, and political perspectives with respect to sexuality. It is worth noting that, the queer legal law deems a powerful and meaningful tool in the regulation and constitution of identities. The law also serves in guarding against repression by individuals in the society. However, it is apparent that the law requires social struggle in spite of failures in the past. It is clear that, without the law on queer legal theory, many may abuse the natural status of dualism. It is important to note that the law plays a vital role in the deconstruction of the lesbian, gays, and heterosexual identities. Concerning the legal queer law, the tendency of the organizations and the bisexuals to disregard the lesbian and gay rights, is alleviated. The law also guards against the tendency of the bisexual activists to overlook the problem that may accrue with respect to lesbian and gay politics. It guards against the perception of the notion that gender is relatively fixed and thus the choices of sexual partners warrant central consideration. The legal queer theory strives to assert the meaning and fixity of identity in cultural conditions. It is important to note that the utility of queerness rests on the fact that, it provides a core with which coalitions are developed to attain contingent unity. It is imperative that, the queer identity effects its own exclusions. In addition, the law guards against the self-reflectiveness, and indeterminacy of the boundaries. In such a scenario, the categories of identity appear constraining and exclusionary. The law on queer theory enhances the attainment of the objective goals regarding the social theories in terms of construction and deconstruction of identities. It is important to note that, some firms of sexual identities are behavioral and this may be ascertained by thorough scrutiny by the judiciary. According to Stychin (1995 p. 140), the conservative judiciary identifies the gays and lesbians as not in order to constitute the identity category. It is important to note that the sexual orientation determines one’s identity. It is therefore, valid for the sexual identities to warrant legal protection owing to its culpability to invidious discrimination demand. It is apparent that the primary gender orientation warrant legal protection. 4. How does Judith Butler understand gender identity? Butler goes against the odds stating that the gender identity is not natural but rather constructed naturally. Butler declares his support for the for gender conception as put forward by several feminists. Butler points out various forms of female oppression that determines the lifestyle of women in the society today. In her support for the cultural constructiveness of gender identities, Butler points out how the religious and civil law bestows men some rights whilst denying women. The home hierarchy for instance, ranks men above women whilst treating women as objects of sexual satisfaction, property, and even servants. She defines feminism as a movement with intentions of emancipating women. Butler asserts that, the character of the sexual and social relationships determines the sexual identity. She states that women should be accorder equal rights as men. She argues that the cultural gender perceived roles should be switched to embrace equality. Concerning the gender identity, Butler shows how women were identified negatively in the society and with respect to the cultural norms. Butler downplays the people’s cultural beliefs pertaining to gender. She thus, falsifies other people’s views and beliefs on gender terming the beliefs as illusionary. She asserts that culture is not natural hence; the gender identity warrants determination with respect to cultural values and believes. Her claims concerning gender exhibit much strength with respect to gender identities. Butler points out the distinction between double heterosexuality and bisexuality with respect to the sexual desires. She also describes masculinity as an important factor towards the identification of gender. It is apparent that some masculine identities will express their desire for men whereas others will express their desires for men. 5. What implications do Butler’s theories have for the way we understand and analyse law? Buttler’s theories play significant roles in building one’s capacity towards the understanding of the law. By her description of how the determination of gender identity can be realized, Butler gives detailed explanations regarding the cultural and social values that define the gender identity. By emulating Butler’s adherence to postmodernist and post-culturalist practices, one is bound to understand and abide by the law. In her quest to explain the factors pertaining to gender identities by using various theories, she outlines various societal norms that are always embraced by the society. By adhering to the norms, uphold of morality and the bending of the law will prevail in the society. It is important to note that, the cultural norms are impetus to the general binding laws of the society. 6. Cooper attempts to understand the relationship between power and sexuality using 3 examples: sex radicalism; radical lesbianism; and sadomasochism. a. Define each of these terms b. How do each of these practices/identities challenge ‘normal’ views about gender and sexuality? Sex radicalism describes the history regarding the contest for sexual repression. In their quest to validate and reconstitute their range of sexual possibilities, the sex radicals constituting of gays and lesbians are drawn on social and cultural practices. The sexual radicals however, do not depict natural sexuality instead; they always agitate for sexual desires. It is apparent that, the indigenous sexual diversity gives the provision of the basis for normative claims with respect to the desirability. Radical lesbianism is a form of lesbianism that targets gender oppression. It is important to note that radical lesbianism employs so many techniques that warrants advanced technology. This includes rhetorical texts, lesbian centered discourses, forms of erotica, and the cultural performances. It is imperative that radical lesbians are characterized by sexual dominance, political dominance, and subjugation. In this case, heterosexuality aims at maintaining women’s sexual subordination. This ensures that the male get accessed to female for sexual purposes. Sadomasochism is a mode of sexual satisfaction. It is argued that sadomasochism is therapeutic, safe, pleasurable, and consensual. It is apparent that the ability of the sadomasochism to transform power relations, determines the impacts of social practices on wider sexual relations. Sadomasochism poses a significant impact on the social perspective of the society with respect to domestic sexual relations. It is evident that the political ambitions are always bestowed on sadomasochism. Question 7 Sexuality characterizes the various pleasures and desires that are seen in humans. People define themselves as who they are or which group they belong based on their sexuality. People in societies often stick with the notions that sexualities can be categorized as normal, deviant, or abnormal. Whenever an issue regarding sexual orientation is subjected to the public domain, people tend to associate the types of sexualities with certain characteristics and standards. Since the actions incorporated in the various sexualities include behaviors, practices and identities, these sexual expressions lead to a judgment that defines an individual in society. The body, which server to define and depict sexuality, is both an instrument and an effect of power. Certain sexualities are viewed as normal and standardized, depending on the society it is subjected to. For example, in many African nations, homosexuality is viewed as a deviant sexual behavior. Therefore, people associated with this sexual character are isolated and experience contempt in the society. They are not listened to, or taken seriously whenever they speak. In the process, the society will award status based on an individual’s sexuality. Those individuals having those sexualities viewed as abnormal or deviant will not enjoy substantial power in the society. As a result, people will not display their sexual characteristics for fear of being undermined by the society. If certain sexuality is advocated for by a society, an individual displaying sexual behavior associated with the sexuality will be enjoy a high status in the society. Therefore, people are always careful when it comes to matters concerning their sexuality because it determines their social standing. Copper uses this concept to depict the role played by sexual conduct in shaping an individual’s behavior in the society. The relationship between sexuality and power structures an individual’s conduct in the society. Question 8 According to both Copper and Stychin, transgression is the breaking away or acting contrary to the norms of the society. Transgression is normally associated with sociological and psychological causes. The psychological causes may be cognitive developed interests as a result of coming into contact with the tenets of the behavior. Social factors may include the influences acquired from other members of the society. All these causes may make an individual to act contrary to the expected standard of behavior of the subject society. Therefore, transgression in terms of sexuality corresponds to those sexual behaviors and practices that are contrary to the normal sexual practices of the society. Transgression does not bear substantial similarity with resistance. Mainly, resistance is the psychological defense mechanism employed by an individual when he/she is confronted for acting contrary to the norm. Resistance is the inherent nature if an individual to resist conforming to the standard or the expected way of life. In terms of sexuality, an individual may be resisting to stick to the expected sexual behaviors. He/she knowingly resists the actions characterizing normal sexuality and acts in a manner contrary to the standard behavior. Reference Stychin, C. F 1995, Law's desire: sexuality and the limits of justice. Routledge: USA Read More