SXST 1600 Study Guide - Fall 2018, Comprehensive Midterm Notes - Toronto, Sexology, Rape
12 Oct 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
SXST 1600
MIDTERM EXAM
STUDY GUIDE
Fall 2018
Sept 18, 2017
Lecture 1
Key Concepts
Queer Theory and Heteronormativity
●Keywords
1. Queer theory
2. Normalizing power
3. Normalization
4. Essentialism
5. Social constructionism
6. Heteronormativity
7. Homophobia
8. Heterosexism
9. Biological determinism
Queer Theory, Essentialism, and Social Constructionism
●Queer Theory=Social Constructionist
●Essentialism
- The belief that normative sexuality is located in human nature, emerging from the body,
it is the same for everyone
●Social constructionism
-the belief that sexualities are socially and historically made
Key Assumptions (from reading)
1. Identities are fixed and essential
●“Queer theory goes beyond these points to challenge the whole notion of individual
identity.” QGH 28
2. Sexuality and Gender are Binary
●“Queer theory goes even further than this in questioning the whole concepts of sexual and
gender identity, and the links between the two” QGH 29
3. Normal and Abnormal Sex can usefully be distinguished
●“Queer theory goes beyond these questions to critique the “regimes of
normativity” and “power relations” that such distinctions are based on.” QGH 30
Normalization
●Process through which something becomes seen as normal or natural
●Key point: creation of norm also creates abnormal/deviant
●Rubin’s Charmed Circle (picture)
Rubin’s Sex Hierarchy (picture)
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
●Ability to make normal= kind of power
●Normalizing power works by:
○Comparing, differentiating, hierarchically, homogenizing and excluding
○Normative assumption: Genitals=destiny
○male=boy/man=masculin
○female=girl/woman=feminine
-Sexuality includes norms of sex and gender
Michel Foucault
●Regulation of sex=key operation of modern power
○Occurs at 2 levels
■Individual body
■Population
●Power not only repressive, also creative/productive
●Power/knowledge: knowledge is socially produced
○Capital T truth little t truth
○Determines normal/abnormal
History in the present
●Significance of history and social context---> allow us to see political and moral basis of
sexual regulation
●Role of state
○Morality=key element in citizenship and inclusion in social space
Heteronormativity (from OGH)
●Refers to a set of related cultural assumptions were normal or natural form of attraction
and relationships is one man and one woman who:
❏Normally or naturally embody conventional gender roles and norms and
❏Have sex whereby the man's penis penetrates the womans vagina (PIV sex)
❏Other forms of sexuality and gender are less normal or natural than this
❏Thus people are assumed heterosexual until proven otherwise
Homophobia
●“The set of negative attitudes towards gay and lesbian identified people and to ‘same sex’
sexual practices and relationships (QGH 85)”
Heterosexism
●“Bias or discrimination in favour of ‘opposite-sexual’ relationships and sexual attractions
and in favour of hetterosexual”
●Heteronormativity Components
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Keywords: queer theory, normalizing power, normalization, essentialism, social constructionism, heteronormativity, homophobia, heterosexism, biological determinism. The belief that normative sexuality is located in human nature, emerging from the body, it is the same for everyone. The belief that sexualities are socially and historically made. Queer theory goes beyond these points to challenge the whole notion of individual identity. qgh 28. Queer theory goes even further than this in questioning the whole concepts of sexual and gender identity, and the links between the two qgh 29. Normal and abnormal sex can usefully be distinguished. Queer theory goes beyond these questions to critique the regimes of normativity and power relations that such distinctions are based on. qgh 30. Process through which something becomes seen as normal or natural. Key point: creation of norm also creates abnormal/deviant. Ability to make normal= kind of power. Regulation of sex=key operation of modern power.
