The term Queer in the webster dictionary is defined as, “(informal offensive) (of a person) homosexual. denoting or relating to a sexual or gender identity that does not correspond to established ideas of sexuality and gender, especially heterosexual norms.” Based off this term one would think that this could be one of the worst things to define someone as. However, by the embracement of the term “queer” the LGBT+ community has reclaimed the word to mean something beautiful. I think that the best way to look at Queer in today and incorporating into the community would be as Hall said in Queer Theories on page 88, “If it is to retain its ability to abrade the natural, queer must be continuously denaturalized itself, And this means posing and continuing to pose some very hard questions about its omissions, blindspots, normal practices,and nervous avoidances.” Meaning the term itself needs to be able to adapt into the community that is ever changing.
Before this class the term Queer had been associated with a negative connotation as well as the LGBT+ community. I had seen the word be used in a negative way in a way to offend someone. As someone who is outside of the LGBT+ community this word does not have much effect to me, however to someone in this community it does. I later learned that the word Queer can be an identity for someone on how they identify within the community by either gender, sexuality, or both . Upon learning this I understood how this could be used as a homophobic term. However I see the embracement of this word a take back by the LGBT+ community. This word “queer” has never left the community, it has been stolen to try and demean someone who does identify as queer. By identifying as Queer one is taking back a word that was never meant to be anyone else’s but the LGBT+ communities. The history of this word is shown during Chapter 1 of Hall’s Queer Theories. “Queer” has always been around whether or not people recognized it.
I see the defining of Queer as something of power. By not allowing this word to be turned corrupt and used as a term of hurt it is power. Someone who identifies as queer is strong and powerful for being brave enough to embrace who they truly are. I view this is a term of power for the LGBT+ community due to the take back of the word as stated before. This fosters Justice for the word and the community due to the fact that it makes people think before they say homophobic terms. As an ally I would be willing to call out anyone who uses the term queer in a incorrect way. Using my privilege allows for this word to fully reclaim a meaning within the LGBT+ community. I’m not saying that I should be able to use this word without recognizing what it fully means to someone who does identify as Queer. In order to do this allies must listen to what the concerns and worries are in the community around them. During our brave space training I learned the best way to be an ally is to listen to the LGBT+ community.
I think that the limitations to the term “queer” come from outside the community. So, someone who is not a member of the community cannot use the term queer without knowing what it fully encompasses. I also think that the term queer has to fully encompass the time it is going through. Looking back to chapter 1 of Hall’s Queer Theories the term queer did not necessarily mean the same thing it means now. By saying that queer needs to be able to change with the time I mean that the community should be able to see how the term can fully encompass everyone who identifies as Queer. Through this course I have truly learned what this term means to others and how it can effect my daily life. That is why I believe we should embrace the term “queer” due to everything it has been through and what it means to the LGBT+ community.
I loved the sentence about how queer is a powerful word because the LGBT community reclaimed the word that was never supposed to be for anyone else. I like this point because based off of your definition of queer from the Webster dictionary it clearly says that it is a definition of people in the LGBT community, the connotation just needed to change from offensive to empowering. Based on your last paragraph of limitations what do you mean by someone who is not a part of the LGBT community should not use the word unless they fully understand what it encompasses? What amount of knowledge should someone outside the LGBT community have before they can use queer?
ReplyDeleteI really liked that you keep coming back to the fluidity of the term queer itself, beginning with the idea that queer theory necessitates the constant questioning of what is considered natural and rigid. This may mean that, to your point of not using the word unless we know fully what it means, that our work toward understanding the complexities of this term is never finished. At the beginning when you say this dictionary definition is offensive, is it because it implies that heterosexuality is the norm and the LGBTQ+ community as other?
ReplyDeleteThank you, Caitlyn, for your post. I, too, appreciate your perspective on how the meaning of this term has and will continue to evolve and that the meaning and use of this term should come from the community whom it has historically targeted and continues to hold meaning for.
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