#gender and sexuality studies

[book51ut]

Review of Cruising Utopia: The Then and There of Queer Futurity by José Esteban Muñoz

This book was excellent. It argued that we must be constantly striving towards a queer utopia. that doesn’t discount the queer past or queer present, but that queerness itself exists outside of straight time in some version of future that is never truly attainable but instead a mindset and a way of living. He also focused on queer art as a means of proving this thesis. He strongly criticized assimilationist gay rights movements and claimed that they are feeding into “straight time,” capitalism, and heteronormative ways of thinking. He cited Bloch and Adorno heavily which was a very interesting choice.

I think my biggest criticism of this work was how dense and academic it was. I think we should absolutely have queer studies within academia , but writing like this, so densely and convoluted, to me, is embodying the idea of straight time. Things can be said in easier ways, you’re just choosing not to do so. I also think that people would be more willing to engage with dense philosophical material if it was presented in a readable way that wasn’t just academics sucking each other off.

[rodspurethoughts]

Spelman College Celebrates the Inauguration of 11th President Dr. Helene D. Gayle

"Congratulations to Dr. Helene D. Gayle on being inaugurated as the 11th President of Spelman College! We're excited to see all the great things she will accomplish. #SpelmanCollege #HeleneDGayle #InvestitureCeremony #HigherEducation

[fullyassembled]

Hollywood Tries Its Hand at Video Essaying

Trying my hand at pop culture writing, and sharing some admirable people's work.

GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES (remix remixed 2013) by Laura Mulvey: http://mediacommons.org/intransition/2014/03/04/intransition-editors-introduction Andrew Dominick’s “Blonde” (2022) is often hyper-focused on minuscule moments of Marilyn Monroe (played by Ana de Armas) in states of pose (and some times repose). In these moments, Dominick seems to be covering some of the same territory as thinkers,…

[ao3demographicssurvey2024]

In case you missed it, these are just some of the graphs from the AO3 Demographics Survey 2024 - an unofficial demographics survey of 16,131 AO3 users.

You can find the first section of the results, including full transcriptions of all the data above, on AO3. The second section of the survey will begin posting results soon!

[greyncvember]

i got to class and my professor said "i have a meme i think you'll really like" and showed me this

[a-study-in-bullshit]

i refuse to be embarrassed of who I am and what you once were just because you changed and think I should too

[cyrankaa]

I love you bi Dean I love you gay Dean I love you transmasc Dean I love you ace Dean I love you-

[yummy-egg]

I might be slightly emotionally attached to earlyklok cuz I love thinkin abt the buildup of this love and the foundation it's built on even if things get shaky over the years ;-; )o

Still in the closet in his 20s, nowhere near comin out in his 30s either.. he'll get there eventually !!

[uncanny-tranny]

Two things that are simultaneously true:

1. Gender and sexuality are complex and can be fluid. An identity isn't always fixed and can change with time for many reasons

2. It is not acceptable to force others to change their gender or sexuality and the mantra that they (queer people) can change if they only "try hard" is both cruel and homophobia and/or transphobia

[angstics]

im her kind of girl -> positioning yourself outside your assigned gender

shes my kind of boy -> queering your attraction to someone of seemingly the opposite sex

literally a tumblr post. "it's always gay sex no matter who sleeps with me" "my gender is bisexual" "boygirl boydyke femmefag". a decidedly not mainstream and very queer sentiment. this is where zoomer queerness is going. less emphasis on labels, embracing ambiguity. how did gerard way hit it exactly. in 1 almost-throwaway line. what?

[themauvesoul]

Anyways what grinds my gears specifically about the Barbie movie is the same thing that ground my gears during the feminist courses I took in college. Fundamentally, feminism is an analysis of gender. You cannot examine what a woman is or how women are positioned in society without also examining what gender is and how gender is created, maintained, and replicated on a societal level. This is an unavoidable part of the larger feminist project. And yet. In many cases. Feminist analysis focuses solely on the gender binary. Gender is analyzed through the lens of binary gender. You have men, and you have women. Furthermore, much of feminist analysis (particularly older analysis) focuses on heteronormative expressions of gender, because this is the driving force behind misogyny.

The problem with this occurs when feminists treat binary gender as a natural and normalized thing, as opposed to the artificial creation it actually is. Once you start looking at gender solely through the lens of “woman experience” and “man experience,” you can very easily fall into the trap of gender essentialism, where you take one specific group of women’s (and men’s) experiences, and you treat those lived experiences as a rubric by which all other women (and men) should be measured. This is how the white feminism we all love to dunk on was created; 2nd wave white middle class feminists began speaking to one another and formulating a list of Common Experiences that later became the Universal Woman Experience, to the detriment of woc, lgbtq+ women, disabled women, etc., who often found that their experiences with womanhood didn’t make the list.

And like. This is my problem with the Barbie movie. It falls into this same trap of gender essentialism. In the Barbie movie, there are two genders: Barbie and Ken. These categories are immutable and unchangable, and have very specific, rigid rules that must be followed. All the Barbies are femininity idealized; some Barbies are allowed to be fat, or black, or visibly disabled, but all of the Barbies are hyperfeminine. Every Barbie wears heels. Every Barbie has perfectly styled hair and perfectly matching outfits. Every Barbie has perfect makeup at all times. Every Barbie always looks runway-ready, no matter what her circumstances are. Likewise, every Ken is a study in idealized masculinity. While the Kens do wear colorful outfits that match the movie’s glitzy, saturated aesthetics, the Kens all have chiseled six packs and flawless skin. There is no fat Ken, or ugly ken, or feminine ken, and there is no Barbie who wears a crew cut and work boots. Weird Barbie comes the closest to gender nonconformity, but her nonconformity is mocked at every turn; the rest of the barbies treat her as though she’s diseased, and weird barbie herself treats her short hair, messy makeup, and baggy clothes like a curse she’s gotten used to bearing, as opposed to a source of joy or comfort.

And like. The movie is so allergic to showing any visible deviation from this gender binary that it fundamentally destroys its own premise. We’re meant to believe that Stereotypical Barbie is becoming less perfect, and that this is a good thing, but we’re only ever shown this imperfection once; as a disembodied 1-second shot of cellulite that could belong to anyone. You never see the cellulite on Margot Robbie’s body. You never see Barbie’s imperfection manifest physically; instead, it remains in the abstract realm of imperfect thoughts. Likewise, the movie spends a long time critiquing toxic masculinity, but never extends that critique to masculinity itself. Ken’s moral lesson is that he’s just Ken, as in he’s just a man, but the movie doesn’t bother presenting an alternate version of what it means to be a man beyond vaguely gesturing towards the abstract notion of Masculine Man, But Good This Time, Because He Is Nice To Women Somewhat. So while the movie might’ve had some salient points with regards to gender and feminism, it gets lost in the simple fact that, just like mainstream feminism, it offers a shallow critique of women’s position in society without critiquing the underlying binary structure that constitutes women’s oppression. In essence, it decries patriarchy while continuing to uphold the gendered norms that reinforce patriarchy in our day-to-day lives.

And like. I’ve been seeing a bunch of posts about how it’s bad, morally, to critique the Barbie movie for [insert women’s solidarity reasons here]. But like. The thing is. Why the fuck should I care about solidarity with the fucking Barbie movie. According to the Barbie movie, my butchness is undepictable. I am a shameful exile from womanhood just like weird Barbie; doomed to helping other women realize their full feminine potential without ever reaching it myself, cursed with butchness because of some latent trauma. The Barbie movie doesn’t care about my lived experience as a woman, just like the Barbie movie doesn’t care about weird Barbie’s lived experience as a Barbie. The movie doesn’t care about racism, or classism, or about anything other than a universalized hashtag Woman Experience. If you liked the Barbie movie, fine. If you saw yourself in it, good for you! But don’t try and tell me that the only reason I don’t like the Barbie movie all that much is because Im allergic to fun, or haven’t read enough feminist theory, or just need to practice solidarity better. Feminism isn’t a cudgel you can use to silence people who disagree with you.

[heartscrypt]

i get so mad when ppl say riddle would be ignorant/clueless towards lgbtq+ stuff bc he was raised sheltered. no the fuck he wouldn't. maybe he'd start out that way yeah but as Soon as its implied he doesn't know something hes taking that shit to heart and learning everything he could EVER know about it. hes making a fucking study of it. he knows more than you actually

[queer-book-society]

do you know any lgbtq+ children books?

Absolutely :) 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Title: All Bodies Are Cool

Author(s): Tyler Feder

Description: This picture book is a pure celebration of all the different human bodies that exist in the world. Highlighting the various skin tones, body shapes, and hair types is just the beginning in this truly inclusive book. With its joyful illustrations and encouraging refrain, it will instill body acceptance and confidence in the youngest of readers. “My body, your body, every different kind of body! All of them are good bodies! BODIES ARE COOL!”

Title: A Family Is a Family Is a Family

Author(s): Sara O'Leary, Qin Leng (Artist)

Description: When a teacher asks the children in her class to think about what makes their families special, the answers are all different in many ways — but the same in the one way that matters most of all. One child is worried that her family is just too different to explain, but listens as her classmates talk about what makes their families special. One is raised by a grandmother, and another has two dads. One is full of stepsiblings, and another has a new baby. As one by one, her classmates describe who they live with and who loves them — family of every shape, size and every kind of relation — the child realizes that as long as her family is full of caring people, her family is special.

Title: When Aidan Became A Brother

Author(s): Kyle Lukoff, Kaylani Juanita (Artist)

Description: When Aidan was born, everyone thought he was a girl. His parents gave him a pretty name, his room looked like a girl's room, and he wore clothes that other girls liked wearing. After he realized he was a trans boy, Aidan and his parents fixed the parts of life that didn't fit anymore, and he settled happily into his new life. Then Mom and Dad announce that they're going to have another baby, and Aidan wants to do everything he can to make things right for his new sibling from the beginning--from choosing the perfect name to creating a beautiful room to picking out the cutest onesie. But what does "making things right" actually mean? And what happens if he messes up? With a little help, Aidan comes to understand that mistakes can be fixed with honesty and communication, and that he already knows the most important thing about being a big brother: how to love with his whole self.

Title: My Maddy

Author(s): Gayle E. Pitman, Violet Tobacco (Artist)

Description: A child celebrates her Maddy, who is neither mommy nor daddy but a little bit of both, like so many things in nature. Includes note to parents.

Title: This Is Our Rainbow: 16 Stories of Her, Him, Them, and Us

Author(s): Eric Bell, Ashley Herring Blake, Lisa Jenn Bigelow, Lisa Bunker, Alex Gino, Justina Ireland, Shing Yin Khor, Mariama J. Lockington, Marieke Nijkamp, Claribel A. Ortega, Mark Oshiro, Molly Knox Ostertag, Aida Salazar, A.J. Sass, Katherine Locke (Editor), Nicole Melleby (Editor)

Description: A boyband fandom becomes a conduit to coming out. A former bully becomes a first-kiss prospect. One nonbinary kid searches for an inclusive athletic community after quitting gymnastics. Another nonbinary kid, who happens to be a pirate, makes a wish that comes true--but not how they thought it would. A tween girl navigates a crush on her friend's mom. A young witch turns herself into a puppy to win over a new neighbor. A trans girl empowers her online bestie to come out.

Title: Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag

Author(s): Rob Sanders, Steven Salerno (Artist)

Description: In this deeply moving and empowering true story, young readers will trace the life of the Gay Pride Flag, from its beginnings in 1978 with social activist Harvey Milk and designer Gilbert Baker to its spanning of the globe and its role in today’s world. Award-winning author Rob Sanders’s stirring text, and acclaimed illustrator Steven Salerno’s evocative images, combine to tell this remarkable—and undertold—story. A story of love, hope, equality, and pride.

Title: Jack (Not Jackie)

Author(s): Erica Silverman, Holly Hatam (Artist)

Description: Susan thinks her little sister Jackie has the best giggle! She can't wait for Jackie to get older so they can do all sorts of things like play forest fairies and be explorers together. But as Jackie grows, she doesn't want to play those games. She wants to play with mud and be a super bug! Jackie also doesn't like dresses or her long hair, and she would rather be called Jack.

Title: I Am Jazz

Author(s): Jessica Herthel, Jazz Jennings, Shelagh McNicholas (Artist)

Description: From the time she was two years old, Jazz knew that she had a girl's brain in a boy's body. She loved pink and dressing up as a mermaid and didn't feel like herself in boys' clothing. This confused her family, until they took her to a doctor who said that Jazz was transgender and that she was born that way.

Title: Rebel Girls Celebrate Pride: 25 Tales of Self-Love and Community

Author(s): Rebel Girls, Elena Favilli (Forward)

Description: This collection features 25 inspiring tales of proud members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Read about how these women, girls, and nonbinary people broke down barriers, honored their identities, and lived authentically no matter what anyone else said.

Title: The Mother of a Movement: Jeanne Manford -- Ally, Activist, and Co-Founder of PFLAG

Author(s): Rob Sanders, Sam Kalda (Artist)

Description: The Mother of a Movement tells the story of Jeanne Manford, the founder of PFLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays). When her son Morty was beaten by New York City officials for handing out pro-gay leaflets, Manford wrote a powerful letter to the New York Post to complain about how Morty was treated. In the letter she came out as the mother of a gay son. The letter was published. Morty invited his mother to march with him in the June 1972 Christopher Street Parade. While marching, she had the idea to form a group to help parents and families of LGBTQ+ people. That was the beginning of PFLAG.

[itsagrimm]

*snickers in knowing what the AO3 König tag includes*

[blackwomanvibes]

🌻 How To Live Your Best Ace Life! 🌻♠|The Girlies are BREAKING social norms & gender roles| Ep19

https://youtu.be/1PKmhq87U2k?feature=shared We are discussing the gender expressions, gender roles, and social markers of QUEER Gen Z and young Millennial women. The girlies are QUEER and aren't living for the male gaze. The girlies are prioritizing their humanity for their authentic expression. From body hair, pixie cuts, nonconformity, LGBTQIA+ acceptance and rejecting cishet normative social scripts. 

This includes partnering (amatonormativity), child labor aka procreating (compulsory sexuality), and the 4B movement (refusing allosexuality/gender roles/cishet patriarchy as the default). Let's discuss why the girlies are queer and how queerness opposes hierarchal caste systems such as pickme politics/trade wife indoctrination/soft life aesthetics/hypergamy power plays etc. Full link to this video in the bio! Subscribe to BlackWomanVibes on YouTube!

[medievalthymes]

hey cutie wondering if you have any recs on books on greek mythology? something not too dense...

hmmm like nonficiton? most of my books in that area are from my required readings in uni so they are bit dense, but i remember classical mythology by william hansen being fairly beginner friendly in my first year (plus the cover is gorgeous). I haven't read it but greek mythology by stephen fry seems like a good starting point for a lot of people. after you read those and get a sense of some of the stories, I would just suggest maybe jumping into some of the plays/epics because they play a very important role in the grand scheme of greek mythology. the oresteia by aeschylus is the biggest probably, a trilogy of plays that follows the story of Agamemnon, clytemnestra, cassandra, ect. ofc theres also the Iliad in which emily wilson just came out with a great new translation, and the odyssey is a staple too. Sorry I can't be more helpful!