WMST 4421 Queer Theory

Prerequisites: PHIL 2010 or WMST 2010. Queer theory is concerned with the power of the strange, the non-normative, and the upsetting to open up new possibilities for thought and practice. The central claim of Queer Theory is that selves and identities are products of social practices and power relations. This powerful claim allows us to ask questions that are impossible when identities are taken as simple or natural. This class will focus both on sexual identity and on race, class, gender, and ability. We will pay special attention to the history of the LGBT rights movement.