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| Image Source: Queer Youth Initiative Center of Greater Cleveland |
Before I regale you with the information about what queer anthropology is I do want to start with a very important disclaimer: the contents of this blog post are not only incredibly brief but also not comprehensively reflective of the intricacies of this field of anthropological study. This is in part due to the ever-evolving nature of this discipline, but also due to the complexities of study and approaches within it. Any inaccuracies in representing this field are wholly the fault of the author, and I expect and welcome constructive critique to improve this post.
Queer anthropology is the study of variations of gender and sexuality that go against the Western cultural norms, both within and outside of Western cultures. Queer anthropology also recognizes the sociocultural influences on gender and sexuality, including but not limited to roles, expectations, and categories, as well as the power and impact these plays in what is considered acceptable versus unacceptable and in which specific contexts.
This area of study emerged during the 20th century as a means of disputing early anthropological discourse that was disrespectful and ethnocentric, as well as supported and promoted Western and Judeo-Christian ideals concerning gender categories (i.e. the binary male and female) and sexuality preferences (i.e. heterosexuality). It was a reaction among anthropologists seeking to understand how and why other cultural groups held different gender ideals and sexuality categories that ran counter to the Western norms. Ultimately the field evolved from previous anthropological inquiries in gender and sexuality studies since the inception of the discipline of anthropology. Early anthropological inquiries were hyperfocused on gender and sexuality, as seen in the work of Bronislaw Malinoswki, Evans Pritchard, Margaret Mead, and many more. While some early scholars attempted to take a culturally relativistic approach to the subject matter there remained a tension in comparing other cultural norms to those of the Western societies, often characterizing those that ran counter as primitive or deviant.
Over several decades the study of gender and sexuality evolved, and with it the field of study was eventually established. It went through various iterations, including the anthropology of homosexuality and gay and lesbian anthropology, before settling into what it is known as today: queer anthropology. The term queer is used because it is the most inclusive of gender and sexuality diversity, as well as reflects the study of power and marginalization that are often a focus among scholars. The field is also changing and adapting as a result of the incorporation of new knowledge but also the changing cultural dynamics of societies worldwide. Therefore, what queer anthropology represents at one point of time will most likely not be what it is at a later point. Ultimately, the goals of this field of study are to better understand and accept cultural diversity through the lens of gender and sexuality.
Bibliography
Howe, Cymene. "Queer Anthropology." International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences, 2nd Edition. Elselvier, 2015. 1-7. Electronic.
Manalansan IV, Martin F. "Queer Anthropology: An Introduction." Cultural Anthropology (2016): 595-597. Electronic.
Weiss, Margot. AnthroBites: Queer Anthropology Jara M. Carrington. 15 October 2018. Podcast.
Wilson, Ara. "Queer Anthropology." 31 July 2019. Cambridge Encyclopedia of Anthropology. Electronic. 26 May 2021.
6 comments:
I have never heard of queer anthropology. This is a great field of study considering how open the world is to queer in this day of age. Theirs nothing wrong with being queer and I love the fact that anthropology have a field of study for it. I learned that queer anthropology will change constantly due to the fact that queer is being accepted More each year which is a great thing.
-Jasmine Hill
Queer anthropology is new to me I never heard of it until reading this article.I love the fact that anthropology goes into so many fields.Knowing that queer is becoming more moral in this day in age I can't wait to see how much more information they will find.-FE
I didn’t know that queer anthropology exist. Queer anthropology is the study of variations of gender and sexuality that go against the Western cultural norms, both within and outside of Western cultures. I think it’s interesting to study different genders and cultures. I don’t like when people talk about others gender and try to put them down. I believe that everyone should be equal and not talked about because you never know what their going through.
AJ Moore
That fact that the area of study did not emerge until the 20th century shows how out of the norm the concept of a different sexuality was to people.
-Jayla Templeton
I never knew queer anthropology was a thing until reading this post. I have always told people that queer folk have always been naturally occurring throughout time. I also have gotten many ethnocentric rebuttals on how this was false and never was able to provide evidence for my claims. After learning about this field i think that i may be able to find research on the subject in the future and that one day it will all be public knowledge.
-Gavin G
This is the first time that I have heard of Queer Anthropology, but I think that it is great to explore all fields of anthropology. The various branches of anthropology help us understand why cultures think a certain way and most time help to determine when the culture or beliefs came about. By studying the queer branch of anthropology, we get insight to the various opinions of the culture's thoughts on homosexuality. We may not agree with their thoughts on the subject, but we have to take into account their culture's beliefs without judgement.
McKenzie Williams
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