Want a NOOK? Explore Now
What constitutes lesbian identity?
The term homonormativity describes current prevailing idealized assumptions about lesbian identity. This concept, however, marginalizes subgroups within the greater lesbian population. Challenging Lesbian Norms: Intersex, Transgender, Intersectional, and Queer Perspectives dynamically confronts homonormativity in lesbian communities by presenting expert multidisciplinary discussion about what is a definable lesbian identity. This text sensitively explores difficult issues about gender policing and the viewpoints in lesbian communities that hold that transgender, intersectional, and queer individuals are considered to have 'false consciousness.' Consequences of lesbian normativity, both for lesbian communities and for marginalized groups are examined through literary criticism, lesbian, feminist, and queer theories, corporeal philosophy, film, television, cultural criticism, personal narratives, public health, and field research.
The issue of the authenticity of lesbian identity causes rifts between some lesbian communities and the groups that strive to be included, yet are still marginalized. Challenging Lesbian Norms directly exposes practices and beliefs within lesbian communities that lead to the assumption of the prototypical lesbian. The book courageously reveals the similarities of lesbian normative stances with other views such as Christian conservative rhetoric, and reviews the health consequences of being marginalized within the lesbian communities. This text actively challenges the foundational notion within lesbian communities that a stable, immutable lesbian sex exists.
Topics in Challenging Lesbian Norms include:
The sociological interest of Drop...Dead should not blind readers to the pleasures of the queenly sardonic voice of the narrator and of the characters or of the black comedy of the intersection of ecstasy and murder in the clubs. Along with showing a scene from today's gay world rarely depicted with accuracy or subtley, Tonne Serah's novel provides many LOL pleasures of the text. (Stephen O. Murray, author of Angkor Life and Pacific Homosexualities)
One glance up, though, and he knew exactly where he was. Beneath the spinning lantern, dead center of the dance floor of San Francisco's biggest queer night klub. This was his spot, where he danced every weekend, surrounded by hundreds of glistening male bodies sliding against each other like sausages in a meat factory while the deep house mixes of dj Marcus Barker made the air vibrate in front of his eyes.
Or was that because he was rolling? No, because he was hardly rolling at all. Marcus B had just spun out his favorite song—Madonna's "Music" (albeit, a tragically flawed mix by Rumblesnatch)-and he should be flying but he wasn't. Manny and his damn Little Buddhas. They should call them Little Putas, just like him.
Then Joey heard the unmistakable opening beats of "Dive in the Pool," a song he detested with every fiber of his being.
That's it, he decided, I'm dropping again.
Drop ... Dead: The DJ Murders is a must read not just for fans of murder mysteries and detective stories, but for anyone who enjoys comedy and satire as well. The book also appeals to anyone interested in queer cultural politics, the social policies of the war on drugs, and the world of today's gay circuit parties and dance clubs.
Overview
What constitutes lesbian identity?
The term homonormativity describes current prevailing idealized assumptions about lesbian identity. This concept, however, marginalizes subgroups within the greater lesbian population. Challenging Lesbian Norms: Intersex, Transgender, Intersectional, and Queer Perspectives dynamically confronts homonormativity in lesbian communities by presenting expert multidisciplinary discussion about what is a definable lesbian identity. This text ...