Hegemony and Heteronormativity: Revisiting 'The Political' in Queer Politics

by María do Mar Castro Varela, Nikita Dhawan, Antke Engel

This book reflects on 'the political' in queer theory and politics by revisiting two of its key categories: hegemony and heteronormativity. It explores the specific insights offered by these categories and the ways in which they augment the analysis of power and domination from a queer perspective, whilst also examining the possibilities for political analysis and strategy-building provided by theories of hegemony and heteronormativity. Moreover, in addressing these issues the book strives to rethink the understanding of the term "queer", so as to avoid narrowing queer politics to a critique of normative heterosexuality and the rigid gender binary. By looking at the interplay between hegemony and heteronormativity, this ground-breaking volume presents new possibilities of reconceptualizing 'the political' from a queer perspective. Investigating the effects of queer politics not only on subjectivities and intimate personal relations, but also on institutions, socio-cultural processes and global politics, this book will be of interest to those working in the fields of critical theory, gender and sexuality, queer theory, postcolonial studies, and feminist political theory.

Genres: Gender Studies

224 pages, Hardcover

First published March 11, 2011

Reviews

[Paige McLoughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first book on Queer theory I picked up and goes pretty deep into social assumptions and the idea of heteronormativity with some classification schema and categorization theories for subversive or oppositional subcultures. Some of the material was a little heavy going I am still a bit squeamish on some topics I am from a socially conservative background and some of it must have rubbed off a bit subconsciously. The BDSM topics and power fantasies are a bit hard to digest for someone who probably still has some heteronormative hang-ups residual from a Catholic background. I get what the author was getting at but I usually don't venture on to topics like that. Anyway, an interesting book and the lingo isn't too bad. Anyway, heteronormative power over people boils down to default social assumption that can have consequences on marginalized groups and individuals living their daily lives on the ground in manner and law and life chances and choices available.