There are a lot of parts of queer culture that can seem intimidating to an outsider, not the least of them being various dialogues that have been going on within the community an also in academia. But having just a basic background on a few of these dialogues can help give you a grounding that will be useful in discussions about gender and sexuality you find yourself in. Queer Theory is essentially the intellectualization of sexual orientation and some of the issues that surround sexuality and its origins.

Queer issues, Bisexuality, Transgender/Intersex, Men’s Issues and Women’s Issues are sections in the GSC library that are full of resources on queer theory. Listed below is a sampling of essays available in GSC library books that should be helpful. If you’re interested in reading more on these topics, there are resources available in the GSC library, or you can talk to a Women’s and Gender Studies professor.

Anne Fausto-Sterling’s “The Five Sexes: Why Male and Female Are Not Enough” and Michael S. Kimmel’s “Masculinity as Homophobia: Fear, Shame and Silence in the Construction of Gender and Identity” in Women, Culture and Society: A Reader, Barbara J. Balliet, ed. Section: Women’s Issues - General

Judith Butler’s “Imitation and Gender Insubordination” and Marjorie Garber’s “Spare Parts: The Surgical Construction of Gender” in The Lesbian and Gay Studies Reader, Abelove et al. ed. Section: Queer Issues – General

Chapter Two, “The Invention of Sex”, in Jeffrey Weeks’ book Sexuality. Section: Queer Issues – General

Janice M. Irvine’s “Toward a ‘Value-Free’ Science of Sex: The Kinsey Reports” in Sexualities in History: A Reader, Kim M. Phillips, ed. Section: History

“Kinsey’s Seven-Point Scale of Sexual Identity” in Sexuality, Robert A. Nye ed. Section: Queer Issues – General

LGBT Vocab | Myths and Realities | Symbols of Pride | Heterosexism | Homophobia | Queer Theory | How-To