Queer Experiences Research Articles

Genderqueer reflections on Weird Barbie

For better or worse, Barbie (2023) was part of a summer blockbuster phenonemon. Much of the fanfare around the film included conersations about feminism, ‘girlhood’ and whether or not the film was reductive in terms of upholding an iconic yet often criticised doll. This article attempts to wade through that noise by focusing on my own experience of the film as a genderqueer feminist academic. Blending personal reflection with queer theory and feminist critique, I unpack the use of the gender binary in Barbie Land and the implications, if any, for viewers and the overall ‘feminist’ positioning of the film (and whether or not that matters). In particular, I focus on Jack Halberstam's concept of gender failure and what that failure looks like in the idyllic world of Barbie. Following my own feminist epistemological commitments, this article makes use of academic as well as non-academic texts, in addition to blogs and other pop culture sources. Ultimately, this article considers the role of whiteness in the acceptance of the non-normative characters in Barbie – particulalry Weird Barbie – and why it is essential for white queers to remember that their experiences are not the queer experience.

Queer citizenship in 1990s Britain

ABSTRACT This article argues that the 1990s was a distinctive period in the British queer experience. A perceived rise in violent homophobic attacks marks the decade out, as does the activist culture which emerged to counter it. The article argues that ideas of citizenship became an important vehicle for queer activists, especially when challenging legal inequalities such as the age of sexual consent for gay men. Queer citizenship campaigns highlighted the state of legislated inequality for queer Britons which was seen to be worsening during the 1990s. This article examines two main examples of such campaigns, grassroots direct-action movements and legal test cases, arguing that queer citizenship was an increasingly useful concept for queer activists and campaigners.

Against Chrononormativity: How May a Concept of Queer Time Challenge Traditional Ideas of Historical Progress?

If we, in modernity, define time as the standard by which we measure and organise the expected life course, as ‘linear, ordered, progressive, and teleological’ (Luciano, 2007:2), then queer discourse and experience can be seen to exist as oppositional to it. Historical progress is marked by heteronormative assumptions of the life course - regarding factors such as bodies, achievements, goals, and productivity - assumptions that queer communities may not always assimilate to. This essay aims to discuss how a concept of ‘queer time’, borne from this alienation and difference, can be seen to challenge traditional, heteronormative, and ‘western’ ideas of historical progress. To do so, it is important to consider further concepts, such as chrononormativity, grief, and activism, through contesting queer theories on futurity. Additionally, all arguments should contemplate intersectional applications, as what we define as ‘the queer experience’ continues to adapt and diversify.

An inquiry into queer experiences of regimes of morality in Indian schools: a phenomenological institutional ethnography

Previous studies indicate various atrocities against queer individuals in schools globally. However, no in-depth inquiries have been conducted into the experiences of queer individuals in Indian schools. A novel form of ethnography – phenomenological institutional ethnography (PIE) based on Schutz’s phenomenology of life-worlds and Smith’s institutional ethnography was devised to conduct a qualitative inquiry into the experiences of queer individuals. Participants included 19 queer individuals from different regions of India. Findings revealed five forms of disciplinary mechanisms in schools: regimenting through silencing, moral dictation, name-calling, public shaming, and physical abuse, which deleteriously affect the development of self-concept among queer individuals, and leads to experiences of alienation and inauthentic self-expression, guilty conscience and internalized homophobia, and compromised mental health and low self-esteem. Developing inclusive policies to provide a supportive school environment in India for the queer population is suggested.

Queer Experiences of Religion: How Marginalization within a Religion Affects Its Queer Members

We sought to understand how the mental state of religious queer individuals is affected by religious marginalization and queer identity. Using a multi-method approach, we analyzed data from 626 participants to assess how a queer status affected psychological distress and life satisfaction, the mediating effect of strength of faith on the relationship between the queer status and life satisfaction, and the moderating effect of experiences with marginalization on the relationship between the strength of faith, psychological distress, and life satisfaction. Queer status was found to have a significant impact on queer individuals’ psychological wellness and life satisfaction. Marginalization experiences decreased psychological wellness and life satisfaction. Our qualitative analyses add to these results, describing the weaponization of queer identity in religious settings. These results can be attributed to the strong main effects of queer status and strength of faith on psychological distress and life satisfaction rather than tertiary variables.

Ultimate Fantasy. Subwersyjne strategie queerowania Sztucznej Inteligencji w projektach transliterackich

This article describes artistic examples of queering Artificial Intelligence (AI), which can be understood as a practice that challenges the (hetero)normative nature of neural networks by implementing a queer perspective. The evaluation of ways in which AI reflects societal norms is conducted by addressing biases that disproportionately affect marginalized communities. On this basis, the author highlights the need for inclusive practices that make it possible for queer experiences to be represented by technology while also discussing why AI cannot be neutral. The in-depth study of Ultimate Fantasy, a collection of literary texts generated by a Queer AI, reveals how artists use language models in novel, subversive, and possibly liberating ways. The author aims to frame this practice as an example of a queer utopian aesthetic project in accordance with José Muñoz’s understanding of queerness. The various motifs evident in the short story collection – such as queer modes of love or trauma – are analyzed as reflections of themes present in the corpus of queer texts used to train the language model.

Psychosocial correlates of LGBTIQ+ experiences in selected African countries: Reimagining LGBTIQ+ research

AbstractThis paper explores the multifaceted experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, or queer (LGBTIQ+) people in selected African countries within legal, health, and educational sectors, and the broader society. It further highlights efforts that address issues around inclusion and social injustice. In the selected African countries (e.g., Ghana, Namibia, Kenya, and Uganda), LGBTIQ+ related activities are constitutionally illegal, leading to social discrimination or criminalization. Discrimination and stigma occur in various institutions which promotes homophobic sentiments, self‐harm and ostracization among LGBTIQ+ people. Notable countries like South Africa and Mozambique, have decriminalized same‐sex relationships, but these have not necessarily halted incidences of homophobia, social alienation, and discrimination that persist across the continent. In this article, queer theory and sexual minority stress theory are applied as contextual tools to explicate the everyday experiences of LGBTIQ+ people in sectors such as law, education, and health. As a contribution to the discourse on LGBTIQ+ people and research in Africa, this article further explores how discrimination, stigma, compulsive survival coping strategies, and legislation impede the overall psychosocial wellbeing of LGBTIQ+ people. Although this paper's narrative is primarily restricted to a few selected African countries, the narratives are relatable to non‐Western states with collectivist cultural orientations.

Queer Narratives in Indian Cinema : A Comparative Study of Traditional and Modern Depictions" Films Like Taali , Haddi , Super Deluxe , Margarita with a Straw and Aligarh

Indian cinema has historically reflected societal attitudes towards LGBTQ+ identities, with early portrayals often confined to stereotypes and marginal roles. Traditional films frequently depicted queer characters as either comedic caricatures or tragic figures, reinforcing societal biases and limiting authentic representation. This study examines the evolution of queer narratives in Indian cinema, highlighting the significant shift towards more nuanced portrayals in contemporary films. Films such as Taali (2023) and Margarita with a Straw (2014) showcase a move towards depth and empathy, reflecting broader societal changes and greater awareness of LGBTQ+ issues. Taali offers an authentic portrayal of a transgender activist, while Margarita with a Straw provides a ground-breaking depiction of a bisexual woman with a disability. Similarly, Aligarh (2015) and Super Deluxe (2019) demonstrate a departure from superficial portrayals, focusing on the complexities of queer experiences. Despite progress, Bollywood still grapples with outdated stereotypes, underscoring the need for ongoing advocacy and reform. This study emphasizes the importance of these evolving portrayals in fostering a more inclusive cinematic landscape and contributing to societal understanding of LGBTQ+ experiences.

Using feminist critical management studies to examine LGBTQ+ women’s experiences of inclusion and exclusion in rugby

ABSTRACT The purpose of this research is to examine the experiences of lesbian, bisexual, gay, takatāpui, queer, and allies (LGBTQ+) women in rugby in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Using Feminist Critical Management Studies (FCMS) the research shows the potential of these experiences to inform the development of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in sports organisations. FCMS places feminism at the centre of organizational research and seeks to disrupt hegemonic masculinity. This means that DEI policy and practice generation, and implementation, are informed by the knowledge experiences of a marginalized group, in this case, LGBTQ+ women. Mixed methods were used, comprising an online Qualtrics survey, which enabled the collection of descriptive quantitative data about 143 respondents’ demographics and experiences. The quantitative data revealed that women’s rugby is generally inclusive for LGBTQ+ community members. Of the 143 respondents, 69 also provided open text qualitative responses. The qualitative results were thematically analysed, revealing further details, such as inclusion as personal support; and inclusion as rugby culture. Constraints to inclusion were identified, as well as exclusion through traditional club environments. The respondents provided thoughts on future inclusion through the development of education and awareness. The research contributes to DEI in sport management by asking questions about how DEI knowledge is created in sport organisations, who are the guardians of that knowledge, and whether and how might sport managers adapt their practices to respectfully ensure that marginalized peoples’ views inform DEI.

Finding Mother, Finding Ourselves: An Essay Inspired by Vissing’s “The Impact of Negation of the Maternal Body”

This paper places maternal subjectivity in an embodied, intersubjective context through the use of personal narrative. In response to the work of Helena Vissing (this issue), who lodges a critique of how psychoanalysis has negated aspects of maternal experience, it both extends and challenges her ideas, reacting to the disembodied nature of her critique and relocating it into the realm of an autobiographical story. It also problematizes cis-heteronormative biases in scholarship around maternal subjectivity through the inclusion of queer experience and queer family configurations in the narrative.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) menopause: Literature review, knowledge gaps and research agenda.

There is growing interest in menopause discrimination in healthcare, the workplace and beyond. However, there is a dearth of research on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) experiences of the menopause. This article reports on a scoping review of the recent literature which identified a very limited number of articles and a wide range of knowledge gaps. This is discussed in relation to LGBTQ+ wider health, healthcare and workplace inequalities, and heteronormative and cisnormative conceptualisations of the menopause. A research agenda is proposed. Research should: be intersectional; differentiate between LGBTQ+ sub-groups; aim to understand how menopause experiences impact and are impacted by minority sexuality/gender identities; and examine how menopause healthcare and workplace support can be LGBTQ+ inclusive. Such research is urgently needed to ensure that LGBTQ+ people are fully included in menopause justice discussions and solutions.

Producing Space(s) Through Poetry: Geofeminism in Contemporary Romanian Poetry

This paper aims to analyse recent tendencies in contemporary Romanian poetry from a geofeminist perspective. This specific form of feminism emerged within humanistic geography and socio-spatial theories as a response towards the “masculinist particularism” (Michèle Le Dœuff) of western geography as an academic discipline. By denouncing the postulated exhaustive nature of geographical knowledge, geofeminism’s programme is to rearticulate the traditional social space from the perspective of a cartography produced by flexible gender relations and performances. For its geopolitical position within the globalising phenomenon powered by uneven influences, the Romanian literary scene appears to be urging to consolidate the post-communist void regarding feminist theory through manifesto-texts and queer poetry. I rely my study specifically on poetic works from the frACTalia publishing house, due to their affirmed left-wing feminist consciousness. By following the factors involved in producing a space for the post-socialist Romanian queer experience, I undertake an analysis of the specific methods through which geofeminism is rendered in accordance with the need of a new poetic vocabulary and praxis.

The Implications of Queer Representation in Contemporary South Korean TV Narratives

Existing scholarly works on the topic of queer representation in South Korean media focus primarily on Korean cinema and K-pop, but there are far fewer studies on queer or queer-coded portrayals in Korean TV media. Queer characters and relationships are gradually becoming more visible in mainstream South Korean TV with some examples being Semantic Error which centers on the romantic relationship between two men and Nevertheless which depicts the feelings of friendship between two women turn clearly romantic. Considering the significant rise in popularity of Korean TV dramas not only in Asia but also in western society, where audiences are more conscious of queer narratives, the realm of queer representation in Korean TV definitely warrants more scholarly attention. I aim to contribute to the conversation about depictions of queerness in Korean media by analyzing the representation of queer characters in 2021 TV drama Work Later, Drink Now, specifically the queer subtext of Jigoo and Jiyeon’s relationship, and how this story reveals South Korean perceptions of queer experiences by matching and/or distinguishing itself from the tragic narratives that queer characters are often depicted in Korean TV dramas. I will also analyze the reception of this show by South Korean society in relation to queer identity based on its references in Korean pop culture and online fan discussions. I argue that the writer of Work Later, Drink Now intended to provide commentary not only on the situation of women in contemporary South Korean society, but she also pushed an underlying queer narrative, aiming to shed light on the reality of being, specifically, a queer woman in South Korea.

Cripping and queering gender-based violence prevention: bridging disability justice, queer joy, and consent education

Although frequently relegated to the periphery in conversations about gender-based violence prevention, the disabling impacts of traumatised subjectivity both affect survivors’ abilities to fully participate in sex and contribute to survivors being more than twice as likely to be sexually (re)victimised compared to peers without trauma histories. In this paper, we seek to crip and queer approaches to gender-based violence prevention, particularly consent education, by learning from 2SLGBTQ+ and disabled trauma survivors’ affective experiences of queer, crip sexual joy and the radically messy ways in which they establish their own care networks for deeply pleasurable sex through the principles of disability justice. Refusing pathologising understandings of survivors as those who need to be cured, we highlight traumatised subjectivity as emblematic of the ambiguity and ambivalence inherent in sex as well as the possibilities for caring, consensual sex that moves beyond the concept of consent employed in colonial, neoliberal capitalist societies’ binary (Yes/No) consent laws. Drawing on the work of crip and queer theorists such as Mia Mingus, Alison Kafer, Leah Piepzna-Samarasinha, and J. Logan Smilges, we reveal how disability justice principles, such as interdependence, collective access, and access intimacy, offer transformative understandings for anti-violence efforts.

Book Review: Queersapien by Sharif D. Rangnekar

Queersapien by Sharif D. Rangnekar is an intimate exploration into the multifaceted journey of a queer person, encapsulating the myriad instances of “coming out” that extend beyond the conventional narrative. In this poignant narrative, Rangnekar delves into the complexities of self-discovery, family disclosure, and the broader societal acceptance that marks the queer experience. The book skillfully navigates through the non-linear nature of the coming-out process, shedding light on the constant evaluation of risks and the perpetual quest for safe spaces in a world that does not always embrace queerness.

"It definitely changed me": Exploring sexual and gender diverse people's experiences with intimate partner violence in Ontario, Canada.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) involves an individual committing acts intended to harm or intimidate a current or former romantic partner. The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent stay-at-home orders often trapped victims with perpetrators and intensified IPV. Although sexual and gender diverse people disproportionately experience IPV compared to cisgender, heterosexual people, their experiences are not well documented in the Canadian context. This study aimed to explore the experiences of Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and other sexual and gender diverse (2S/LGBTQIA+) people with IPV in Ontario and how the COVID-19 pandemic affected their IPV experiences. We conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews with self-identified 2S/LGBTQIA+ people who experienced IPV on/after March 15, 2020. We audio-recorded and transcribed all interviews and coded the transcripts for content and themes using inductive and deductive techniques. Our 20 participants experienced physical, psychological, sexual, and financial abuse. Technology-facilitated violence extended abuse geographically and temporally. IPV experiences were associated with negative mental health outcomes that were intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants struggled to see themselves as legitimate victims of IPV. Although participants regretted being victims of violence, many saw their abusive relationship(s) as a learning experience to inform future relationships. Our findings suggest that 2S/LGBTQIA+ people may experience unique forms of identity abuse and may have difficulty recognizing their IPV experiences as abuse. Ensuring that comprehensive sexual health education is trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, and includes information about healthy relationship dynamics, 2S/LGBTQIA+ relationships, and IPV is critical.

Funny Boy, postmemorial potentialities, and the queer diasporic Sri Lankan novel

ABSTRACT As the first anglophone novel to foreground queer experiences and memorialize the state-sanctioned 1983 Black July pogrom of Tamils, Shyam Selvadurai’s Funny Boy trailblazed a second wave of Sri Lankan American writing. This article examines Selvadurai’s invocation of queer memory as “postmemory” in line with Marianne Hirsch’s theorization to investigate the transgenerational inheritance of violence emanating from colonial discourses of sexuality and ethnonationalism. It illustrates how Funny Boy extends Hirsch’s framework beyond its Eurocentric and heteronormative familial setting. By calling attention to the afterlives of imperialism, Selvadurai posits queer memory as a postscript that supplements the amnesiac postcolonial record. Funny Boy uses the Bildungsroman genre to illustrate how the queer protagonist undermines the colonial value system that casts a long shadow over postcolonial lived experiences. The article argues that the novel proposes a new epistemic way of interrogating Victorian sexuality, patriarchal norms, and Sinhalese Buddhist nationalism in postcolonial Sri Lanka.

QUEERING DIGITAL LITERATURE AND DIGITAL WELL-BEING IN JEFF GARVIN’S SYMPTOMS OF BEING HUMAN

The development of digital technology and communication has brought about rapid transformation in the field of literature. Books, articles, blog posts, tweets, and conferences, that constitute the digital humanities have grown exponentially in the 21st century. The emergence of the digital space has received a quick response from various literary genres, and in no exception, queer literature, which ranges from online book publications to documenting queer experiences through blogs and more generic social networking sites like Facebook and Instagram, has not only become a popular and affordable space for the queer community but more than a socializing space across the globe. Queer literature on digital space can now be seen as the fastest-growing genre of literature that evolved. Jeff Garvin’s Symptoms of Being Human, which is written in the form of blog posts, explores the way in which this digital space has provided an opportunity for queer literature and the community to thrive by curating their identities online, reaching out to like-minded people across the globe, documenting their experiences, and educating the public about their unacknowledged identity and sexuality. The paper examines how this new mode of communication paved the way for digital well-being by maintaining a balance between the digital and the real world, accommodating and acculturating social space, acting morally and responsibly, and effectively managing digital and real-life interactions, as demonstrated in Jeff Garvin’s Symptoms of Being Human.

Gayze through the looking glass: The curious absence of queer narratives in psychedelia

AbstractBackground and AimsDespite increasing public acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community and psychedelic medicines, published accounts of queer psychedelia are limited. Specifically, the queer nature of psychedelics and the parallels between narratives of being queer and of psychedelic experiences, are lacking. This report brings queer experiences of psychedelia out of the metaphorical closet and argues for the development of Queer Affirming models of Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy (QA-PAP).MethodsThis knowledge report examines the extant psychedelic literature as it relates to queerness, and positions it against reports of rising anti-2SLGBTQ+ sentiments, and legislation aimed at dismantling civil liberties.ResultsSpecifically in Canada, the United States of America, and the United Kingdom, the current socio-political climate fosters increasingly positive attitudes towards psychedelic medicine, while recently won 2SLGBTQ+ civil rights are under attack. The convergence of these trends means the psychedelic community must guard against repetition of mistakes made during the first wave of psychedelic research.ConclusionsIncluding queer narratives within psychedelic research is integral to the equitable, safe, effective and accessible implementation of emerging modalities of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapies (PAP), and to ensure that ethical standards protect patients from sexual and gender based violence.

Queer and Ethnicity in Minsk, 1952: Belarusian Reading of Kaspars Irbe’s Diary

This article proposes an intersectional approach to studying non-Russian queer experiences in the Soviet empire. While earlier applications of intersectionality focused on race, gender, and class, other regional perspectives may highlight ethnicity, citizenship, and language. The text approaches non-Russian queer subjects in the USSR as a heterogeneous multiplicity via a contextualised reading of a diary fragment written by the Latvian Kaspars Irbe in Minsk in 1952. It highlights the prominence of communication between queers and people from the “centre” but also notes the hindrance of immediate contact between ethnicised subalterns due to Soviet social engineering. Tracing contingencies of Belarusian history, the article reveals how national identity and queer emancipation projects can evolve together.