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Published on: October 28, 2020
Queer/fear: disability, sexuality, and the other.
1The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. njh@sas.upenn.edu
The Journal of Medical Humanities
|March 9, 2013
Summary
Hostility towards disabled and queer individuals stems from a fear of bodily indeterminacy. Feminist, queer, and disability theories offer complementary insights into this societal phenomenon.
Area of Science:
- Social Sciences
- Gender Studies
- Disability Studies
Background:
- Societal hostility targets both disabled and queer individuals.
- This hostility is linked to anxieties surrounding bodily norms and predictability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the intersection of disability and queer identities.
- To explore the roots of societal fear regarding bodily indeterminacy.
- To analyze the complementary roles of feminist, queer, and disability theories.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical analysis drawing on feminist, queer, and disability studies.
- Examination of the concept of "undecidability of the body."
- Comparative analysis of theoretical frameworks.
Main Results:
- Fear of bodily undecidability is a key driver of hostility towards disabled and queer people.
- Feminist and queer theories illuminate the mechanisms of this fear.
- Disability theory explains the underlying reasons for this fear's existence.
Conclusions:
- Disability and queerness share common ground in challenging bodily norms.
- Integrating feminist, queer, and disability theories provides a comprehensive understanding of societal anxieties.
- Recognizing these connections can foster greater inclusivity and challenge ableism and homophobia.
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