hantzv's review
4.0
I actually only read John D'Emilio's Capitalism and Gay Identity essay. It is well worth reading; short and sweet.
Basically D'Emilio's argument is that gay identity (as in subculture like gay bars, communal living like gay villages and open homosexual couples, common experiences like coming out, etc) only took shape (at least in the US) as capitalism dissolved more and more the conditions that gave the patriarchal family such a primordial place in early/pre capitalist societies.
The argument is directed against the idea that "gays always existed". While it is true on the individual level, that idea merely seeks to argue for more *acceptance* of gays because "well, you see, they've always existed everywhere, so there's nothing we can do, we might as well accept it". It is often the case that when fighting against oppression of minorities on the ideological sphere, the rhetoric that promotes oppression is merely reversed with little regard to correctness. For example, "gays have always existed" to answer "homosexuality is unnatural". This approach has its uses but it can be quite limiting, as it is in this case.
D'Emilio argues that the case that should be made (and the correct perspective) is that gender/sexual expression has evolved with the material conditions and that they will keep evolving. Understanding that point of view leads to making the case not only for gay liberation, but more broadly to free every individual's gender/sexual/etc expression.
Capitalism has encroached more and more on what was once more of less the exclusive affair of the patriarchal family sphere (like child rearing and the production of consumer goods), but it still relies on the family unit for processes as crucial as the reproduction of the next generations of workers. Understanding that aspect gives a better grasp on the roots of homophobia, transphobia and other forms of bigotry today.
This essay could easily be an addendum to Engels' Origins of the Family, but we'd have to rename it Rise and Fall of the Family, Private Property and the State or something like that. I'll get on that once we reach communism.
The rest is probably worth reading as well. Maybe I'll do that someday. Who knows!
Basically D'Emilio's argument is that gay identity (as in subculture like gay bars, communal living like gay villages and open homosexual couples, common experiences like coming out, etc) only took shape (at least in the US) as capitalism dissolved more and more the conditions that gave the patriarchal family such a primordial place in early/pre capitalist societies.
The argument is directed against the idea that "gays always existed". While it is true on the individual level, that idea merely seeks to argue for more *acceptance* of gays because "well, you see, they've always existed everywhere, so there's nothing we can do, we might as well accept it". It is often the case that when fighting against oppression of minorities on the ideological sphere, the rhetoric that promotes oppression is merely reversed with little regard to correctness. For example, "gays have always existed" to answer "homosexuality is unnatural". This approach has its uses but it can be quite limiting, as it is in this case.
D'Emilio argues that the case that should be made (and the correct perspective) is that gender/sexual expression has evolved with the material conditions and that they will keep evolving. Understanding that point of view leads to making the case not only for gay liberation, but more broadly to free every individual's gender/sexual/etc expression.
Capitalism has encroached more and more on what was once more of less the exclusive affair of the patriarchal family sphere (like child rearing and the production of consumer goods), but it still relies on the family unit for processes as crucial as the reproduction of the next generations of workers. Understanding that aspect gives a better grasp on the roots of homophobia, transphobia and other forms of bigotry today.
This essay could easily be an addendum to Engels' Origins of the Family, but we'd have to rename it Rise and Fall of the Family, Private Property and the State or something like that. I'll get on that once we reach communism.
The rest is probably worth reading as well. Maybe I'll do that someday. Who knows!
dennesseewilliams's review
5.0
This book might be the best starting point for everybody interested in queer theory or gender and sexuality studies. I have not read every essay in this collection yet, but the ones I have read have profoundly changed the way I see the world.
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