CR #5 The Closet

Tricia M Ingraham

QS 462

Critical Response #5

5/4/2015

People who are not of hetero-normative are looked down upon because they are not “normal”. If you don’t fit into this “normal” box people try to change you and force you to change who you are as a person so that you fit into some kind of category. The thought of boxes and people trying to put others in boxes, are very restrictive and categorizing. People who are homosexual have to come out of the closet. Why do people who are homosexual have to tell others of their sexuality. Its like confessing a sin to a preacher. Straight people don’t have to announce who the like or explain the person they like. Homosexuals are forced to explain and are forced to come out to their families and explain why they like the same-sex. I have had to “come out of the closet” recently. This experience was demeaning in away but freeing also to just let out who I truly am. Why is it just because I like the same sex I have to tell people about it and try to explain my feelings. Every coming out story has one thing in common the fear of not being expected and loved by your friends and family.

From the book  Epistemology of the Closet, “Western identity and social organizations… has affected our culture..” (11) The use of labels and categories give people power to the group of people but it also demeaning to have to be labeled. I have really noticed Queer Theories revolves around this topic of labels and categorizing people. Personally I think labels are very empowering and I’m proud to be a scary lesbian, as you put it. Being able to put a name to what you are and identify with a group is very powerful in the sense that people can recognize who you are through the use of language and words. People who are in the white, middle middle class, male, don’t have to use labels which is very wrong. The use of language is a very powerful tool. Language is truly filled with ignorance.  Using words in a negative manner or used to hurt others is very wrong and hurtful.

The idea of gender stereotyping and roles in genders are so messed up. When I think of gender stereotyping my mind goes back to 50s tv shows. Where you had your stay at home mom. She cooked, cleaned and took care of her husband and children. The father would have a job, feed his family and protect and being home the bacon so to speak. And we can’t forget the children. clean cut, obeys there parents and stay out of trouble, they have there little school crushes. People wake up the world is not like this. Not every family is like this. people have two moms, two dads, stay at home dad or mom. Some kids might not even be raised by their biological parents. The world isn’t black and white. It is made up with every color of the rainbow. People who judge others because of their sexuality, race, gender identity, class, age, are just ignorant and close minded. I would much rather be thought of different or “the big bad lesbian”, than being “normal”. The reason people are so afraid of someone who is outside this idea of “normal” is because they are threatened by them or even the thought of someone who is different than themselves or are against their beliefs and lifestyles.