Can queerness be decolonized from Eurocentric sexual taxonomies?
Queer studies have emerged as an academic field that centers on exploring issues related to sexuality, gender, and identity politics. Queer theory is a branch of queer studies that examines how sexualities are constructed within social systems and institutions. While there has been much discussion about the relationship between race, class, and gender, little attention has been given to how these categories intersect with queerness. This essay argues that queerness can be decolonized from eurocentric sexual taxonomies through a critical engagement with Indigenous perspectives on sexuality and embodiment.
To understand this argument, it is necessary to consider some key terms used in queer theory. The term "queer" refers to any marginalized sexual identity or practice that challenges normative heteronormativity. Queerness encompasses both homosexuality and transgenderism but also extends beyond these categories to include non-normative identities such as asexuality, pansexuality, and intersexuality. Eurocentrism is a worldview that places European cultures at the center of knowledge production, often at the expense of other cultures. Sexual taxonomy refers to the categorization of human sexual practices into binary oppositions such as male/female, gay/straight, etc. These categories are based on Western notions of sex and sexuality that privilege cisgendered males and exclude other forms of embodiment.
The colonial history of North America provides a useful lens through which to examine the relationship between queerness and eurocentrism. The European colonization of North America was marked by violence against Indigenous peoples who were forced to assimilate to settler culture. Settlers' religious beliefs and moral codes informed their understanding of sexuality, which viewed same-sex relationships as sinful. As a result, many Indigenous people who engaged in same-sex relationships were persecuted for violating Christian morals. In addition, settlers imposed legal systems that criminalized sodomy and cross-dressing, further marginalizing those who did not conform to traditional gender roles.
Some Indigenous peoples rejected these colonial laws and continued to engage in same-sex relationships despite the risk of punishment.
Indigenous perspectives on sexuality offer an alternative to eurocentric taxonomies of sexuality.
Some Native American tribes believed in two-spirit individuals who identified with both genders simultaneously. Two-spirits were respected members of their communities and participated in both feminine and masculine activities, challenging the rigid binaries of colonial society. Similarly, many Polynesian cultures recognized third gender identities that blurred binary distinctions between male and female. These cultures also practiced ritualized homosexuality, viewing it as a natural expression of human sexuality rather than a deviant behavior.
Decolonizing queerness requires recognizing the ways in which Eurocentrism has shaped our understandings of sex and sexuality. It means rejecting binary categorizations such as gay/straight or man/woman and embracing more fluid and non-binary forms of identity and practice. It means acknowledging the diversity of Indigenous perspectives on sexuality and incorporating them into queer theory. By doing so, we can create a more inclusive and equitable understanding of sexuality that celebrates all forms of embodiment.
Can queerness be decolonized from Eurocentric sexual taxonomies?
Decolonizing queerness from Eurocentric sexual taxonomies involves reimagining and challenging traditional notions of gender and sexuality beyond binary categorizations. This entails embracing a more fluid and non-binary understanding of identity and rejecting hetero-normative and cis-gendered assumptions that are often prevalent in Eurocentric discourses.