Modern queer theory has made significant contributions to our understanding of gender identity, sexual orientation, and social norms.
Some scholars argue that ancient cultures had more advanced theories about these concepts than contemporary Western thought. One such argument is based on the idea that many indigenous cultures recognized multiple genders and sexualities beyond the binary male/female dichotomy. This essay will explore how modern queer theory can benefit from incorporating insights from ancestral understandings of multiplicity and harmony.
The first way in which modern queer theory could learn from ancestral understandings is through an appreciation for diversity and plurality. Many non-Western societies, particularly those based on tribal or shamanic belief systems, recognize a wide range of genders and sexualities.
The Zuni people of North America have four genders: female, male, female-male, and male-female. Similarly, the Navajo people have five genders: man, woman, nadleeh, nadletsoh, nádleeh, and nadleehe. These categories are determined by one's personal experience of gender rather than one's physical body. By recognizing this diversity, these cultures emphasize the fluidity and complexity of human experience, challenging Western notions of rigid identities and fixed categories.
Ancestral understandings of harmony and balance offer valuable lessons for modern queer theory. In traditional African religions, such as Yoruba religion, the concept of itan (divine twins) is central to understanding gender and sexual identity. Itan refers to a person who possesses both feminine and masculine qualities, often depicted as two figures facing each other but joined at the head or waist. This metaphor suggests that gender is not limited to binary opposites but exists along a spectrum, with individuals occupying various points along it. This notion can inform contemporary debates about gender identity and expression, which often focuses on the binaries of "man" and "woman."
Some indigenous cultures have developed unique concepts of intimacy and eroticism that challenge Western norms. The Maasai people of Kenya, for instance, believe in a form of same-sex love called nyumba ntobhu ("home friend"), which involves sharing living quarters with another person without engaging in intercourse. This arrangement allows men to explore non-sexual relationships outside of heteronormative marriages while still fulfilling their needs for companionship and support. Similarly, among the Yanomami people of Venezuela, homosexuality is seen as an expression of spirituality rather than a deviant behavior. By recognizing these practices, queer theorists could expand their understanding of sexual desire beyond its reductive association with genitalia and promote more inclusive definitions of eroticism.
Modern queer theory has much to learn from ancestral understandings of multiplicity and harmony. By embracing diversity, fluidity, and alternative forms of intimacy, we can better understand human experience and create more just and equitable societies.
Can modern queer theory learn from ancestral understandings of multiplicity and harmony?
Modern queer theory has been influenced by many different schools of thought over the years, including feminism and critical race theory. One way that it may be able to learn from ancestral understandings of multiplicity and harmony is through the concept of intersectionality. Intersectionality recognizes that people can belong to multiple marginalized groups at once and experience oppression on different levels due to those identities.