Call for Submissions: On Privilege and Erasure in Queer Studies

I’m currently working on my senior thesis, a critique of queer theory and queer studies that focuses on the ways in which these disciplines presume a singular queer person/experience, which ultimately centers white gay men and subsequently erases people of color, trans* men and trans* women, non-binary folks, and more. Although this wasn’t my original thesis topic, I decided to do this after spending months getting frustrated by the privileging of certain types of learning and writings, and the pressure to think and speak in ways that are ‘traditionally academic.’

Furthermore, I was, and still am, am extremely tired of and frustrated by the limited representations of queerness that exist in academia, both relating to who queer people are and what issues queer people confront and experience. Queer studies has come to be dominated by the voices of a small, elite group within specific queer communities, and I think it would be counter-productive of me to write a thesis on this topic that was only grounded in my own, individual perspective. Therefore, I want to open this up to as many [queer] people as possible!

Here’s how you can help:

Submit a photograph of yourself; I want to have as many pictures as possible, to offer a visual challenge to the limited representations of queerness that exist in academia.
Share your thoughts on queer studies, queer theory, the relationship between queerness and academia, or any other topic you feel is relevant!

If you want your submission to be anonymous, just let me know and I will not include your URL address in the post.