As I read this chapter I found it very confusing. Fuss discusses different aspects of being a homosexual and heterosexual. At times it was hard to grip what she was saying, but I think I ended up getting the gist of it.
Fuss starts out saying that there is an “inside and outside” of society in general. What people accept in a community is the “in” and what people don’t accept is the “out”. Although, she then says that times have changed and it is no longer that simple. She gives the example of homo- and heterosexuality, “hetero/homo hierarchy, suggesting that new (and old) sexual possibilities are no longer thinkable in terms of a simple inside/outside dialectic”. Lines are now blurred in what is “acceptable” or “in” in the community and now the community and those individuals of both parties are readjusting.
The second paragraph states that, “It has everything to do with the structures of alienation, splitting, and identification which together produce a self and an other, a subject, and an object, and unconscious and a conscious, an interiority and an exteriority”. What I got out of this was that, even thought the lines are blurred of what is accepted in society those who aren’t fully accepted are being alienated. In this chapter we discuss homosexuality and heterosexuality, making heterosexuality the “in” concept. It’s been socially accepted in our society for so long that we look at it as the norm. Since we think that it’s the norm we tend to identify those who are a homosexual as being “different” or “not like us”. You tend to see this more with the older population (who tend to be not as accepting as the younger populations).
This is partially due to the fact that “the language and law that regulates the establishment of heterosexuality as both an identity and an institution, both a practice and a system, is the language and the law of defense and protection…” This means that it is instilled in the institution of society that you have a male and female in a relationship. I’m not saying this is right or wrong, this is something that I am just trying to translate from the text. Homosexuality scares people because it isn’t the norm that they were brought up to believe, it’s the “other”. It threatens the social norm which older generations believe is the “right” way to act.
Another important part of the chapter I found was the “coming out” stage of homosexuality. As someone “comes out of the closet” they actually are exploiting themselves as “different”. So as they come out they expect to not have to “hide” anymore from their true self, but as they do that they are excluded by those who believe what they believe is wrong. It’s very contradictory in the eyes of every homosexual on what is more important being “in” but feeling untrue to yourself, or being “out” and an open homosexual.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
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You hit on some good points about what it's like to be on the "inside" and the "outside" as it relates to hetero and homosexuality. The one point that you made that really got me thinking was the part where you said individuals are "readjusting" to what is the norm in a community. Is it like individuals are trying to come up with more unknown, unique ways of expressing their true feelings with each other? Or are they just simply going back to being straight as that is what society wants? It just goes to show how powerful the norms in society are to people.
It's also neat to read that homosexuality scares people because it isn't the norm that they were brought up to believe. I, personally, view homosexuality and heterosexuality the same way I do with people who smoke: It's not normal/healthy, but as long as you don't pressure me and tell me I must participate in the act to be your friend, I'll respect you. I guarantee there are many things that numerous people don't like about their friends, but come to later respect them because they realize they aren't hurting anyone.
The part about "hiding" and "coming out" also forms a new point: If one is hiding and keeping it to themselves, they are essentially admitting that what they are doing is wrong. Why else would you not want to tell someone that you are a homosexual? If you believe that it's acceptable, then wouldn't you confidentally just let it be known and not worry about other peoples' opinions?
The one part of this summary of yours that makes things so confusing (not your fault) is the part of being true to yourself. One could argue that people who come out of the closet are giving into pressure, thus admit their differences; People who keep it to themselves may believe that this is a better example of being honest to themselves. In the end, an individual is going to look at themselves as the most important being to be honest to, therefore, putting every other scenario to rest.
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