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“Strange Coupling”: Vegan Ecofeminism and Queer Ecologies in Theory and in Practice Chapter 2

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“Strange Coupling”: Vegan Ecofeminism and Queer Ecologies in Theory and in Practice Chapter 2 REVISTA DE LENGUAS MODERNAS, N.° 28, 2018 / 403-425 / ISSN: 1659-1933 “Strange Coupling”: Vegan Ecofeminism and Queer Ecologies in Theory and in Practice Chapter 2: Queer Ecologies, Complications and Possibilities in Coupling with Queer Vegan Ecofeminism(s) ADRIANA JIMÉNEZ RODRÍGUEZ Escuela de Lenguas Modernas Universidad de Costa Rica Abstract This chapter begins by defining queer ecologies and providing a synthesis of some of the most relevant queer ecological analyses available so far while critiquing them from a vegan ecofeminist point of view. The main objective of the chapter is to prove that theoretically, it is possible to achieve a vegan ecofeminist queer ecological critical stance. The chapter also provides spe- cific guidelines to such vegan ecofeminist queer ecological analyses. Key words: vegan ecofeminism, queer ecologies, methodology of vegan ecofeminist queer ecologies Resumen Este capítulo comienza definiendo las ecologías queer para luego ex- poner una síntesis de los análisis más relevantes de esta área a la vez que los critica desde una perspectiva ecofeminista vegana. El objetivo principal del presente capítulo es probar que es teóricamente posi- ble concretar una posición crítica llamada ecofeminismo vegano queer Recepción: 21-06-17 Aceptación: 29-11-17 404 REVISTA DE LENGUAS MODERNAS, N.° 28, 2018 / 403-425 / ISSN: 1659-1933 ecológico.También, se ofrece una guía metodológica específica para lograr dicho tipo de análisis crítico. Palabras claves: ecofeminismo vegano, ecologías queer, metodología de las ecologías queer ecofeministas veganas ueer ecologies explore the when paired with “ecologies”. For the complex interconnections purposes of the present analysis, “the Qbetween the construction queer” is all that and even hangs final- of “the queer” with the construction ly open-ended. The “queer” in “queer of “nature.” “The queer” begins with ecologies” also demands “the queer” to queer as an open signifier that con- shake itself out of what one can per- tests all normativity (heteronormativ- haps call activism apathy: “. queer ity / homonormativity or any other). fictions and theory are known for their However, it is a word that exists in cynicism, apoliticism, and negativity, constant transit. Queer has gone from such that ‘queer environmentalism’ a violent heterosexist insult to a re- sounds like an oxymoron” (Idem 2). In appropriated term (for some) that what ways does the social construction expressed / expresses pride (for some) of “the queer” interconnect with the so- in the face of insufferable oppression cial construction of “the natural”? This (for some)1 to a highly politicized philo- is queer ecology’s ultimate beginning sophical term and separately (or not) question. In what specific ways can an an identity (or lack thereof). I will examined, critical queer-ecological per- mention only one example in terms spective irrigate a queer vegan ecofem- even of its various meanings in aca- inist literary analysis of literature as a demia, in Seymour’s words: cultural product and manage to sprout complex theoretical offspring? 2 As of this writing [2013], a search In many ways, “queer,” coupled for the word ‘queer’ in ISLE, the with “nature” expands to include the journal of the Association for the colored, the disabled, the displaced and Study of Literature and Environ- dispossessed. “Nature” has been taken ment, and the most prominent jour- for granted as a concrete “thing” and a nal of its kind, returns twenty-five concrete “concept.” Here, coupled with hits—at least five of which include “the queer” it has become problema- the term as a synonym for ‘strange,’ tized as a debatable and debated space not as a reference to issues of gen- in constant construction, destruction, der and sexuality. (p. 13) deconstruction and reconstruction. This coupling is not only “strange,” In this sense, my discussion of the but still very recent: “... the relation- multiple ideological positions that co- ship between the natural and the queer habit inside “the queer” is itself relo- is still a new area of focus for those in cated in a tiny little academic niche environmental activism and literary JIMÉNEZ. “STRANGE COUPLinG”... 405 studies, one that has not yet infiltrated environmental politics that all quarters of those fields” (Seymour, demonstrates an understanding of 2013, p. 13). In another sense, “queer the ways in nature” has been historically used to which sexual relations organize oppress members of minority groups and influence both the material (not to even mention nonhuman ani- world of mals!) in theoretical and very concrete nature and our perceptions, experi- ways, for example the way in which ences, and constitutions of that world. the medical community has identified (Erickson and Martimer-Sandi- disability with disease, or the way in lands, 2010, p. 5) which Lady Gaga has encouraged the public to embrace the fact (and human Queer ecologies, then, is a field that rights’ activism favorite argument-slo- could not possibly exist without the gan) that queers “are born this way.” groundbreaking work of LGBTQ studies, Essentialism plays such a huge part queer theory, ecofeminism, and environ- in the imbrications between science, mental justice movements.3 Departing medicine, state policy and actual hu- absolutely from any essentialist beliefs in man and nonhuman bodies that it is anything “natural,” queer ecologies ques- veritably very difficult to escape. The tion the deep imbrications between “the main point remains: nature is still an natural” and “the queer” and therefore, uncontested thing. Indeed, if “nature” much of what is actually in between. “is the foundational point of departure Our planet is collapsing. The brutal for queer theory, then, it is a departure extent of human-produced environmen- that has left much to be resolved” (Sey- tal catastrophe, as well as its devastat- mour 4). When confronted with the ing effects on human and nonhuman idea that nature is as much a social animals alike is almost immeasurable. construction as inherent heterosexu- Queer ecologist critics begin by asking ality or mammal lifelong monogamy, how or even if it is possible to deal with most literature scholars will still frown so much destruction, death, and loss. I a stiff “What will you think of next? Is want to start here because I want to es- nothing sacred anymore?” No. Nothing tablish that it is possible to still work should be, anyway, and yes, everything for something. Donna Haraway speaks that we think around is mediated by of “surviving in the ruins.” Eli Clare, social construction. Let’s start then, with Haraway, speaks of embracing negotiating this relationship in an our pain, and expressing it fully. Sey- organized way: mour adds that imagination is a fun- damental component of (planetary) Specifically, the task of a queer empathy, as is queer optimism. In or- ecology is to probe the intersections der to answer these basic questions, of sex and we require response-ability: “staying nature with an eye to developing with the trouble requires learning to a sexual politics that more clearly be truly present, not as a vanishing includes pivot between awful or edenic pasts considerations of the natural world and apocalyptic or salvific futures, but and its biosocial constitution, and an as mortal critters entwined in myriad 406 REVISTA DE LENGUAS MODERNAS, N.° 28, 2018 / 403-425 / ISSN: 1659-1933 unfinished configurations of places, nonhuman suffering at this point in times, matters, meanings” (Haraway, history, we have to find ways to reach 2016, n. p.). Her position is crucial to past our individual and even commu- what I believe is the task of queer ecolo- nity experiences and embrace the all, gies. So many times I am personally and however painful it may be—and it is. professionally horrified by either the “it’s Erickson’s and Mortimer Sandi- too late to do anything about it and any- lands’s introduction to the one standing way what can my personal choices mat- anthology on queer ecologies begins by ter” or the “God will save us; we do not clarifying that both “historically and in need nature anymore” and its illogical the present. sexual politics has had equivalent “technology will save us; we a distinctly environmental-spatial di- do not need nature anymore” attitude. mension, and landscapes have been Haraway emphasizes the uselessness organized to produce and promote (and of these positions while still recognizing prohibit) particular kinds of sexual that technologies can indeed be allies in identity and practice” (2010, p. 12). surviving in the ruins when she laments They are referring, for example, to the that many people insist in heteronormative patriarchal practice of urban-park creation as a space to fully a comic faith in technofixes, whether disclose and display “proper” hetero- secular or religious: technology will sexual behavior 4 (mothers with babies somehow come to the rescue of its in strollers, heterosexual couples court- naughty but very clever children, or ing, children engaging in “appropriate” what gendered physical activity). The inter- amounts to the same thing, God esting thing is, though, that at night, will come to the rescue of his dis- urban parks are often reclaimed by the obedient but male homosexual community (well-doc- ever hopeful children. In the face umented rites of public gay sex), there- of such touching silliness about by challenging and maintaining (via technofixes the invisibility of the gay practices un- (or techno-apocalypses), sometimes der the cover of the night and the bru- it is hard to remember that it re- tal censorship of police enforcement, for mains example) the social-environmental sta- important to embrace situated tus quo. This is precisely the realm of technical projects and their people. queer ecologies. How does, for instance, They are a movie like Brokeback Mountain chal- not the enemy; they can do many lenge—or support—the landscape ecol- important things for staying with ogy of heterosexual patriarchy in a par- the trouble ticular historical moment of the United and for making generative oddkin.
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