Georgia State University ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University English Theses Department of English Spring 5-10-2013 The Rhetoric of Queer: Subverting Heteronormative Social Institutions and Creating New Meaning Marissa Nolan Georgia State University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/english_theses Recommended Citation Nolan, Marissa, "The Rhetoric of Queer: Subverting Heteronormative Social Institutions and Creating New Meaning." Thesis, Georgia State University, 2013. https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/english_theses/149 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of English at ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. It has been accepted for inclusion in English Theses by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE RHETORIC OF QUEER: SUBVERTING HETERONORMATIVE SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND CREATING NEW MEANING by MARISSA NOLAN Under the Direction of Dr. George Pullman ABSTRACT The word “queer” generates mixed feelings. For some, it is a way to denigrate gays and lesbians, though, in recent years, those in LGBT communities have re- appropriated the term and have given it a more positive spin. This project aims to inves- tigate exactly that kind of social action, specifically, looking at the way some take socially constructed norms and queer them in order to develop new meanings. First, this thesis explores how social norms impacted identity creation in ancient Rome and Greece. It then surveys the theories behind norms, along with their formation and maintenance in current society. Next, this project looks at queer theory and how norms have shaped the ways we build our identities, and vice versa. Finally, this research takes a rhetorical per- spective by applying components of the canon to different elements of identity cultiva- tion and presentation, with invention representing the former and delivery the latter. INDEX WORDS: Queer theory, Gender, Social norms, Rhetoric, Gender performativity THE RHETORIC OF QUEER: SUBVERTING HETERONORMATIVE SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND CREATING NEW MEANING by MARISSA NOLAN A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in the College of Arts and Sciences Georgia State University 2013 Copyright by Marissa Nolan-Pierce 2013 THE RHETORIC OF QUEER: SUBVERTING HETERONORMATIVE SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND CREATING NEW MEANING by MARISSA NOLAN Committee Chair: Dr. George Pullman Committee: Dr. Elizabeth Lopez Dr. Melissa McLeod Electronic Version Approved: Office of Graduate Studies College of Arts and Sciences Georgia State University May 2013 iv Dedication I would like to dedicate this thesis to my family and friends. My husband, Collin, is owed the most thanks, as he is the one who has had to see me through the ups and downs of this project. An immense feeling of gratitude to my parents, who never stopped supporting me and helping me achieve all of my goals. My sister, Maribeth, de- serves thanks as well for being such an amazing example for me as a friend, an aca- demic, and a woman. I would also like to dedicate this project to my incredible group of friends. Amy has been there to hear me go on about every single deadline and paper, and never once did she complain about my complaining. She my truest friend and I will love her for for- ever. Anna has been an unending source of reassurance, encouragement, and humor – thank you! Rachael has been an inspiration for me as the kind of person I want to be- come, especially in her work. She is my daily reminder that I am doing what I am sup- posed to be doing and that I will eventually get to where I want to be. Thanks to Phillip, Josh, and Robert who all made sure I never took myself too seriously, and offered plenty of opportunities for the occasional, much needed diversion. There is no doubt in my mind that I would not be where I am without these peo- ple who have shown me nothing but love, care, and support. Thank you! v Acknowledgements It is with immense appreciation and gratitude that I acknowledge the support and help of the members of my thesis committee, Dr. George Pullman, Dr. Elizabeth Lopez, and Dr. Melissa McLoed. Without their guidance and expertise this thesis would not have been possible. Dr. Pullman has been a major influence on my writing since the beginning of graduate school. His expansive knowledge of ancient rhetoric was an invaluable re- source for this project. Additionally, Dr. Pullman always challenged me to become a bet- ter writer, and for that I am incredibly thankful. Dr. Lopez has been an inspiration since I came to Georgia State as an under- graduate. In fact, it was during my senior capstone course with her that I initially had the idea for this project. Dr. Lopez’s dedication to the field of rhetoric and composition and her desire to always learn inspires me to do the same. Finally, I owe many thanks to Dr. Melissa McLoed, who had the daunting task of trying to make learning practical grammar during a summer semester enjoyable. She definitely succeeded and I know that my writing has improved as a result. vi Table of Contents Acknowledgements ..............................................................................v 1 Introduction ................................................................................... 1 2 Ancient Rhetoric & “Making Men” ..................................................8 3 Sociological Perspective ................................................................ 14 4 Queer Theory & Queering.............................................................20 5 The Rhetoric of Queer.................................................................30 Works Cited........................................................................................45 1 1 Introduction The social etiquette that our society has imparted on the public has deemed conversa- tions about sexual orientation too taboo to be part of mainstream discussions. When terms like “queer,” “gay,” and “same sex” are used, people tend to become uncomfortable. Some individu- als take it as a personal affront when others do not behave or dress in the ways that larger soci- ety has outlined as acceptable for each designated gender. When social norms -- how to dress, what haircut to sport, who to hold hands with in public – are violated, not only is the person who is not abiding by these social laws affected, but so are those who are witnesses to the viola- tion of the norms and the social norms themselves. The motivation behind this research lies in the belief that through opposing and disre- garding the social norms that dictate acceptable behavior for those operating within larger soci- ety, those doing the opposing, or queering, can actually develop new space where they can create new meaning for themselves. Over time, as history has repeatedly demonstrated, the prescribed norms will eventually change or disappear entirely. “Queer” describes members of sexual and gender minorities that are not heterosexual, heteronormative, or gender-binary. These individuals operate outside the socially accepted, het- eronormative constructs that dictate how one can dress and act in regard to his or her ascribed gender. Someone who is queer possesses a biological sex, either male, female, or intersexed; however, that person may or may not identify with the gender that is socially assigned to that sex, or that person may deliberately choose to identify with a gender that is opposite of the one that is socially assigned to his or her biological sex. The idea is that queer individuals are queer exactly because they do not identify with what society expects. For the purposes of this project, to “queer” pertains to actions that undermine socially constructed and accepted gender conventions. Anything that does not identify with these norms 2 is queering them. Queering is the intentional act that involves a person purposefully not identi- fying, acting, dressing, or behaving in ways considered to be in line with the gender associated with a person’s original biological sex. The act of queering is entirely intentional. Each and every person who lives within any given society has at least some indication of what are and are not the accepted norms and conventions of that society. To decide to behave or act in ways that are incongruent with society’s norms is a deliberate act of queering. This is not to suppose that the impulse to queer is entirely voluntary; sexual orientation and gender identification are not clear choices for some individuals. But the decision to act on the involuntary impulses is intentional, making the act of queering an intentional one. To queer socially accepted norms and conventions does not necessitate homosexuality; however, homosexual people can and do queer socially accepted conventions. Take, for example, the notions behind traditional relationships and marriage. The dynamics of homosexual rela- tionships completely undermine what our society has decided an acceptable marriage should look like. In other words, not everyone who queers social conventions is gay, but all gay people queer social conventions. In order to stay true to the rhetorical foundation of this research, it is necessary to define significant key terms. Rhetoric, according to Aristotle, is the faculty of observing in any given case the available means of persuasion. Traditionally, rhetoric is the art of speaking and writing effectively to achieve a certain goal; however, rhetoric