Wang, Chieh
(2016)
Sexuality, gender, justice and law: rethinking normative heterosexuality and sexual justice from the perspectives of queer humanist men and masculinities studies.
PhD thesis, London School of Economics and Political Science.
Abstract
In this thesis, I critically investigate how issues of sexual justice, sexual politics and normative heterosexuality are interpreted, constructed, and discussed in several salient emancipatory or critical legal and political projects on sexuality and gender, especially in the areas of family relations. Subordination feminism, men and masculinity studies, queer theories, and liberal theories of sexual justice are the major theories I engage with. After critically reviewing the strengths and weaknesses of these theories, I argue that it is worth incorporating a combined approach of queer humanist men and masculinities studies in thinking about gender oppression, normative heterosexuality, law and sexual justice. The combined approach, I argue, is an approach that draws on queer theories, liberal theories of sexual justice, some feminist theories, and humanist men and masculinities studies. I contend that one of the core insights of queer humanist men and masculinities studies is the rejection of an oversimplified and unidimensional concept of gender oppression and gender power relations; a concept that is frequently assumed by subordination feminism. Queer humanist men and masculinities studies view the power relations of gender and the gender oppression in the family as multi-layered and complex, not just about male domination and female subordination. I argue that we will be able to see more realities and previously hidden or marginalised sexuality and gender oppression by incorporating perspectives inspired by queer humanist men and masculinities studies. I further contend that we cannot effectively subvert normative heterosexuality by only seeing and addressing gender normativity in one gender. I discuss the implications of queer humanist men’s studies in equality law, family law and gay men’s studies. In conclusion, I argue that queer humanist men and masculinity studies can broaden our base of concerns and knowledge of sexual injustices and sexual oppression in sexual justice projects. It is an approach worth considering and an area of sexual justice study worth further exploration and research.
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