Bodies, movements and desires: lesbian/gay subjectivity and the stereotype

Abstract

In this paper, the author analyzes the link between the lesbian/gay visual stereotype, the performativity of the embodied sexual subject in accord with available discourses, and the ways in which these affect and are affected by contemporary notions of subjective fixity. Taking a queer theoretical position, the author first examines some recent work on stereotypes in order to show how even a liberal stance on positive stereotyping has regimental and disciplinary effects, and contend with some of the contemporary identifiable lesbian/gay stereotypes. This is followed by a discussion on the ways in which stereotyping of bodies is part of a discursive regime of enacting subjectivities.