it’s raining men

Q1

The microphone emoji is most likely to be their ‘safe emoji’. A safe word is used frequently in BDSM sexual acts. Due to the nature of the sexual act, ‘no’s and ‘stop’ does not actually mean stop. In fact, this is all part of the activity, to increase pleasure and reality of the BDSM act. At a time like this, a safe word is then used to actually mean stop, when they really intend for it to stop. A safe word is determined before the sexual acts and is usually a word that is irrelevant to the sexual act. In the case of Julie and Mike, the microphone might actually be their ‘safe emoji’. This is because the microphone emoji is completely irrelevant to sadomasochistic and sexting. The other emojis such as ??? are all emojis that are frequently used in flirting, whereas the rest of the emojis are items that may be involved in the sexual act, acting as tools to further enhance the pleasure and intensity of the act.

The toilet emoji may seem irrelevant to the BDSM sexual acts, but in fact, the toilet emoji is often used to represent sickness and nauseousness, or bad feeling in general.

However, with further research, even the microphone emoji which seems entirely out of context, might actually be related to Julie and Mike’s sadomasochistic sexting. The microphone phone, in certain contexts, may mean ejaculation.

With that, this shows that language can take on different shapes when they are placed in different contexts. Individual’s understanding of the word, or in this case, emoji, may not be the same across cultures, identities as well as contexts.

 

Q3

Sex positive is concerned with having positive attitudes about sex and feeling comfortable with one’s own sexual identity and with the sexual behaviors of other people. Sex-positive people are generally more open to learning about sex and sexual activity, which many are not very explicit about it. They believe that sex is an essential and normal part of life and not a taboo topic. Sex-positive people are also accepting of others’ sexual practices as long as the participants feel comfortable and safe about it. Not only that, they also embrace others’ sexual orientation and lifestyle, without judging them.

Sex positive has resulted in more openness to the other existing sexualities which are previously under/misrepresented. Heterosexual has always been placed and positioned as the most desirable, and also the most powerful force. Heteronormativity views heterosexuality as the desired and the norm of the society, neglecting all other existing sexualities that exist. Heteronormativity also separated people into separate and binary genders (male and female), accompanied by roles that their gender is ‘supposed’ to play. Heteronormativity has shaped the way society, as well as individuals, view their own gender identity behavior. They are being taught the way to act and behave as a ‘normal’ person implicitly.

With sex positivity, more focus could be placed on the other sexual orientation and desires. Sex positive increases awareness to the other neglected sexualities and educates people that sexuality is not just about the male/female binary and that there is nothing wrong with being lesbian/gay/queer. Also, with sex positivity, heteronormativity may no longer shape people’s views on other sexualities and sexual orientations, as well as desires.

Queer Linguistics for Dummies

 

Queer linguistics is defined as an extensive range of language studies related to the intersections of gender and sexuality in language use (Maree, 2015). Contrary to popular belief, queer linguistics is not simply the study of the language used by the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) speakers. Instead, it is the application of ideas from the queer theory to the research on the language, providing an overview of the discursive formation of heteronormativity (Motschenbacher, 2011). Heteronormativity presumes that heterosexuality is the only sexual orientation existing and that heterosexuality is the norm. Also, it assumes that people are segregated into distinct and binary gender groups, male and female and that their gender dictates their roles in the society (Jackson, 2006). Queer linguistics talks about the sociolinguistic study of language use without regarding identity categories (Koch, 2008).

Queer theory is heavily influenced by feminist studies as well as gay and lesbian studies. However, unlike heteronormativity as well as gay and lesbian studies, queer theory is more inclusive and take into account any other kind of sexual acts or identities belonging to both the normative as well as the ‘deviant’ categories. Queer theory is different from gay and lesbian studies which focus mostly and only on gay and lesbians. Instead of simply focusing on lives and experiences of homosexuals, queer theory emphasizes on the mismatch between sex, gender as well as desire, which encompasses topics such as cross-dressing, gender ambiguity as well as gender corrective surgery (Jagose, 1996). Not only that, queer theory explores and contests that sexuality may be a result of social constructions and is subject to changes as a result of social interactions (Barry, 2017). Research on queer theory focus mainly in three areas, the examination of experiences of those who are considered non-heterosexual, those who are considered the ‘norm’ as well as how and why some experiences are treated as deviants (Dilley, 1999).

In addition, the queer theory displaces historical gay and lesbian studies by replacing them with gender and queer studies. It is preferable as compared to gay and lesbian studies as it includes the concept of performativity as well as the relationship between power and language (Koch, 2008). The queer theory also takes into consideration other sexualities as well as sexual orientations that were not discussed in the past research about gay and lesbian studies. In addition to sexualities that are seen as deviants, the queer theory talks about other people who feel marginalized and discriminated due to the standard social or sexual practices (Giffney, 2004). The queer theory provides a platform for individuals to define and express their personal sexual preferences which were denied due to heteronormativity (Cameron & Kulick, 2003). By allowing other sexualities to be discussed along with homosexuality and heterosexuality, it expands people’s knowledge and awareness on the other sexualities that are often misrepresented or underrepresented. The queer theory also shows that sexuality is not solely about homosexuality and heterosexuality, that there are other sexualities that exist in the society that may yet to have names. Also, it addresses issues of sexuality that are often avoided or not discussed in public discourse.

Not only that, queer theory explores the binarism of homosexuality as well as heterosexuality. It challenges the theory of heteronormativity and why heterosexuality is viewed and seen as the benchmark used to judge the other sexualities. Queer theory rejects the binary distinction between homosexuality and heterosexuality (Dilley, 1999). Heterosexuality is often seen as a norm in the society. Heteronormativity believes that the gender of humans is attached to certain roles in the society, and are expected to behave in certain ways. Certain genders are required to go through certain stages of life such as marriage, bearing and bringing up children (Cameron & Kulick, 2003). For example, if a couple is married, the husband is almost definitely seen as a heterosexual and a straight man. This affected the views the society has on homosexuality as well as the portrayals of homosexuality in the society. Homosexuality is often seen as the ‘deviant’ and the ‘different’ ones as they do not fulfill the presumed roles given to their genders. Queer theory questions the system and distribution of societal roles according to their genders. With that, queer theory helps to deconstruct the issues of sexuality in society, by revealing how some sexualities are seen as the ‘norm’ and the socially accepted ones as compared to the other sexualities. Thus, queer theory contributed to the research on sexuality by questioning the discrimination of certain sexualities such as lesbians and gays for not fulfilling their social roles simply because they have a differing sexual orientation as that of the ‘norm’, the heterosexuals, under the theory of heteronormativity.

The queer theory also challenges the idea of power and marginalization in the society while examining language use (Koch, 2008). Queer theory also talks about how certain ways of speaking are marginalized and discriminated. Certain ways of speaking are used to define people of the higher power. Power is critical in determining the way one speaks. People with certain power speaks in a certain manner. One good example would be how certain ways of speech and words are gendered, and are seen as more ‘masculine’ or ‘feminine’ than other words. While power is one factor that affects one’s way of speech, sexuality and sexual orientation are factors influencing language use too. Just like how sexuality and sexual orientation affects how a person speaks, how a person speaks has an effect on how people view the person’s sexuality and sexual orientation. It is safe to say that all these ideas about language, sexuality as well as queer theory intersect and interlink with one another. Queer theory also looks at how heteronormativity or homosexuality is embedded in certain discourses while examining the language used in these discourses. Queer theory examines popular and academic texts, comparing the ‘norm way of speech’ to the marginalized texts (Dilley, 1999). With that, queer theory contributed to the sociolinguistics aspect of language, specifically in areas concerning sexuality (Koch, 2008). This allows us to examine how and why certain languages or way of speech are engaged by certain groups with certain sexualities or sexual orientations.

In conclusion, despite criticisms on queer theory saying that it robs gays and lesbians of their distinctiveness, queer theory still serves as an important set of theories and ideas as it deconstructed sexuality in a society by challenging the ‘normal’ and presenting people with other underrepresented or misrepresented sexualities that are not often talked about in public discourse. Queer theory’s contributions to research on both sexuality and language are so impactful and significant, and thus should not be neglected. Without queer theory, we are unable to express language and sexuality as these ideas and concepts are all interlinked and overlapping, and they intersect with one another as well.

 

 

 

REFERENCES

Barry, P. (2017). Beginning theory: An introduction to literary and cultural theory. Oxford University Press.

Cameron, D., & Kulick, D. (2003). Language and sexuality. Cambridge University Press.

Dilley, P. (1999). Queer theory: Under construction. International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education12(5), 457-472.

Giffney, N. (2004). Denormatizing queer theory: More than (simply) lesbian and gay studies. Feminist Theory5(1), 73-78.

Jackson, S. (2006). Interchanges: Gender, sexuality and heterosexuality: The complexity (and limits) of heteronormativity. Feminist theory7(1), 105-121.

Jagose, A. (1996). Queer theory: An introduction. NYU Press.

Koch, M. (2008). Language and gender research from a queer linguistic perspective: A critical evaluation. VDM  Publishing.

Maree, C. (2015). Queer linguistics. The International Encyclopedia of Human Sexuality.

Motschenbacher, H. (2011). Taking Queer Linguistics further: Sociolinguistics and critical heteronormativity research. International Journal of the Sociology of Language2011(212), 149-179.

 

 

P p p poker face, p p p poker face

 

Lady Gaga is well known for her unusual and provocative work as well as outrageous and absurd outfits. In addition to that, Lady Gaga is also widely known and considered as a gay icon by the LGBT committee. Lady Gaga has never been afraid to let the world know about her sexuality and the fact that she was bisexual. But she has not always been this upfront about her sexuality.

“Poker Face” by Lady Gaga is one of the most successful and best-selling single and song of all time. The song received a lot of attention and attained worldwide success, topping the music charts in numerous countries all over the world. However, the song holds a lot more meaning and significance to Lady Gaga. The song is also about her personal experience with bisexuality.

Lady Gaga also mentioned that she used to hide her sexuality from her partners, as she feels bad for her partner (James, 2017). But that is not the case anymore, after writing the song, “Poker Face”, which is about her fantasizing about a woman while she is with a man, and how she goes about hiding it behind her ‘poker face’.

In an interview with Rolling Stone, the 27 year-old revealed how her boyfriends tend to react to her bisexuality and open mind towards sexual exploration. “The fact that I’m into women, they’re all intimidated by it. It makes them uncomfortable. They’re like, ‘I don’t need to have a threesome. I’m happy with just you’,” she explained.

Just like Lady Gaga’s boyfriends who are uncomfortable about her bisexuality and open-mindedness towards sexual exploration, many are still reserved about the existence of other sexualities besides heterosexuality.

However, over the years, as the number of people identifying with lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) increases, more and more people in the society are becoming accepting of such sexualities. In fact, according to a survey conducted Pew Research Center, many LGBT adults believe that the increase in social acceptance was due to more people coming into personal contact and have friends who belong to the LGBT committee (Drake, 2013).

In addition to that, the fact that more public figures have come to embrace their sexualities and are willing to share about their personal experiences have also helped in encouraging acceptance. These public figures who practice self-acceptance and are comfortable with their own sexuality play a major role in influencing the LGBT committee. They act like their role models, thus influencing them to accept themselves as well as their sexualities.

Not only that, Lady Gaga also credited her success and fame to the LGBT committee and is an active supporter of LGBT rights worldwide. Lady Gaga’s courage to face her sexuality and sexual orientation, as well as her efforts to stand up against oppression, has indeed inspired the LGBT committee to embrace their sexualities and practice self-acceptance. Also, Lady Gaga has been an influential gay icon who actively fought for and supported LGBT rights.

Just like the public figures who picked up the courage to accept and embrace their sexualities, I hope that the society will be more courageous and be accepting of the LGBT committee and support them in their journey of self-acceptance and self discovery. Also, it is important that the public understands that the existing social preconception is heavily influenced by that of heteronormativity, the belief that people belong to a well defined and complementary gender groups with natural roles attached. Heteronormativity presumes that heterosexuality is the norm in the society. With that, I hope that the society will stop viewing the LGBT committee with the existing stereotypes.

 

 

 

 

References

Drake, B. (2013). How LGBT adults see society and how the public sees them. Retrieved March 04, 2018, from http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2013/06/25/how-lgbt-adults-see-society-and-how-the-public-sees-them/

James, L. (2017). Lady Gaga Reveals Hidden True Meaning Behind ‘Poker Face’ Hit [Video]. Retrieved March 04, 2018, from http://www.contactmusic.com/lady-gaga/news/lady-gaga-poker-face-meaning-bisexuality-belvedere-performance_4009730