Queer Theory, Gender Theory by Riki Wilchins

Author:Riki Wilchins [Wilchins, Riki]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781626010895
Publisher: Riverdale Avenue Books
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Sometime in the 18th century, sex as we know it was invented. As Carol Travis has noted, it is no accident that theories of difference flourish precisely when the differences in question begin to fade. As social roles began to grow together and less distinct, “difference that had been expressed with reference to [social conventions of] gender now came to be expressed with reference to sex” and a “language of similarity began to be replaced by a language of incommensurable difference.”

As a dominant and monolithic Center, Male was not differentiated from Female so much as Female—the Other—was differentiated from Male. Female was used as a blank surface where whole new truths could be written. The notion of differentness extended itself over the Female body like a shroud.

The ovaries, which—like the testes—had historically been known simply as the gonads, were given separate names and meanings. The vagina was named, to make it more distinct from the penis.

Menstrual blood was separated from all other fluids and discharges—particularly from all other kinds of blood and bleeding—and given an enormous weight of cultural meaning. Along with the ovary, menstrual blood became the very definition of Femaleness, and the immediate, visible symbol of femininity.

In the late 1600s, the first Female skeleton was assembled for study using the most feminized cadaver that could be found— especially wide hips, narrow ribcage, small head, and tiny hands, wrists, ankles, and feet.

This choice was made not because there were new bones to be shown, but rather to display and anchor difference. From then on, anatomists would draw the Female skeleton so as to maximize its divergence from the Male. “The two sexes, in other words, were invented as a new foundation for gender.” [p. 149]

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