What´s Queer Theory: What Is Gender Binaries?

Gender Binaries are way for societies to further segregate people based on their gender. Gender Binaries are the classification of sex and gender based on two distinct groups based on masculinity and femininity. Queer theory is critical of gender binaries because these theorists feel that gender identity and sexual orientation are not definitive. Therefore, queer theory explains “that gender and sexual orientations are variable instead of fixed” (Queer Theory: What is Queer Theory?). Additionally, Queer theory is critical of heteronormativity. Heteronormativity is the idea that heterosexuality is the norm and therefore, our social norms and expectations should be based on heterosexual relationships and lifestyles. Queer theory is critical of
all assumptions of identity, so heteronormative societies are critiqued by queer theorists.
Queer theory also questions gender identity and gender politics because “Queer theory is intersectional, which means that queer theorists believe you can’t separate one piece of a person’s identity – sexual orientation label, or gender label, for example – from the whole person” (Queer Theory: What is Queer Theory?). This is important to understand, because it supports the idea that gender identity and sexual orientation are not fixed variables. Overall, queer theory explains that there are many things that make a person who they are, so we cannot categorize people as simply male or female and heterosexual or homosexual. Our society tends to try and put everyone into a group, but queer theory encourages us to be ourselves without having to be grouped together.
Works Cited
Queer Theory: What is Queer Theory?