Prompt: “Define your understanding of “queer reading” in 100-150 words, reflecting on how your understanding has changed or not changed throughout the semester.”
Response:
At the start of the semester, I thought that “queer reading” referred to reading books, articles, poetry, and other forms of written works that were created by queer individuals or centered around queer characters and themes. I took the word “reading” to mean what it has often meant in my previous academic experiences, looking at letters on paper and deriving meaning from them. After taking this course, I now have a new understanding of this term.
Today, I think that the phrase “queer reading” has more broad implications, and refers to the act of being mindful about queer experiences while examining the environment around you. I believe that queer reading means being aware of how sexuality and gender shape the experiences of those in your surroundings, but also how sexuality and gender intersect with race, ethnicity, culture, disability, and other facets of an individual’s identity.