Desire lines: 'queering' health and social welfare

Hicks, S and Watson, K 2003, 'Desire lines: 'queering' health and social welfare' , Sociological Research Online, 8 (1) .

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Abstract

This article considers how knowledge about lesbians and gay men is produced in health and social welfare texts. It looks at the consequences of a reliance upon the liberal 'ethnic model' of sexuality. The authors provide a critique of 'anti-discriminatory practice' versions of sexuality categories which, in their view, assert the liberal model at the expense of ideas found in the sociological traditions of gay liberation, lesbian feminist, interactionist and queer/postmodern theories. Through a queer reading of health and social welfare texts specifically addressed to sexuality, the article considers the hierarchy of sexual knowledges which promote heteronormativity; the reliance upon fixed identity models of sexuality; the functionalist view of a "gay culture"; the silencing of lesbian feminism; and the traditionally gendered and fetishistic versions of 'the lesbian' produced. The authors argue against merely 'adding in' lesbians and gay men, and in terms of practice, encourage a reflexive engagement by all practitioners with the ways in which these dominant discourses concerning sexuality populate and discipline knowledges within health and social welfare.

Item Type:	Article
Themes:	Subjects / Themes > H Social Sciences > HT Communities. Classes. Races Subjects / Themes > H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman > HQ1101 Women. Feminism Subjects / Themes > H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) Subjects / Themes > H Social Sciences > HM Sociology Subjects outside of the University Themes
Schools:	Schools > School of Health and Society > Centre for Applied Research in Health, Welfare and Policy
Journal or Publication Title:	Sociological Research Online
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Refereed:	Yes
ISSN:	1360-7804
Depositing User:	Dr Stephen Hicks
Date Deposited:	02 Oct 2009 14:58
Last Modified:	16 Feb 2022 08:36
URI:	https://usir.salford.ac.uk/id/eprint/2312

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