Identity Poetics: Race, Class, and the Lesbian-Feminist Roots of Queer Theory

Linda Garber

Published by Columbia University Press 2001

Identity Poetics

Race, Class, and the Lesbian-Feminist Roots of Queer Theory

Linda Garber

In the series Between Men-Between Women: Lesbian and Gay Studies

https://doi.org/10.7312/garb11032

Overview
Contents

About this book

"Queer theory," asserts Garber, "alternately buries and vilifies lesbian feminism, missing its valuable insights and ignoring its rich contributions." Rejecting the either/or choice between lesbianism and queer theory, this book favors an inclusive approach that defies current factionalism. In an eloquent challenge to the privileging of queer theory in the academy, Garber calls for recognition of the historical—and intellectually significant—role of lesbian poets as theorists of lesbian identity and activism.

"Queer theory," asserts Linda Garber, "alternately buries and vilifies lesbian feminism, missing its valuable insights and ignoring its rich contributions." Rejecting the either/or choice between lesbianism and queer theory, she favors an inclusive approach that defies current factionalism. In an eloquent challenge to the privileging of queer theory in the academy, Garber calls for recognition of the historical—and intellectually significant—role of lesbian poets as theorists of lesbian identity and activism.

The connections, Garber shows, are most clearly seen when looking at the pivotal work of working-class lesbians/lesbians of color whose articulations of multiple, simultaneous identity positions and activist politics both belong to lesbian feminism and presage queer theory. Identity Poetics includes a critical overview of recent historical writing about the women's and lesbian-feminist movements of the 1970s; discussions of the works of Judy Grahn, Pat Parker, Audre Lorde, Adrienne Rich, and Gloria Anzaldúa; and, finally, a chapter on the rise and hegemony of queer theory within lesbigay studies.

Author / Editor information

Linda Garber is associate professor in the department of English and the Program for the Study of Women and Gender at Santa Clara University. She is the editor of Tilting the Tower: Lesbians/Teaching/Queer Subjects and the author of articles on lesbian literary criticism and lesbian studies.

Reviews

Identitiy Poetics is a thoughtful, provocative, and engaging book. Careful to aknowledge the ideas of others, Garber sets a wonderful tone for her arguements, one of allied scholarship rather than academic crossfire.

A provocative and sophisticated book that challenges the presumed opposition between lesbian feminism and queer theory and rethinks orthodox notions about identity politics.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
Acknowledgments Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	ix
Introduction: Race, Class, And Generations Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
Chapter One. The Social Construction of Lesbian Feminism Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	10
Chapter Two. Putting the Word Dyke on the Map: Judy Grahn Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	31
Chapter Three. “I Have a Dream Too”: Pat Parker Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	63
Chapter Four. “High Over Halfway Between Your World and Mine”: Audre Lorde Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	97
Chapter Five. An Uncommonly Queer Reading: Adrienne Rich Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	127
Chapter Six. “Caught in the Crossfire Between Camps”: Gloria Anzaldúa Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	147
Chapter Seven. Around 1991: The Rise of Queer Theory and the Lesbian Intertext Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	176
Afterward, the Dy₂ke March: June 24, 2000, San Francisco Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	209
Notes Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	211
Works Cited Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	225
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	249

Language: English
Publisher: Columbia University Press
Audience: Professional and scholarly;
Pages
- Main content: 304

eBook

Published: October 17, 2001
ISBN: 9780231506724