Western Societal Philosophies and its Relation to Queer Liminality By; Michael R Fabich June 6

, 2023

ANTHRO.science

Original DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.23639238

Western Societal Philosophies and its Relation to

Queer Liminality

By: Michael R Fabich June 6

, 2023

Received June 6

, 2023 | DOI: figshare.com July 6

2023 | Published July 8

2023 ANTHRO.science

Abstract:

This research seeks to critically examine the societal constructs prevalent

within Western society, focusing on their implications for LGBTQ+ individuals.

By delving into the complex dynamics of gender, sexuality, and family, this

research aims to shed light on the underlying factors that perpetuate separation,

stigmatization, and marginalization. A comprehensive analysis of these constructs

is crucial to understanding the barriers faced by LGBTQ+ individuals, as well as to

pave the way for meaningful societal progress towards inclusivity, acceptance, and

equal rights. The significance of this research lies in its potential to inform

policymakers, educators, and advocates seeking to create more inclusive and

equitable societies. By unraveling the intricate layers of societal constructs, we can

challenge prevailing norms, dismantle harmful stereotypes, and work towards

fostering a more compassionate and accepting environment for all individuals,

regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Ultimately, this research

aims to contribute to the ongoing discourse surrounding LGBTQ+ rights, societal

change, and the creation of a more inclusive future for Western society.

Keywords: Anthropology; Gender and Sexuality; Queer Liminality; Queer Family; LGBTQ+

rights; LGBT freedom; Western society today; Western societal philosophies

Michael R Fabich

Mfabich@ANTHRO.science

https://scholarlyarticles.anthro.science/Western_Societal_Philosophies_and_its_Relation_to_Queer_Liminality_by_

Michael_R_Fabich.html

Western Societal Philosophies and its Relation to Queer Liminality By; Michael R Fabich June 6

, 2023

ANTHRO.science

Introduction:

The concept of Western society evokes a

multitude of perceptions and connotations,

encompassing a complex interplay of

dynamic perspectives that shape our

understanding of various topics and

viewpoints within diverse communities.

These perspectives often rely on well-

defined definitions to portray the intricacies

and diversities inherent in societal

structures. However, it is notable that certain

aspects of individual groups within Western

society are subjected to more rudimentary,

polarized constructs. These rudimentary

Western views have continuously created

separation on the grounds of ethnicity,

gender, religion, and cultural practices.

None is more inherent today than the ones

concerning gender versus biological sex and

notions of the ideal family. In this context,

Western societal views on homosexuality

contribute to the fragmentation of the larger

social fabric, while limited perspectives on

gender and gender roles, often sexualized,

further exacerbate this divide. Consequently,

LGBTQ+ individuals find themselves

caught in a perpetual state of liminality due

to society's conflicting and opposing views,

leading to far-reaching consequences for

their well-being and sense of belonging.

Methodology:

The research methodology employed

involves a multidisciplinary approach

drawing upon relevant literature, theoretical

frameworks, personal experience, and other

evidence. By combining Anthropology, real-

world Queer ethnographic research, and

other cultural perspectives, this study aims

to provide a comprehensive understanding

of the complexities involved in shaping

societal constructs within Western society

and how it relates to the Queer community.

Queer Liminality in Western Society:

A society's negative perception of

homosexuality engenders a distinct division

between LGBTQ+ individuals and the

broader social fabric, compelling them to

reside outside the confines of mainstream

society. In the article “Liminality,” by

Michael Joseph (2021), Joseph delves into

the concepts of liminal spaces, defining one

aspect of liminality as “the quality of being

socially segregated” (Joseph, 2021, p.116).

Similarly, the study conducted by Ridge,

Plummer, and Peisley (2006), titled

"Remaking the masculine self and coping in

the liminal world of the gay 'scene',"

examines the ramifications of external

homophobia and violence on the

estrangement of queer individuals from

society. Notably, their research illuminates

that the “Immersion [of gay men] in… gay

space[s] also involved varying degrees of

dissociation from other social networks” like

jobs, straight friends and family, and

participation in the society” (Ridge, 2006,

p506). The contributing factor for this need

to be immersed in gay spaces involves the

extreme hatred of Queer individuals from

outside of that space. The immersion in the

West and central Hollywood queer nightlife

during the initial years of the 21st century

elicits an intriguing insight into the need for

separation and safe places. Wherein self-

expression was confined to venues

populated by individuals who shared a

collective understanding of the challenges

involved in being Queer when the notion

and word QUEER was stigmatized rather

than celebrated as an aspect of personal

identity. A majority of Queer individuals

were compelled to distance themselves from

their families while seeking employment

within the queer scene, as they encountered

discrimination in professions that demanded

conformity to heteronormative standards,

reinforcing the imperative for queer

individuals to adopt a more "heterosexual"

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Michael_R_Fabich.html

Western Societal Philosophies and its Relation to Queer Liminality By; Michael R Fabich June 6

, 2023

ANTHRO.science

demeanor. Consequently, these queer

individuals established intimate enclaves

that deliberately isolated themselves from

these prevailing heteronormative

communities that had firmly entrenched

themselves within the surrounding localities.

This forced detachment from the

conventional realm of Western society

subjected LGBTQ+ individuals into a

perpetual state of liminality, whereby they

find themselves detached from the

customary functioning of society as a means

of survival.

The Western construct of equating

biological sex with gender has persistently

led to the sexualization of individuals within

the LGBTQ+ community, particularly those

who identify as nonbinary or engage in drag

performance. This limited definition of

gender, gender roles, and sexual identity

leads to what Michael Joseph calls liminality

of “Outsiderhood… [one of the] two types

of liminality explored in recent narratives”

(Joseph, 2021, p.118). Throughout history,

Western societies have grappled with

comprehending the disassociation of biology

from gender ideals and constructs. Fulton

and Anderson (1992) examine Indigenous

American cultures in their article on the

"Amerindian 'Man-Woman'," highlighting

Westerners' failure to recognize that gender

and gender roles are unrelated to an

individual's biological sex or their

engagement in same-sex relationships.

Indigenous American cultures acknowledge

the presence of Two-Spirit individuals, who

assume gender roles outside the Western

male-female binary, often serving as

spiritual leaders. “Western interpretation

dichotomizes the gender role for each sex,

which results from erroneous assumptions

about, first, the connection between biology

and gender, and, second, the nature of

gender roles” (Fulton & Anderson, 1992,

p.607). This construction of a male-female

gender binary in society perpetuates false

notions about appropriate behavior, dress,

and sexuality, leading to the automatic yet

baseless sexualization of those who exist

outside these norms, such as nonbinary

individuals and drag performers. Fulton and

Anderson state “not every [two spirits]

performed same-sex sexual relations

exclusively nor would [Indigenous

Americans] who had sexual relationships

with another like sexed person be

necessarily perceived as a [Two-Spirit] by

the community” (Fulton & Anderson, 1992,

p.608). Western society burdens individuals

who deviate from its gender binaries by

sexually objectifying them based on

appearance, behavior, or identity. Due to the

misrepresentation of gender and gender

identity as a sexual act, the LGBTQ+

community is subjected to both

sexualization and accusations of being

overly sexual. Consequently, this dynamic

not only perpetuates liminality within the

queer community but also exposes many to

feeling sexually violated by the very

individuals who label queer people as sexual

deviants.

The manifestation of liminality

within the LGBTQ+ community is

prominently exemplified by the divergent

societal perspectives on same-sex adoption,

which create a rift between proponents and

opponents of this practice. In her article

"Family," Wesseling (2021) elucidates the

inherent liminality of adoption, noting that

"Western adoptive parents usually aspire

toward the norm of the nuclear family"

(Wesseling, 2021, p.74). The negative

viewpoint held by certain segments of

society regarding same-sex adoption is

evident in Haines' article titled "Same-Sex

Adoption Should Not Be Tolerated for the

Sake of Encouraging Adoption" (2013).

Haines characterizes a "bad lifestyle" as

involving drug dealing and domestic

https://scholarlyarticles.anthro.science/Western_Societal_Philosophie

s_and_its_Relation_to_Queer_Liminality_by_Michael_R_Fabich.html

Western Societal Philosophies and its Relation to Queer Liminality By; Michael R Fabich June 6

, 2023

ANTHRO.science

violence, even though he acknowledges that

same-sex couples are less likely to engage in

such behavior. However, he unfairly

includes the "gay lifestyle" within this

categorization, stating that "the problem... is

that they're [same-sex couples] still a subset

of the 'bad lifestyle' sort. And bad lifestyle...

certainly translates to 'unfit for child

rearing'" (Haines, 2013). In contrast, an

opposing perspective is presented in the

article "Homosexuals Should Be Allowed to

Adopt" by Hunt and Krehely (2013). They

cite multiple studies indicating that "children

raised by a gay or lesbian parent are just as

likely to grow up well-adjusted adults as

children raised by heterosexual parents"

(Hunt & Krehely, 2013). In a society where

contradictory viewpoints on same-sex

adoption persist, both same-sex couples and

the children involved are constantly situated

within a liminal space defined by societal

norms surrounding the concept of family,

often accompanied by fears of child removal

or separation from their parents. The

opposition to same-sex adoption stems from

the perception of a traditional nuclear family

as the ideal form of family structure. This

viewpoint, deeply ingrained in Western

societies, sets up a standard against which

other family formations, including those of

same-sex couples, are judged. The liminality

arises from the tension between these

opposing perspectives. On one hand,

Wesseling (2021) highlights how adoptive

parents typically strive to conform to the

nuclear family model, emphasizing the role

of biological connections and traditional

gender roles in child rearing. On the other

hand, Haines (2013) presents a negative

view of same-sex adoption by associating it

with a presumed "bad lifestyle," even

though research contradicts such stereotypes

(Hunt & Krehely, 2013). These conflicting

viewpoints position same-sex couples and

their children in an ambiguous space where

societal acceptance and legal protections

remain uncertain. The impact of this

liminality is profound. Same-sex couples

who wish to adopt face the persistent

challenge of societal discrimination and

legal barriers. They are forced to navigate a

complex landscape of varying attitudes and

prejudices, often experiencing feelings of

exclusion and marginalization. The children

of same-sex couples are also affected, as

they may encounter stigmatization or

discrimination based on their family

structure, which can have detrimental effects

on their well-being and sense of belonging.

Conclusion:

Societal perceptions of homosexuality

engender a state of division within the

broader community, owing to its narrow

understanding of gender and gender roles

intertwined with a sexualized framework.

The resulting opposing viewpoints prevalent

in society subject LGBTQ+ individuals to

an ongoing state of liminality. This

separation perpetuates a diminished societal

role for Queer individuals, curtailing their

potential contributions to the collective.

Moreover, society's failure to disentangle

gender from biological sex engenders

sexualized notions of individuals. The

divergent stances on same-sex adoption

within the LGBTQ+ community exemplify

the liminality experienced not only by the

parents but also by the child, who, having

believed they had found their long-awaited

family, now finds themselves in a precarious

position. Western society is often touted as

one that embraces diverse perspectives,

fostering inclusivity and progress for all its

members. However, this idealistic portrayal

remains elusive for the LGBTQ+

community, as they continue to struggle for

their rights, contend with limited freedoms,

and maintain hope for a brighter future

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Western Societal Philosophies and its Relation to Queer Liminality By; Michael R Fabich June 6

, 2023

ANTHRO.science

References

Fulton, R., & Anderson, S. W. (1992). The Amerindian ‘man-woman’: Gender, liminality, and cultural continuity. Current

Anthropology, 33(5), 603–610. doi:10.1086/20412. https://doi-org.ezproxy.fcclib.nocccd.edu/10.1086/204124.

Haines, A. (2013). Same-Sex Adoption Should Not Be Tolerated for the Sake of Encouraging Adoption. In D. Haugen & S.

Musser (Eds.), Opposing Viewpoints. Homosexuality. Greenhaven Press. (Reprinted from Is Gay Adoption Worth

Tolerating?, Ethika Politika, 2010, October 27) https://link-gale-

com.ezproxy.fcclib.nocccd.edu/apps/doc/EJ3010143410/OVIC?u=full44847&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=846eeb26

Hunt, J., & Krehely, J. (2013). Homosexuals Should Be Allowed to Adopt. In D. Haugen & S. Musser (Eds.), Opposing

Viewpoints. Homosexuality. Greenhaven Press. (Reprinted from State Antigay Adoption Policies Need to Go, 2010,

October 12) https://link-gale-

com.ezproxy.fcclib.nocccd.edu/apps/doc/EJ3010143407/OVIC?u=full44847&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=95eeef27

Joseph, . (2021) "Liminality." Keywords for Children’s Literature, edited by Philip Nel, Lissa Paul, and Nina Christensen, 116 –

119.

Ridge, D., Plummer, D., Peasley, D. (2006) Remaking the masculine self and coping in the liminal world of the gay

‘scene’, Culture, Health & Sexuality, 8:6, 501-514, DOI: 10.1080/13691050600879524

Wesseling, E. (2021). "Family."Keywords for Children’s Literature, edited by Philip Nel, Lissa Paul, and Nina Christensen, 74 -

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