Wallace & Alexander

In their article “Queer Rhetorical Agency: Questioning Narratives of Heteronormativity,” Wallace and Alexander aim to present an enriched view of “the ways that heteronormativity infuses Western culture and at how we participate in social and cultural practices that maintain heteronormativity” (794). In order to see the effects/influences of “heteronormativity” has on our culture, we must first understand that it is an “invisible system of marginalization” that upholds certain gender traits as normal, while it “others” anything outside of what is upheld as the traditional sexual identity. By understanding the ways in which heteronormativity works, we can discover ways “to move beyond the narrow range of roles that dominant culture allots to LGBT people,” and can also help us to be “better informed about the operation of gender, race, class, religion/spirituality, age, physical and mental/emotional ability, and sexual identity in our culture” (815).

The idea of “identity” has been a reoccurring concept in the arguments of various cultural theorists. Though the ideas of Wallace and Alexander seem to build off of post-structuralism, they place a strong emphasis on the sexual identity. Psychoanalytic theories also placed a strong emphasis on the development of sexual identity; however, Wallace and Alexander would likely disagree with Freud’s theories because they argue that “heteronormativity” shapes sexual identity (therefore, sexual identity is shaped by the social conflict and the ideals of “dominant culture”).

Wallace and Alexander present a very interesting essay, which not only aims to inform readers, but also to encourage change and acceptance in our culture. Personally, I found their argument to be very well constructed, and – by exploring the concept of “heteronormativity” (what they are fighting against) – they are able to expose its flaws, and they also demonstrate the ways in which it is limiting to each individual and culture as a whole.