Sexuality: An Intersectional Endeavor for LGBTQ Studies in Sociology

• In Event: 2383 - Theory Section Refereed Roundtable Session
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 10.

Abstract

Queer theory, queer sociology, intersectionality, and the sociology of knowledge have been at odds for quite some time. These advancements are effective pathways to understanding and dealing with sexuality studies within a sociological framework. Yet, these four analytical tools, also, do not comprehensively address the multitude of issues inherit within sexuality studies. We argue intersectionality in conjunction with an understanding of the sociology of knowledge can aid to a better sociological analysis of LGBTQ issues. This research investigates how LGBTQ issues are studied in sociology by conducting a quantitative content analysis (QCA) of sociology journals contained in the JSTOR database.
The medical institution pathologized homosexuality, which is why many sociologists first studied LGBTQ issues under the topic of deviance. Based on previous literature, the Stonewall Riots in 1969 served as an impetus for LGBTQ-identified activists to disrupt the 1970 and 1971 American Psychological Association (APA) annual meetings. These events led to the removal of homosexuality from the Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM) in 1973 (Drescher 2015). Therefore, our first hypothesis is articles related to LGBTQ issues will not appear in the literature until after 1973.
Stemming from our first hypothesis, if LGBTQ issues are not a topic of study until the 1970s, preliminary articles studying this phenomenon (LGBTQ issues) will be the main and sole topic of the article. With the introduction of intersectionality, however, in the late twentieth and early twenty-first century, we expect articles about LGBTQ issues to be intersected with other social categories and institutions of inquiry (i.e. race, gender, class, etc.) as time progresses. Consequently, our second hypothesis is there will be an increase in articles after the 1990s that study LGBTQ issues with other social categories and institutions.

Authors

• Lee Thorpe Jr, West Virginia University

• Misty L. Harris, West Virginia University