1513 - Queer Women of Color, Intersectionality, and Emotions

Session Submission Type: Invited Session

Description

Within sociology, studies on the lives of queer women of color are still few in number. The existing research is significantly limited across various social domains and the diversity of the population (both nationally and internationally). Yet, the inclusion of this research in sociological inquiry can significantly broaden our understanding of the existing interlocking social inequalities, structural barriers, taken-for-granted social and institutional assumptions and social relationships. While intersectionality was introduced to better understand and situate the experiences of populations with multiple markers and sites of social oppressions, in particular women of color, it has also been evolving in both its theorization and application. Panelists will present research on queer women of color which explores issues of subjectivity and emotion in their negotiations of macro- and micro-level limitation and opportunities imposed by race, gender, race, class, age, sexuality, religion, citizenship and other pertinent social markers. Panelists will also engage with how their positionality and approaches to intersectionality may advance a distinct queer woman of color analysis. Through presentations and discussions among panelists and participants, this session will examine the state of research on queer women of color, the usefulness of an intersectional approach, and the significance of emotions to expanding this field of research.

Description

Within sociology, studies on the lives of queer women of color are still few in number. The existing research is significantly limited across various social domains and the diversity of the population (both nationally and internationally). Yet, the inclusion of this research in sociological inquiry can significantly broaden our understanding of the existing interlocking social inequalities, structural barriers, taken-for-granted social and institutional assumptions and social relationships. While intersectionality was introduced to better understand and situate the experiences of populations with multiple markers and sites of social oppressions, in particular women of color, it has also been evolving in both its theorization and application. Panelists will present research on queer women of color which explores issues of subjectivity and emotion in their negotiations of macro- and micro-level limitation and opportunities imposed by race, gender, race, class, age, sexuality, religion, citizenship and other pertinent social markers. Panelists will also engage with how their positionality and approaches to intersectionality may advance a distinct queer woman of color analysis. Through presentations and discussions among panelists and participants, this session will examine the state of research on queer women of color, the usefulness of an intersectional approach, and the significance of emotions to expanding this field of research.

Sub Unit

• Thematic Sessions

Session Organizer

• Marysol Asencio, University of Connecticut

Presider

• Jyoti Puri, Simmons College

Individual Presentations

• Is This Your Real Baby? Visibility in Queer and Lesbian Stepparent Families - Katie Linette Acosta, Georgia State University

• What Will People Say! and Other Emotion Talk: South Asian (Queer) Women and the Politics of Being Out - Shweta Majumdar Adur, California State University-Los Angeles

• Sexual Autonomy and the Development of Black Women's Same-sex Desire in the Pre-Stonewall Era - Mignon R. Moore, Barnard College

• Feeling Disconnected: Latina Lesbian-Queer CisWomen and the Intersectional Structuring of Legitimacy and Community - Marysol Asencio, University of Connecticut