Some ideas I have gathered from this course so far-
First the fluidity of the terms queer and queer theory, especially as Jagose puts it that the more queer theory becomes an academic discipline, the less queer "queer theory" can be. I hadn't really understood that queer operates in the realm of possibilities and that it goes far beyond lesbian and gay.
Secondly that identity and gender are social constructs and that language does not help us to express our 'authentic' selves, but that it helps to regulate and control. I suppose I had understood this in the abstract before this class, but now I see traditional gender roles being placed on people everywhere. I also thought it was interesting that performative repetition of gender roles reinforce heterosexuality and heteronormativity.
Which brings me to my next thought....Homonormativity. I had heard of heteronormativity, but hadn't considered homonormativity before this class. Someone brought up how the tv/movies have established what we think of when we think gay (Will and Grace, Queer Eye, etc), however, these are the socially conservative (white, middle class, male) and they establish a 'normalcy' for homosexuality.
Next would be the gender vs. sex, especially in the Fausto-Sterling reading on the history of the hermaphrodite or intersex. Sex is biological and gender is societal. I found the history of the hermaprodite to be very interesting reading, especially the part about Emma and Margaret/Big James.
Lastly Foucault's evolution of sexual repression, especially seeking forgiveness for our 'sins' and other religious penance as an extension of that.
See y'all tonight