Underdogs: Social Deviance and Queer Theory

The sociology of "social deviants" in the US studied outsiders such as homosexuals, Jews, disabled people, drug addicts, and political radicals, but in the late 1980s, queer theory inherited these radical, activist impulses, challenging gender and sexual norms and the nature of society itself. Heather Love's book Underdogs traces the connection between midcentury studies of deviance and the anti-normative, anti-essentialist field of queer theory, showing that queer theorists inherited as much from sociologists as they did from activists.

Format: Hardback
Length: 248 pages
Publication date: 01 October 2021
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

The sociology of "social deviants" experienced a significant flourishing in the United States during the mid-century, delving into the lives of individuals who were considered outsiders, including homosexuals, Jews, individuals with disabilities, drug addicts, and political radicals. However, the trajectory of these marginalized figures would undergo a remarkable transformation in the subsequent decades. Many of these once-downcast individuals would rise to become the architects of new social movements, activists who revolted against established institutions, the state, and societal constraints.

As queer theory gained prominence as a subfield within the humanities in the late 1980s, it seemed to inherit these radical, activist impulses. Queer theorists challenged not only gender and sexual norms but also the very fabric of society itself. In her book, Underdogs, Heather Love demonstrates that queer theorists drew upon a rich interdisciplinary heritage, encompassing both sociological insights and the activism of marginalized communities. Love's work traces the connection between the mid-century studies of deviance and the anti-normative, anti-essentialist field of queer theory.

While sociologists viewed deviance as an inevitable aspect of social life, queer theorists embraced it as a rallying cry. Underdogs presents a comprehensive interdisciplinary history of the field, facilitating a re-encounter with the practices and communities that underpins radical queer thought. By delving into the lives and experiences of these social deviants, Love sheds light on the ways in which they challenged dominant narratives, disrupted power structures, and paved the way for a more inclusive and equitable society.

Weight: 496g
Dimension: 159 x 236 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226668697