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graveyardpansy's review against another edition
3.0
it’s difficult to rate/review anthologies bc of the nature of them. but this is pretty hit or miss — some essays I really enjoyed and made me think, while others made me deeply uncomfortable (for example, the “not-straight heterosexual cisgender woman” using the t-slur...). Some of the pieces seemed like repetition of things that’re very basic to anarcha-queer politics, while some present underrepresented ideas that I loved. I really liked the discussions of BDSM & kink as says to view and play with larger power dynamics, and I definitely liked the essay including disability as well. however, I’m not sure if I’ll ever be comfortable with the notion of “queering heterosexuality,” and i think that for now at least, cishets need to learn to stay in their place when it comes to queer politics.
frayed_aegis's review
3.5
Product of its time. A lot of the points in the book have kinda entered mainstream queer theory so the book doesn't feel as necessary as it may have in 2012.
11corvus11's review against another edition
3.0
I read this book. I enjoyed this book. My critical review does not mean I did not like this book. Also, this cover art is spectacular.
That said, I think this book is more for educating straight and cis anarchists or unfortunately even making straight people think they are queer. If you're already a queer and/or trans anarchist than you may not find anything new here. I felt uncomfortable as well with how much of the book was dedicated to finding ways to make cis/heterosexuality queer and the definition of queer (while they very clearly express is not the only one) is including BDSM and polyamory (and anything "different" from the "norm" which gives pretty much any cis straight person access to our identities and spaces.) As a person who has spent time around nonradical poly and kinky straight people, giving them reason to appropriate queer identity and join queer separatist spaces (which they are already doing in droves) is not something I am comfortable with. It made me wonder how many of the editors were cis people in heterosexual relationships with cis people, or how many of them knew what it was like to move throughout the world dealing with the kind of oppression the most marginalized queer and trans people deal with when I was reading the introduction. This was not what I was hoping to be my main thought while reading a book I had REALLY high hopes for.
That said, the queering heterosexuality essay, which I TRIED to read with an open mind, was very clear in saying straight people should be very careful not to appropriate queer identities or heterosexualize queer spaces. This was overshadowed by how much of the essay was focused on trying to appropriate and heterosexualize as well as- see other reviews- using slurs that aren't hers to use or reclaim. Unfortunately, all of the hetero "queers" I have met in real life seem to be more concerned about how much space they can take up and how oppressed they are by queer and trans people. I wish this book catered less towards making heterosexual/heteroromantic cis people feel queer and find ways to dodge accountability and more towards creating safer spaces and analytic tools for marginalized queer people.
Gender Sabotage, Tyranny of the State and Trans Liberation, Harm Reduction as Pleasure Activism, Queer-Cripping Anarchism, and others all made this worth buying and reading. I am glad to have it on my shelf. I just hope the focus on straight people being queer doesn't lead to even more straight people taking up queer space and pushing out the people that created it.
That said, I think this book is more for educating straight and cis anarchists or unfortunately even making straight people think they are queer. If you're already a queer and/or trans anarchist than you may not find anything new here. I felt uncomfortable as well with how much of the book was dedicated to finding ways to make cis/heterosexuality queer and the definition of queer (while they very clearly express is not the only one) is including BDSM and polyamory (and anything "different" from the "norm" which gives pretty much any cis straight person access to our identities and spaces.) As a person who has spent time around nonradical poly and kinky straight people, giving them reason to appropriate queer identity and join queer separatist spaces (which they are already doing in droves) is not something I am comfortable with. It made me wonder how many of the editors were cis people in heterosexual relationships with cis people, or how many of them knew what it was like to move throughout the world dealing with the kind of oppression the most marginalized queer and trans people deal with when I was reading the introduction. This was not what I was hoping to be my main thought while reading a book I had REALLY high hopes for.
That said, the queering heterosexuality essay, which I TRIED to read with an open mind, was very clear in saying straight people should be very careful not to appropriate queer identities or heterosexualize queer spaces. This was overshadowed by how much of the essay was focused on trying to appropriate and heterosexualize as well as- see other reviews- using slurs that aren't hers to use or reclaim. Unfortunately, all of the hetero "queers" I have met in real life seem to be more concerned about how much space they can take up and how oppressed they are by queer and trans people. I wish this book catered less towards making heterosexual/heteroromantic cis people feel queer and find ways to dodge accountability and more towards creating safer spaces and analytic tools for marginalized queer people.
Gender Sabotage, Tyranny of the State and Trans Liberation, Harm Reduction as Pleasure Activism, Queer-Cripping Anarchism, and others all made this worth buying and reading. I am glad to have it on my shelf. I just hope the focus on straight people being queer doesn't lead to even more straight people taking up queer space and pushing out the people that created it.
sydthebeesknee's review against another edition
5.0
My feelings towards this book are perhaps colored by how excited I was to read it and the fact that the person who checked this book out for me when I purchased it exclaimed that this book was "really good." Nonetheless, this is my favorite piece of theory and essay collection I've read this year so far.
I think this was a solid introduction-to-anarchism-text for me. To me, the essays were accessible without diluting ideas. Ideas presented in these essays, including divesting from the struggle for marriage equality and opposing hate crime legislation, are bold and incisive for those unaccustomed to more radical queer activism. Other ideas presented in some of these essays almost seemed liberal and comprising, at first glance. Many of the authors caution people against inverting hierarchies and positioning queerness/non-monogamy/non-normative practices are superior. I appreciated that perspective because it challenges me to be self-critical and make sure that my politics are rooted in ending oppression and exploitation and not reactionary, desiring to invert hierarchies to my benefit.
The way I felt compelled to be self-critical about how I arrive to my politics and values leads me to my final point of appreciation: many of these essays presented theory in a way that inspired me to think about how I could apply them to my own life. This essay collection also left me thinking about meditation/reflection as a liberator practice and how I can approach queerness as a way to transform how I relate with others.
I think this was a solid introduction-to-anarchism-text for me. To me, the essays were accessible without diluting ideas. Ideas presented in these essays, including divesting from the struggle for marriage equality and opposing hate crime legislation, are bold and incisive for those unaccustomed to more radical queer activism. Other ideas presented in some of these essays almost seemed liberal and comprising, at first glance. Many of the authors caution people against inverting hierarchies and positioning queerness/non-monogamy/non-normative practices are superior. I appreciated that perspective because it challenges me to be self-critical and make sure that my politics are rooted in ending oppression and exploitation and not reactionary, desiring to invert hierarchies to my benefit.
The way I felt compelled to be self-critical about how I arrive to my politics and values leads me to my final point of appreciation: many of these essays presented theory in a way that inspired me to think about how I could apply them to my own life. This essay collection also left me thinking about meditation/reflection as a liberator practice and how I can approach queerness as a way to transform how I relate with others.
mandi_lea's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexism, Ableism, Classism, Transphobia, Racism, and Violence
pipsqueaky's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
neolithicqueer's review against another edition
2.0
I do agree with the anti-capitalist statements but I can't see how anarchy would support disabled people better than a socialist state. Good base reading for those new to queer or disablity studies.
frog_appreciator's review against another edition
4.5
Lots of really great jumping off points here. Happy to have been introduced to emma goldman! My main criticism is how not all the essays are layman friendly, as was the purpose of the book. Some definitely were! but some threw around lots of words that if you you didn’t already understand them, you’d be lost.