(Un)doing relationships

Autor(en)
Michael En, Boka En
Abstrakt

What is a relationship? Or: What is in a relationship? In this chapter, we ask these and other questions to examine how relationships are valued (and devalued) differentially, that is, in ways that re-/produce differences and norms. We discuss how some relationships are promoted as more important than others; some glorified as ‘right’ or ‘pure’; others condemned as ‘wrong’ or ‘evil’; and some accorded legal and social status that others are denied. We draw on an understanding of categorisation as performative to think about how boundaries in and around relationships are enacted, examining the links and breaking points between labelling, de-/valuing and actual(ising) relationship practices. Referring in part to our own relationship practices (and quoting directly from them via vignettes from our personal lives), we explore ways of queering – doing and undoing – relationships, cautioning against an individualised (neoliberal) approach and suggesting that we remain open to what is possible in our relating to each other.

Organisation(en)
Institut für Translationswissenschaft, Referat Genderforschung
Seiten
438–451
Anzahl der Seiten
14
DOI
https://doi.org/10.4324/9780367822040-43
Publikationsdatum
09-2022
Peer-reviewed
Ja
ÖFOS 2012
504014 Gender Studies
Schlagwörter
ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete
Allgemeine Sozialwissenschaften
Link zum Portal
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/de/publications/84bf3141-2453-49b8-872c-36892781bbdc