Queer Theory, Gender Theory: An Instant Primer

I found Quuer Theory, Gender Theory: An Instant Primer by Riki Wilchins to be both academically rigorous while being accessible for the reader who would like an inductory text on Queer and Gender Studies. I use this book in my Introduction to Queer Studies course, and students find that the author has a particular skill for introducing rather difficult concepts in a style that is fresh and engaging, without talking down to them. A must read for anyone wishing to gain a clearer understanding of queer and gender theory.

The author attempts to take gender theory out of the classroom and bring it to the forefront of our culture. You'll learn what kinds of gender issues face Americans today.

Riki Wilchins has crafted a marvelous primer on the major gender issues facing Americans today, and it's worth reading the book for that purpose alone; but Wilchins manages to provide more than a primer, she gives new life to the long dormant idea that King, Gandhi and Jesus died for, the idea that across the board social constructs must be abandoned, and the fight must be for equal rights for all. Period. No sub-divisions, no special rights, just rights that each and every person is entitled to simply because they are a person. I doubt Wilchins intended her book to be a theological treatise, but to my way of thinking, her ideas mirror those of Jesus who not only deconstructed social constructs, but taught that each and every person is entitled not only to radical love, but life in a community of radical egalitarianism. "Queer Theory, Gender Theory" is a great read, a wonderful book, and a breath of fresh air in this age of homophobic rhetoric. In short, buy and read this great book!

I assign this book in a class called Sexual Identity. It offers an introduction to queer/gender/postmodern theory, situated within contexts of social and political movements. It is extremely accessible, and guides readers through difficult concepts that are often complicated and dense in their original works (e.g., Foucault, Derrida, Butler). For people who want to sample some of the central theoretical concepts related to gender and sexuality, this book is a great resource. The students reading this book often comment on the accessible reading and Wilchins' connections to personal stories and experiences. Such comments starkly differ from when I previously assigned the more abstract and antiquated Queer Theory (Jagose).

This book does exactly what it sets out to do: whereas my initial attempts at reading and understanding Foucault and Butler left me interested but confused, now, after reading this book -- in a mere four days -- I actually get postmodernism, a.k.a. the theory behind gender rights. I've retained more from this book in less than a week than from an entire semester of a college philosophy of race and gender class. In other words, thanks Riki!