A common concern at a Gender-Sexuality Nexus

28 April 2023

This invention has arrived at a juncture – gender, sexuality, disability, and English landscape as a worthy research subject is not in question. What is are the emerging outcomes and outputs: practice-led, embodied responses to complex experiences that fail to exist once described. It was a dim and distant juncture – but was and always be there whatever the discipline, whatever the industry. Frankly, I overlooked (or denied it). Having been immersed in the world of gender studies and the relationship anarchy/polyamory world, it really was not a question of viability or interest, regardless of how challenging it will be to devise a method for Folx to ‘get’ the value of a project like this or that there is a completely valid world composed of the discoveries, curiosities, connections, and spaces that are always there for the folx of all ilk. We are aware of a lot more choices than when Adrienne Rich wrote in 1980. And folx understand that theory alone does not solve the problem – which I suppose is not what is in question … what is relates to the viability of this as a form of defensible scholarship. At this moment, I wonder if this will come down to personal opinion and desire to see this through.

First, what I observe: folx navigating a complex, rapidly changing world in both HE and in social stratia in general. People clinging to their jobs for fear of homelessness or other disastrous consequences, the end may be neigh if folx, who themselves fear erasure, un/consciously clear space to hold it for themselves or their chosen Others. If you ignore the issues and the people involved in them by depleting resources, they will go away. I fear that in the grab for resources, Higher Education in general, but certainly my institution specifically, is in the process of dropping all but the bare minimum of ‘diversity and inclusion’ staffing and policies. This means ‘investment’ in both my qualification and topic will be set to pasture with few (if any) permissive routes back in. No one means any harm, but this is a common outcome.

Pushing forward gender, sexuality, disability and companion issues related to in/equalities is always a challenge. If you have skin in the game and have been at it for a while, it is not a new challenge but a new form of ‘resistance’. That being said, the pressing issues of the day cannot be taken for granted as reasons institutions will validate studies. However, now that the spaces for this are being removed metaphorically and in practice, then what? Instrumentalising identity politics as blunt tool to coerce your way into recognition?

Step by step, breathing consciously and treading lightly is the only way through. Except when on virgin ground, the treads are always seen.