TY - JOUR

T1 - Constructing (non-)normative identities in written lesbian discourse

T2 - a diachronic study

AU - Koller, Veronika

PY - 2013/9

Y1 - 2013/9

N2 - This article provides an analysis of two texts written from a lesbian subject position at different points in recent history, to show how the authors construct (non-)normative ingroup representations. The study is based on theoretical notions from discourse theory, queer theory and social cognition research, and uses a mostly data-driven analytical approach. The two texts, a manifesto and a journal article, are investigated to see how they use nomination and predication to construct in- and out-group representations, to what extent these identitiesare non-normative and why they are constructed in this particular way. Results show a stark demarcation of a positive, non-complex in-group from a negative, equally non-complex out-group in the earlier text, which contrasts with a more differentiated and less uniformly positive in-group representation in the later text. This is explained with the respective socio-political context, and the earlier text is interpreted as promoting a more explicitly normative in-group presentation.

AB - This article provides an analysis of two texts written from a lesbian subject position at different points in recent history, to show how the authors construct (non-)normative ingroup representations. The study is based on theoretical notions from discourse theory, queer theory and social cognition research, and uses a mostly data-driven analytical approach. The two texts, a manifesto and a journal article, are investigated to see how they use nomination and predication to construct in- and out-group representations, to what extent these identitiesare non-normative and why they are constructed in this particular way. Results show a stark demarcation of a positive, non-complex in-group from a negative, equally non-complex out-group in the earlier text, which contrasts with a more differentiated and less uniformly positive in-group representation in the later text. This is explained with the respective socio-political context, and the earlier text is interpreted as promoting a more explicitly normative in-group presentation.

KW - collective identity

KW - heteronormativity

KW - lesbian discourse

KW - homonormativity

KW - in-group

KW - out-group

KW - queer linguistics

KW - social cognition

U2 - 10.1177/0957926513486166

DO - 10.1177/0957926513486166

M3 - Journal article

VL - 24

SP - 551

EP - 568

JO - Discourse and Society

JF - Discourse and Society

SN - 0957-9265

IS - 5

ER -