In an Ideal World

In the essay, “Punks, Bulldaggers, and Welfare Queens: The Radical Potential of Queer Politics”, Cathy Cohen identifies the single-minded oppression of heteronormativity as the dilemma in queer politics. I agree with the author’s argument which criticizes queer politics’ primary focus on an individual’s sexual orientation. Cohen defines heteronormativity as “the privilege, power, and normative status invested in heterosexuality” by the dominant society (544). The author challenges heteronormativity and also the policy of queer political activists who neglect multiple systems of oppression that queer, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered individuals experience. The author speaks from her experience as a queer person of color who does not relate to the single-minded doctrine of queer politics which focuses only on heterosexual oppression. Queer activists do not address the race, class, and gender oppression, which is interlocked with heteronormativity oppression.
As a solution, Cohen suggests that leftist politics and coalition work is pursued to destroy oppressions. Cohen presents the welfare queen example to display the problematic doctrine of queer politics that states that the heterosexual society is homogeneous. Cohen states that women of color on welfare are oppressed by heteronormativity because of their race, gender, and class. Cohen’s description of the welfare queen was very limited. I believe that Cohen should have addressed the fact that there are also many white women who are on welfare. She also presents the notion that black and Latino women are hypersexual and therefore defiant to the heterosexual norm (which is established by white, middle class, heterosexual males). Cohen presents the Moynihan report as evidence of how the white dominant society views black women. The author suggests that heterosexuals who have been oppressed by heteronormativity should unite with queers. I believe that Cohen’s argument is debatable because it will be extremely hard to address problems in society with such a diverse group of people such as punks, bulldaggers, and welfare queens. While punks, bulldaggers, and welfare queens unite, they might neglect each others’ individual oppressions. Overall, I believe her argument was effective but organizing such a large amalgamation of people is problematic and idealistic.