Queer theory exposes the default assumption that all writers (and characters) are heterosexual unless explicitly marks as not. This exemplifies the “heteronormative culture.” Queer theory builds both upon the feminist challenge of the idea that gender is part of the essential self and upon gay/lesbian studies’ exploration of the socially constructed nature of sexual acts and identities. Queer theory’s focus encompasses any kind of sexual activity or identity that falls into normative and deviant categories (anything not heterosexual).

Questions: How do we define ourselves? How is gayness presented? How does it affect perception? What is the gay/bisexual canon? Is there gender-bending- what traits and continuum do they exist on? What is the homophobic ideology?

Foucault- the history of sexuality- Discipline of medical psychology defined “homosexual persons” instead of “sodomitic acts” (Tyson 439)   What we “know” about homosexuality is informed and generated by social discourse.  Used by later critics to comment that heterosexual/ homosexual binary is a social construct, much like gender.