Queering Bem: Theoretical Intersections Between Sandra Bem’s Scholarship and Queer Theory

Further Reflections on Sandra Lipsitz Bem’s Impact

“…Bem (1993Bem ( , 1995 later extended her argument when she advocated for non-binary models of sex and gender. As Balzer Carr et al (2015) explain in the present issue, these ideas have since become more widespread, as illustrated in the increasing acceptance of transgender, gender queer, or gender-fluid identities.…”

“…As she had started to do in her model of psychological androgyny, Bem was advocating for a more inclusive conceptualization of gender and sexuality. Once again, we see her at the vanguard in what increasingly became a wider call for greater acceptance of gender and sexual diversity in psychology and society at large (see Balzer Carr et al 2015;Dean and Tate 2016;Golden and McHugh 2016). In the current issue, Balzer Carr and colleges (Bigler and Leaper 2015) offer a compelling review that articulates ways that Bem's ideas can complement current work on queer theory that contests traditional binary constructions of man/woman and straight/gay.…”

“…In addition, Lips (2016) offered a thoughtful concluding article after the first special issue that distilled many of the key themes across papers (and shared by many of the papers in the current issue). Also, authors in each issue have written excellent review articles summarizing, interpreting, and extending Bem's ideas and work (Balzer Carr et al 2015;Dean and Tate 2016;Golden and McHugh 2016;Liben and Bigler 2015;Martin et al 2016;Starr and Zurbriggen 2016). Furthermore, most of the empirical studies reported in these issues included extensive discussions of Bem's ideas and impact.…”

Oh the Places We’ll Go! Where will Sandra Bem’s Work Lead Us Next?

“…They also suggest that, although not explicit, Bem's work implies that gender has different layers or different aspects to it (even when Bem focused on just one of those aspects, namely, gender roles) and that her work highlighting the socially constructed nature of gender roles served to Bultimately erode that [previously held] polarizing view of gender^(p. 5). Carr et al (2015) build on some of Dean and Tate's (2016) observations in their paper that highlights the theoretical intersections between Bem's scholarship and queer theory-a theory that emphasizes the multidimensional nature of gender and the inadequacies of the gender binary. Specifically, Balzar Carr et al describe how Bem's work and queer theory align such that they both stress the need for gender scholars to (a) dismantle the sex/gender dichotomy (described in Bem's 1993, book, Lenses of Gender as the biological essentialism lens), (b) move beyond binaries of gender and sexuality (described by Bem 1993, as gender polarization), and (c) recognize how power and gender are interrelated (consistent with Bem's 1993, descriptions of androcentrism).…”

“…As a feminist and social advocate, the promotion of gender equality was at the core of all of Bem's work and carried over into her own life (Carr et al 2015). Bem also served as a model for scholar activism, moving theory and research on gender beyond academia to shape both political (e.g., social policy) and personal (e.g., parenting, romantic relationships) outcomes Liben and Bigler 2016).…”