Sarah was a Butch: Sexual Identity, Gender Practices, and Sarah's Place as Mother in the Jewish National Pantheon

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2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Three fields of discourse regarding a masculine-like woman connect at a point that the queer field calls intersex, medical practice calls a sexual disorder, and rabbinic literature terms aylonit. The queer discursive field focuses on the freedom to choose an identity, but not the freedom from choosing one. The medical field focuses on sexual practice as the source of determining "normal" sexuality. In the discursive field of Jewish law there are no demands, because the Halakhic authority determines gender identity on behalf of the individual, maintaining ambiguity.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)220-237
Number of pages18
JournalJournal of Lesbian Studies
Volume16
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Apr 2012

Keywords

  • aylonit
  • barrenness
  • butch
  • intersex
  • sexuality medicalization

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Gender Studies

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