Is Nonce the New Queer?

Helen Gavin, Tray Yeadon-Lee

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

Changes in sexual tolerance move slowly and the publicly expressed acceptance of homosexuality is so recent that it is unclear what private attitudes underpin it. It is also unclear what confusion there is in the minds of the public that may be at odds with reality and legality. This paper draws on the history of the pathologisation of homosexuality to show how the public vilification of the “queer” has moved to expression of disgust about the “nonce”*, but that the private attitude is one where the two terms are interchangeable.
*Nonce – English (UK) prison slang, also used in the general population, to denote a child sex offender, and refers to the segregation of paedophilic offenders from other prison inmates (Not On Normal Communal Exercise).
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationQueer Sexualities
Subtitle of host publicationStaking Out New Territories in Queer Studies
EditorsAnne Worthington
PublisherInter-Disciplinary Press
ISBN (Print)9781848881556
Publication statusPublished - 31 Dec 2012

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