Campus Landscape

 How does the physical landscape of UCR reinforce heteronormativity?

·      Landscape serves a function; we inhabit these building, and spaces. Have you ever thought to think whom the landscape serving? Important to see landscape, just like anything, as a product of social relations.

·      I remember a queer filmmaker visited UCR to screen her film. She was a UCR alumni and identified as lesbian. She talked about how homophobic student housing was when she was a student in the 60’s. Girls she was roomed with were very feminine and adhered to a strict gender code. The physical space of the dorms became the physical space heteronormativity was performed. This physical space became associated with homophobic attitudes. Important to see that each physical space becomes encoded with histories, events, and memories that reinforce heteronormativity. Physical space takes a part in forming experiences, and some of these experiences may be reinforcing heteronormativity and in turn creating a homophobic environment.

·      Examples of these spaces are the gym, residence halls, sports events' these spaces enforce gender characteristics  Or the walk way coming from lot 30 that has the word dyke tagged on the floor, anywhere homophobic slander has ever been written on anything, restrooms, area by the bell tower where sororities and fraternities place their letters. )I know I avoid going through there when they are there because I feel judged) Bell tower. etc. All these spaces work to enforce heteronormativity.

·      How do we change the landscape? Part of changing the landscape is making it open and accepting of LGBTQI individuals. Student population tends to be segregated. Many LGBTIQ students hang out around the LGBT resource center.  Important to acknowledging all public spaces  on campus as safe zones, as ALLY supported. Every public space should be welcoming of every identity.

·      Reflect upon the idea that not every campus has an LGBT resource center.

   Sources:     Mary Queen, Kathleen Farrell, and Nisha Gupta. Interrupting Heteronormativity: lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender pedagogy and responsible teaching at Syracuse University. Syracuse, N.Y. : Graduate School of Syracuse University, c2005.