The Queer Child, or Growing Sideways in the Twentieth Century

This book offers an insightful exploration of childhood queerness, focusing on the complexities of identity and growth. The Queer Child challenges traditional views.

In The Queer Child, or Growing Sideways in the Twentieth Century, Kathryn Bond Stockton explores the multifaceted nature of childhood and its inherent strangeness. The author delves into the concept of subliminal 'gayness' in children, shedding light on how societal perceptions of childhood have evolved throughout the twentieth century. By examining various dimensions of queerness—such as innocence, color, and psychoanalytic theories—Stockton presents a nuanced view of children as complex beings shaped by their environments and experiences.

The book introduces the term 'growing sideways,' which challenges traditional notions of development that emphasize a linear trajectory toward adulthood. Instead, Stockton argues for a more irregular and dynamic understanding of growth, characterized by detours and unexpected paths. Through this lens, she highlights the emotional labor and hidden struggles that accompany all children, regardless of how society may choose to categorize them.

Stockton's analysis is enriched by her readings of significant literary and cinematic works, including those by authors like Virginia Woolf and Henry James, as well as films such as Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner. Through these examples, The Queer Child offers a compelling examination of children's experiences with masochism, desire, and societal expectations, ultimately inviting readers to reconsider what it means to be a child in a world that often seeks to define and confine.