Norm-critical rationality: emotions and the institutional influence of queer resistance

Abstract

Norm critique is a recent discourse and practice in Sweden that is associated with queer resistance. It is taken up as a mode of governance in several Swedish institutions and companies. At face value, norm critique allows queer resistance to have a direct impact on institutional sources of norms in society. However, this article argues that such a shift in queer resistance replaces the queer emotionally overt subject with a rationalist style of emoting. It also argues that norm critique (re)institutes a subject position that paradoxically sides with contemporary forms of power and its demands for emotional competence.

Keywords:

• Norm critique
• emotions
• rationality
• Foucault
• power

Notes

1. I want to thank the anonymous reviewers of this article for their thorough readings and excellent suggestions. The editors of this special issue on emotions, power and resistance, have also been very helpful with suggestions both early and late in the process of writing this article. All remaining errors are mine, of course.

2. There has not been any inventory of norm-critical initiatives done in Sweden, which makes it difficult to describe the extent to which this practice has entered institutions in the country. One indicator is the list of actors that have received funding for norm-critical projects from the public research foundation Vinnova. From 2014 to 2016, an equivalent of 7 million American dollars has been spent on 72 projects. Among the receivers, about 40% have universities or college universities, while another 20% were private companies and 20% non-profit organisations.

3. I want to thank Åsa Wettergren for help with finding these examples, where social movements have downplayed emotions for the sake of influence.