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In the early 1990s, “queer anthropology” represented a new and radically different approach to anthropological research on sexuality and gender, but it is now an established subfield of sociocultural anthropology. Queer Anthropology provides a concise, accessible overview of queer anthropology's academic and activist origins, its key theoretical and methodological principles, its strengths and weaknesses, and how it has changed since its first appearance over thirty years ago.
Each chapter includes discussion questions, recommended readings, and ethnographic examples to illustrate key concepts or themes. The book is written in accessible language for students, instructors, and non-specialist readers interested in how anthropologists think, research, and write about gender, sex, and sexuality. Designed for introductory anthropology, gender, and/or queer studies courses, Queer Anthropology provides important insights into the past, present, and future of queer anthropological research.
Queer Anthropology offers a short introduction to an evolving subfield of socio-cultural anthropology, exploring its historical development, critiques over the past two decades, and responses to emerging challenges.
- Imprint: University of Toronto Press
- Published: January 2025
- Pages: 112
David A.B. Murray is a professor in the Department of Anthropology and the School of Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies at York University.
“Queer Anthropology is the primer we've needed! This gem of a book brings the critical reflexivity of queer anthropology into the introductory classroom—without oversimplifying or straightening it out. David A.B. Murray deftly surveys queer anthropology's contested histories and vital interventions, inviting students to share in making its expansive future.”
Margot Weiss, Wesleyan University“With Queer Anthropology, David A.B. Murray has given us a stunningly effective overview of queer anthropology from its origins to the present. Murray's clear explanations of concepts, debates, and methods are a true accomplishment. This book will be invaluable for those seeking to better understand queer anthropology's insights, contributions, and futures.”
Tom Boellstorff, University of California, Irvine“David A.B. Murray offers a much-needed text that trenchantly maps the genealogy of queer anthropology. The book elegantly limns the roots and routes of this field of inquiry and provides a necessary guide for students and researchers.”
Martin F. Manalansan IV, Rutgers University“Every time I've taught queer anthropology, this is the book I've wished I had. With concision, insight, and imagination, David A.B. Murray leads the reader through the histories, controversies, and oblique lines of queer study in the field of anthropology. Perfect for teaching and a reliable reference for scholars, Queer Anthropology is an important and welcome contribution.”
Naisargi N. Davé, University of Toronto