Timothy Gitzen, "Banal Security: Queer Korea in the Time of Viruses" (Helsinki UP, 2023)
Dec 13, 2024
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Timothy Gitzen, an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Wake Forest University, delves into the complexities of queer identity in South Korea amidst national security concerns. He explores how queer Koreans are perceived as viral threats in a context of ongoing militarization. Gitzen discusses mundane acts of resistance against stigma and the impact of COVID-19 on the queer community. He highlights the intertwining of nationalism and security, as well as the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ activists in reclaiming their narratives against societal and governmental pressures.
The normalization of the North Korean threat in South Korea leads to perceptions of queer individuals as viral threats to national security.
Queer festivals in South Korea reveal the complex relationship between safety and collaboration with law enforcement amid ongoing societal discrimination.
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The Role of LinkedIn in Hiring Professionals
Hiring for small businesses is more effective when utilizing LinkedIn, which helps employers connect with professionals who may not be actively seeking new opportunities. Many LinkedIn users prefer this platform over other job sites, making it a crucial tool for finding qualified candidates. This aligns with the observation that a significant percentage of users do not regularly browse leading job sites. By posting job openings on LinkedIn, small businesses can ensure they reach the right talent pool efficiently.
Banal Security and Queer Koreans
The concept of banal security illustrates how the North Korean threat has become normalized in South Korea, influencing perceptions of queer individuals as a viral threat to national security. The book 'Banal Security' examines how security concerns shape daily life and public attitudes towards queer Koreans, framing them within national discourses that equate queerness with danger. By exploring everyday incidents and policies, the narrative reveals how queer bodies are often viewed as disruptions to societal norms and public order. This ongoing tension reflects broader societal anxieties surrounding identity and security.
Collaboration and Conflict at Queer Festivals
Queer festivals in South Korea exemplify the complex dynamics between activists and law enforcement, where safety often entangles with collaboration and compromise. Activists may align with police to ensure their events occur without disruption, yet this partnership can also lead to feelings of vulnerability among queer individuals. The fear of anti-LGBT protests and violence compels organizers to seek police presence, despite the inherent conflicts that arise from relying on state protection. This relationship underscores the ongoing struggle for acceptance and safety within the broader societal context.
Stigma and Fear Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated fears among queer Koreans about job security and social stigma tied to sexual orientation. Many individuals worried about potential repercussions, such as job loss, if their participation in gay venues became publicly known due to contact tracing measures. The panic surrounding outbreaks in queer spaces highlights the persistent challenges of navigating identity in a society that still harbors significant discrimination. This ongoing fear illustrates the broader societal issues that queer individuals face, prompting discussions about acceptance and the need for greater support.
For more than 70 years, South Korea has woven the threat of North Korea into daily life. But now that threat has become mundane, and South Korean national security addresses family, public health, and national unity. Banal Security: Queer Korea in the Time of Viruses(Helsinki University Press, 2023) illustrates how as a result, queer Koreans are seen to represent a viral threat to national security. Taking readers from police stations and the Constitutional Court to queer activist offices and pride festivals, Timothy Gitzen shows how security weaves through daily life and diffuses the queer threat, in a context where queer Koreans are treated as viral carriers, disruptions to public order, and threats to family and culture.
Timothy Gitzen is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Wake Forest University.
Qing Shen recently obtained his PhD in anthropology from Uppsala University, Sweden.