Gender and Queer: Novum Organum of the Russian Social Psychology, or 'Decent' Words for 'Indecent' Things

Despite the extensive development of gender studies in Russian social psychology over the last 20 years and the recent appearance of Russian queer studies, both remain controversial in theoretical and empirical backgrounds. The paradigmatic gap between such concepts as 'sex' and 'gender', 'gender' and 'queer', 'queer' and 'LGBT' has not yet been fully recognized in contemporary social sciences. The article describes the following theoretical and societal reasons of current stagnation in Russian gender and queer studies: first, poor knowledge of the epistemological grounds and history of the concepts employed in the Western discourse; second, the apologetic and non¬critical modus of social sciences and underdevelopment of public sociology in Russia; third, conservative tendencies in Russian politics as well as social and cultural isolationism. It is argued that it's essential for gender and queer studies in Russian social psychology to define their attitude towards feminist standpoints and political activism. The article also addresses the issue of the role of methodology in the emergence of public social psychology in Russia that would be capable of promoting progressive develop¬ment of social and societal actors.

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