Troubling Queer Criminology’s Normativity

Starting with the premise that queer theory is primarily committed to anti-normativity, this article explores the extent to which queer criminology embraces anti-normative politics. It traces the development of queer activism, queer theory and queer criminology and noting their different histories and engagements, concludes that queer criminology has become too much ‘criminology’ and not enough ‘queer theory’. Noting the efficacy of queer thought and the limitations of criminology, the article identifies and troubles three trends within queer criminological scholarship: its preoccupation with identity, identity categories and identity politics; its non-coalitional political agenda; and finally, its disengagements with norms, normativity and normalisation. The reification of criminology and the sanitisation of queer thought within queer criminology produces a range of problematic practices and effects and against this backdrop, I argue that queer criminology should adopt a queerer and anti-normative politics that upsets the toxic and injurious status quo.