Scavenging as Queer Methodology

Queer Theory (QT) and Queer Legal Theory (QLT) provide useful frameworks for Critical Policy Analysis within educational studies. As critical lenses, these theories are particularly attuned to uncovering sites where all forms of oppression, but especially homophobia and heteronormativity, lead to the stigmatization and erasure of queer identities and queer issues in schools and school policy. One of the challenges faced by scholars using QT and QLT has been accessing, or even finding, data for such qualitative and historical research. Consequently, queer scholars have developed creative strategies to scavenge for data and have created hybrid analytic frameworks in similarly creative ways. This chapter discusses scavenging as a queer research methodology, with an emphasis on combining QT and QLT for Critical Policy Analysis in education.