Language, gender, and sexuality: Reflections on the field’s ongoing critical engagement with the sociopolitical landscape

Language, gender, and sexuality scholarship is a socially oriented endeavour. In this chapter, I consider three key areas where, in addition to the foundational intimate links with feminism, the LGS field has expanded in recent decades - and which have involved and further led to researchers engaging with the broader sociopolitical landscape. These are: attention to intersectionality; the inclusion of sexuality scholarship; and the development of critical methodologies, including through dialogue with other disciplines. I also draw on my recent work with colleagues, on the notion of postfeminism as an analytical tool for gender and language study, in order to highlight the importance for our field to continue to engage with feminist theory/ methodology, particularly in interaction with other disciplines. Finally, I introduce four further chapters that exemplify a range of engagements with the contours of the socio-political landscape