Queer theory is a field of critical theory that emerged in the late 20th century as a challenge to traditional gender roles and heteronormative cultural assumptions. Synonyms for queer theory include gender studies, LGBTQ studies, sexuality studies, critical sexuality studies, and queer studies. These fields seek to explore the socially constructed nature of gender and sexuality, and the ways in which they interact with power structures in society. Scholars in these fields also examine the experiences of individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ), as well as the ways in which their lives intersect with other social identities such as race, class, and ethnicity.