ABSTRACT This essay examines use of the metaphor ‘coming out of the closet,’ providing an overview of the origins of the metaphor and examples of scholarly and popular use. Several examples are presented of pre-existing critiques of the metaphor, to which are added: The metaphor is ocularcentric, and the notion of stigma inherent in the original meanings of the metaphor suggests a medicalizing aspect, raising additional concerns. The conclusion examines a limit case in the stretching the meaning of the metaphor that I suggest is depoliticizing and evacuates it of meaning.

中文翻译：

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“从壁橱里出来”——研究一个比喻

摘要 本文考察了“从壁橱里出来”这个比喻的使用，概述了这个比喻的起源以及学术和流行用法的例子。提出了一些关于对隐喻的预先存在的批评的例子，并补充说： 隐喻是以眼睛为中心的，隐喻原始含义中固有的污名概念暗示了医学化的方面，引起了额外的担忧。结论检查了在扩展隐喻的意义时的一个极限情况，我认为是去政治化并疏散它的意义。