Introducing the New Sexuality Studies
Original Essays and Interviews
Edited by Steven Seidman, Nancy Fischer, Chet Meeks
Published November 23rd 2006 by Routledge – 498 pages
Description
Breaking new ground, both substantively and stylistically, this book offers students, academics and researchers an accessible, engaging introduction and overview of this emerging field. Its central premise is to explore the social character of sexuality, the role of social differences such as race or nationality in creating sexual variation, and the ways sex is entangled in relations of power and inequality. Through this novel approach the field of sexuality is therefore considered, for the first time, in multicultural, global, and comparative terms and from a truly social perspective.
This important volume consists of over fifty short and original essays on the key topics and themes in sexuality studies, and interviews with twelve leading scholars in the field which convey some of the most innovative work being done. Each contribution is original and conveys the latest thinking and research in writing that is clear and that uses examples to illustrate key points.
This topical and timely volume will be an invaluable resource to all those with an interest in sexuality studies.
Reviews
'This is a wonderful collection of essays and interviews that provides many opportunities for lucky dips. Open it at random, and you will find a gem, nicely gift wrapped in cool analysis and calm commitment. But taken as a whole this is also a sustained intervention in contemporary sexuality studies. Whilst recognizing the importance of the body, it avoids the trap of biological determinism and demonstrates the value of a perspective that is both social and historical. The book acknowledges the tremendous cultural transformations of the past generation that have broken down many of the old taboos, discriminations and prejudices. But the book is also a tribute to the new scholarship that has made it possible to understand sexualities in new ways.' - Jeffrey Weeks, Professor of Sociology, London South Bank University. Author of The World We Have Won.
'Introducing the New Sexuality Studies is an unsurpassed introduction to one of the most exciting, cutting-edge fields of study. The reader documents a living, breathing field in motion, fueled by the efforts of social scientists across a number of different disciplines. Featuring short, synthetic articles on a wide variety of areas of interest, and interviews with many of the field's leading lights, the book will engage both undergraduate and graduate student audiences.' - Arlene Stein, Rutgers University.
'Introducing the New Sexuality Studies provides the very latest detailed and authoritative mapping of the twists and turns of scholarship embracing sexual lives, their meanings and cultures within the broadest possible international arena. Interviews with a dozen of the key contemporary sexual researchers serve as anchorage for the innovative articles in this volume, articulating both the analytic possibilities and the continuing cultural constraints of the sometimes-riskier sexual climates of the global contemporary. This collection is an indispensable companion for students and scholars travelling between disciplines hoping to find the best overviews of contemporary sexual knowledge and politics.' - Lynne Segal, author of Making Trouble: Life & Politics.
Contents
General Introduction
Sex as a Social Fact
Introduction
1. Theoretical Perspectives-Steven Seidman
2. Social Construction of Sexuality—Interview with Jeffery Weeks
3. Surveying Sex--Interview with Edward Laumann
Sexual Meanings
Introduction
4. Sex and the Family: An Indecent Genealogy—Maureen Sullivan
5. Romantic Love-Interview with Eva Illouz
6. Sexual Pleasure— Kelly James
7. Purity and Pollution: Sex as a Moral Discourse –Nancy Fischer
8. Sex and Power —Kristen Barber
9. Gay and Straight Rites of Passage –Chet Meeks
10.Coming Out in Italy—Cirus Rinaldi and Claudio Cappotto
Sexual Bodies and Behaviors
Introduction
11. Medicine and the Making of a Sexual Body—Celia Roberts
12. Sexualizing Asian Male Bodies-Travis Kong
13. Sex and the Senior Woman—Meika Loe
14. The Clitoris—Lisa Jean Moore
15. Orgasm—Juliet Richter
16. Anal Sex: Phallic and other Meanings—Simon Hardy
17. Sexual Intercourse –Kermit Kay
18. Viagra and the Coital Imperative—Nicola Gavey
Sexual Identities
Introduction
19. Straight Men-James Dean
20. Lesbians-Interview with Tamsin Wilton
21. The Disappearance of the Homoseuxal—Interview with Henning Bech
22. The Bisexual Menace Revisted: or, Shaking up Categories is Hard to do—
Kristin Esterberg
23. Bisexualities in America –Interview with Paula C. Rodriquez Rust
24. Transgendering: Challenging the Normal-Kim Tauches
25. Transsexual, Transgender, Queer-interview with Viviane Namaste
26. Multiple Identities: Race, Class, and Gender in Lesbian and Gay Affirmative
Protestant Congregations
Sexual Institutions and Sexual CommerceIntroduction
27. One is not Born a Bride: How Weddings Regulate Heterosexuality-Chrys
Ingraham
28. Change and Continuity in American Marriage–Erica Hunter
29. Shopping for Love: Online Dating and the Making of a Cyber Culture of
Romance-Sophi Demasi
30. Conflicts at the Tubs: Bathhouses and Gay Culture and Politics in the US–
Jason Hendrickson
31. Sexual Tourism –Interview with Julia O’Connell-Davidson
32 Sex Sells, but What Else Does it Do? The American Porn Industry —Chris
Pappas
33. Sex Workers—Interview with Wendy Chapkis
34. Condoms in the Global Economy-Peter Chua
Sexual Cultures Introduction
35. The Body, Disability, and Sexuality—Tom Gershick
36. Internet Sex: The Seductive ‘Freedom to’"—Dennis Waskul
37. Gay Men Dancing: Circuit Parties—Russell Westhaver
38. Time of the Sadomasochist: Hunting with(in) the ‘Tribus"—Darren
Langdridge
39. Sex and Young Japanese Heterosexual Men-Genaro Castro-Vazquez
40. Sex and Rock n Roll—Interview with Mimi Schippers
41. Secret Sex and the Downlow Brotherhood –Justin Hoy
42. Wait…Hip Hop Sexualities –Thomas F. DeFrantz
43 "Feederism:"A New Sexual Pleasure and Subculture—Dina Giovanelli and
Natalie Peluso
Sexual Regulation and Inequality
Introduction
44. Sexuality, State, and Nation –Jyoti Puri
45. The Sexual Rights of Women and Homosexuals in Iran--Hamid Parnian
46. The Marriage Contract.—Mary Bernstein
47. Popular Culture Constructs Sexuality –Interview with Joshua Gamson
48. Christianity and the Regulation of Sexuality in the US—Joshua Grove
49. Law and the Regulation of Obscenity—Phoebe Gody
50. Schools and the Social Control of Sexuality –Melinda Miceli
51. Healing (disorderly) Desire: Medical-Therapeutic Regulation of Sexuality—
PJ McGann
52. Therapeutic Institutions--Chris Kelly
53. Gender and the Organization of Heterosexual Intimacy-Dan Santore
54. Sexual Politics in Intimate Relationships: Sexual Coercion and Harassment -Lisa Waldner
55. Sexual and Racial Violence & American Masculinity—Evelyn Clark
Sexual Politics
Introduction
56. Gay Marriage: Why Now? Why at all?—Reese Kelly
57. Gay Men and Lesbians in the Netherlands—Gert Hekma and
Jan Willem Duyvendak
58. Queering the Family--Mary Burke and Kristine Olsen
59. The Pro Family Movement—Tina Fetner
60. Covenant Marriage: Reflexivity and Retrenchment in the Politics of
Intimacy--Dwight Fee
61. AIDS Politics--Jennifer Gunsaullus
62. Supreme Court and the Politics of Lesbian and Gay Rights—Maddox
63. Gender and Sexual Politics: The American Gay Rights and Women’s
Movements—Magen Murphy
64. Politics of Sex Education--Interview with Janice Irvine
65. Sex Worker Rights Movement—Danielle Hidalgo
Author Bio
Steven Seidman is Professor of Sociology at the State University of New York at Albany. He is the author of, among other books, Romantic Longings: Love in America, 1830-1980 (Routledge, 1991), Embattled Eros: Sexual Politics and Ethics in America (Routledge, 1992), Difference Troubles: Queering Social Theory and Sexual Politics (1997), Beyond the closet (Routledge, 2002), and The Social construction of sexuality (2003). He co-edited Social Postmodernism: Beyond Identity Politics (1995) and edited Queer Theory/Sociology (1996) and the Lesbian and Gay reader (2002).
Nancy Fischer is an Assistant Professor in the Sociology Department at Augsburg College. Her research and teaching is in the areas of urban sociology, sexuality, law and culture.
Chet Meeks is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at Georgia State University. His interests include contemporary social theory, sexuality studies, and cultural sociology.
Related Subjects
Name: Introducing the New Sexuality Studies: Original Essays and Interviews (Paperback) – Routledge
Description: Edited by Steven Seidman, Nancy Fischer, Chet Meeks. Breaking new ground, both substantively and stylistically, this book offers students, academics and researchers an accessible, engaging introduction and overview of this emerging field. Its central premise is to explore the social character of sexuality,...
Categories: Cultural Sexuality, Gender Studies, Sexuality - Gender Studies
