We are almost programmed into thinking of our sexuality as a wholly natural feature of life. But sexual relations are just one form of social relations. Sexuality has both a history and a sociology - it is not simply a matter of biological or psychological 'drives'. Drawing on the analysis of Michel Foucault amongst others, this new edition of Sexuality examines the subject in terms of social, moral and political issues, and features new material on AIDS, queer theory and the influence of postcolonial theory. This book provides an indispensable, comprehensive introduction to the sociology of sexuality, discussing its cultural and socio-historical construction, its relationship with power, and the state's involvement in its rationalisation and regulation.

Table of Contents

1. The Languages of Sex 2. The Invention of Sexuality 2.1 A Brief History of the History of Sexuality 2.2 The 'Social Construction' of Sexuality 2.3 The Importance of Sexuality 2.4 Sexuality and Power 3. The Meanings of Sexual Difference 3.1 The Biological Imperative 3.2 Sexuality and Social Relations 3.3 Sexuality and the Unconscious 3.4 The Consequences of Difference 4. The Challenge of Diversity 4.1 The Language of Perversity 4.2 The Discourse of Diversity 4.3 Deconstructing the Categories 5. Sexuality, Intimacy and Politics 5.1 Sexuality: On the Front Line of Politics 5.2 The Breakdown of Tradition 5.3 Living with Uncertainty: HIV/AIDS 5.4 Regulating Sexuality 5.5 Towards Sexual Citizenship 6. Private Pleasures and Public Policy.