Same-Sex Cultures and Sexualities

This book demonstrates the centrality of sex, gender, and sexuality to theories of human behaviors and practices. Moves beyond other “lesbian and gay studies” readers by presenting a broader view of the significance of studying same-sex cultures and sexualities across cultures. Offers readings from all four subfields of anthropology: cultural, biological, linguistic, and archaeological (along with historical and applied anthropology). Includes discussion of biotechnology and bioethics, health and illness, language, ethnicity, identity, politics, post-colonialism, kinship, development, and policymaking.

Introduction: Sexualizing anthropology’s fields (Jennifer Robertson). Part 1: Anthropology’s Sexual Fields. 1. “Anthropology rediscovers sexuality: A theoretical comment.” (Carole Vance). 2. “Biological determinism and homosexuality.” (Bonnie Spanier). 3. “Feminisms, queer theories, and the archaeological study of past sexualities.” (Barbara Voss). 4. “No.” (Don Kulick). 5. “Resources for lesbian ethnographic research in the lavender archives.” (Alisa Klinger). Part 2: Problems and Propositions. 6. “Erotic anthropology: ‘ritualized homosexuality’ in Melanesia and beyond.” (Deborah Elliston). 7. “Gender, genetics, and generation: reformulating biology in lesbian kinship.” (Corinne Hayden). 8. “Transsexualism: reflections on the persistence of gender and the mutability of sex.” (Judith Shapiro). 9. “Problems encountered in writing the history of sexuality: Sources, theory and interpretation.” (Estelle B. Freedman and John D’Emilio). Part 3: Ethics, Erotics and Exercises . 10. “Choosing the sexual orientation of children.” (Edward Stein). 11. “Yoshiya Nobuko: Out and outspoken in practice and prose.” (Jennifer Robertson). 12. “Outing as performance/outing as resistance: a queer reading of Austrian (homo)sexualities.” (Matti Bunzl). 13. “Tombois in West Sumatra: constructing masculinity and erotic desire.” (Evelyn Blackwood). 14. “Freeing South Africa: the ‘modernization’ of male-male sexuality in Soweto.” (Donald Donham). 15. “Gay organizations, NGOs, and the globalization of sexual identity: the case of Bolivia.” (Timothy Wright).