Gender and Sexuality
Critical Theories, Critical Thinkers
- Chris Beasley - University of Adelaide, Australia
Chris Beasley's clear and concise introduction combines a wide-ranging survey of the major theorists and key concepts in an ever-growing and often passionately debated field.
The book contextualizes a wide range of feminist perspectives, including: modernist, liberal, postmodern, queer and gender difference feminism; and in the realm of sexuality studies covers modernist liberationism, social constructionism, transgender theorising and queer theory. In men's studies, Chris Beasley examines areas of debate ranging from gender and masculinity to questions of race, ethnicity, imperialism and gay masculinities. Interconnections between the subfields are highlighted, and Beasley considers the implications of body theory for all three.
Key theorists covered include:
Altman · Brod · Butler · Califia · Carbado · Connell · Dowsett · Grosz · Halberstam · Hook · Jackson · Jagose · Nussbaum · Rich · Seidman · Spivak · Stoltenberg · Weeks · Whittle · Wolf · Wollstonecraft
The only book of its kind to draw together all the important strands of gender analysis, Gender and Sexuality is a timely and impressive overview that is invaluable to students and academics taking courses on gender and feminist theory, sexuality and masculinity.
The book provides a very clear overview of gender and sexuality theories, presents complex ideas in a simple and accessible way. I recommend this book for students of my women's rights course. Taking into account the nature of the course, this book cannot in itself constitute a core reading but represents a valuable supplement to other readings.
Excellent coverage of key theoretical debates, much of which is accessible to the novice student of gender and sexuality. I would have welcomed more on intersections with class, though Beasley does acknowledge the relative lack of discussion. For the students here, the overviews are likely to be the most read sections.
This is an excellent text for post graduate students who have a good and fairly extensive knowledge of gender and sexuality studies. It will be useful to have a copy in the library to deepen their understanding.
A much needed and extensive overview of the relevant theories dealing with sexuality in modern society and indeed as a social construct. Excellent text.
This is a very informative text which will be essential reading for AOP courses.
Very good reader for post graduate students. Too advanced for undergraduates.
Still worth a read and I shall definitely propose that the library gets a copy.
I have recommended this as an additional text for the course. It is a useful introduction to the various topics raised in the field. This is especially useful when it comes to theorists such as Butler, where the primary texts are too dense for many first-year students at first glance. Priming them with the overviews in this volume is a useful way of allowing the students to grasp the central concepts and debates before engaging with the primary materials, thus enhancing their understanding.
A complex text of a complex subject that anyone attempting to conduct indepth research/ learning into the subjects of genderr and sexuality will find invaluable. May require earlier reading prior to this text from an undergraduate/ inexperienced student, but well worth persisting with
