Theorising Heterosexuality: Telling It Straight

Little attention has traditionally been given to theorizing heterosexuality. Heterosexuality tends to be taken for granted, as something that is "natural" and "normal". "Theorizing Heterosexuality" questions this assumption and demonstrates how much of our understanding of ourselves and the social worlds we inhabit is based upon unquestioned assumptions about the nature of heterosexuality. In what ways does heterosexuality encode and structure everyday life? How does heterosexuality shape our sense of identity? What is the nature of heterosexual desire? What is the relationship between heterosexuality and feminism? In addition to addressing these questions, the contributors to "Theorizing Heterosexuality" provide a critical examination of recent debates about heterosexuality, in particular within postmodern, feminist and queer theory. Well written in a clear and lively style, this book brings together leading authors in the field, who represent a variety of differing approaches and viewpoints. Heterosexuality is theorized in terms of its institutionalization within society and culture, as practice and as identity. The result is an impressive and exciting collection, whose insights invite a radical rethinking of many of the concepts we use to theorize social relations. "Theorizing Heterosexuality" should be of interest to a wide range of students in the social sciences and humanities, especially in: sociology, cultural studies, lesbian and gay studies, social psychology and women's studies.