Language and Sexuality

by Don Kulick, Deborah Cameron

This accessible book looks at how we talk about sex and why we talk about it the way we do. Drawing on examples that range from personal ads to phone sex, sado-masochistic scenes to sexual assault trials, this work provides a clear introduction to the relationship between language and sexuality. Using a broad definition of "sexuality," it encompasses not only issues surrounding sexual orientation and identity, but also questions about the discursive construction of sexuality and the verbal expression of erotic desire.

Genres: Linguistics, Language, Nonfiction, Sexuality, Feminism, Academia, Gender Studies

192 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 6, 2003

About the author

Don Kulick is Professor of Anthropology at the University of Chicago. His books include Travesti: Sex, Gender, and Culture among Brazilian Transgendered Prostitutes.

Reviews

[Daniel Hammer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a exceptional book which manages to communicate complex theoretical ideas in interesting and accessible ways. The key strength of the book is the frequent use of detailed examples from linguistic studies to illustrate complex concepts. Some of my favorites: the fake orgasm scene in the diner from When Harry Met Sally becomes an illustration of what discourse is; the transcript of a man’s defense in a sexual assault case reveals the dominant construction of males as active sexual agents and women as passive—yet he must reverse this in order to plausibly claim that they ‘both’ initiated sex; and the voicings of phone sex workers are used to show how language communicates not only gender but establishes a reflection of the caller’s sexual self-image. Nearly all of the examples used are interesting and illuminating. Even for readers familiar with the theoretical issues explored here, it is difficult to find better real-world examples with which to think about the social construction of sexuality.
There is a strong focus on linguistic methodology (how can we go about studying this in the future?) which was of less interest to and a bit too specialized for the class. The final chapter on desire was very interesting and, as the authors state, a much-needed corrective for studies of sexuality which focus only on identity categories while ignoring emotion and desire, which are admittedly much harder to access in social research.
I used this book for a class on sexuality. It seemed to me, based on the discussions generated, that the students enjoyed it. At the end of the semester, they told me that they found it difficult to follow and too focused on linguistics to be of general relevance to the topic of human sexuality. In the future, I think I will not use this book for an introductory level class, but I would use it for an advanced class or a class on linguistic theory.

[Mike Mena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent introductory text for linguistic anthropology and sociolinguistics on the study of language and sexuality. We might immediately note the use of 'sexuality' over 'gender.' This is intentional as Cameron and Kulick want to move away from an over focus on gender/sexuality as identity, and want to refocus on aspects of sexuality (like desire) that have been under theorized (when the book was written). This Book also provides a history on the study of language and gender. Also, just a fun read!

[Erin]

I can't even handle how much I want to read this book.

[aleksi k · Rating 4 out of 5]

normally hate it when anthropologists and linguists speak but this was dope

[Isabel Pie · Rating 5 out of 5]

reflexões complexas explicadas de forma simples, trazendo estudos e experimentos muito interessantes para ilustrar os temas debatidos. uma boa reflexão sobre como repensar a relação entre lingüística e sexualidade no contexto pós teoria Queer

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book with some truly hilarious examples. Presents complex issues in a very simple way.