Sex Matters: The Sexuality and Society Reader

by Mindy Stombler (editor)

The best-selling sexualities reader in the social sciences.

Sex Matters: The Sexuality and Society Reader has a strong sociological focus and a sex-positive perspective. With 38 new readings, Sex Matters covers a wide and diverse range of sexual experiences and identities and tackles controversial issues in a straightforward, nonstigmatizing manner. The editors mix qualitative and quantitative empirical pieces, sexual narratives and personalized accounts, cutting-edge research, and articles from the popular press for a wealth of content and diverse perspectives.

Genres: Sociology, Nonfiction, Sexuality, Textbooks, Read For School, School, College

752 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 21, 2003

Reviews

[Kelly Palakshappa]

Mindy Stombler is a wonderful teacher and author. This book has a lot of short readings to help you understand society's viewpoint on sexuality. Some of the articles discuss taboo topics from and interviewer firsthand accounts. I especially enjoyed the readings from Chapter 5, The Sexual Body.

[Lindabeth]

This book is really great so far, an excellent collection of very provocative writings about the cultural factors that shape what we often think of as individual sexual identities and practices, as well as critically analyzing the normative construction of just what "sex" is.

[Annah-Marie]

This book will make you reevaluate everything you think you know about sex and sexuality. Educate yourself!

[Eli]

A great introduction to the sociology of sexuality, and full of statistics and insights that would be good for everyone to know. None of the pieces are dry or dull, and yet all of them are well-researched and cited.

[Vi]

I read chapters 1-8, 10, 13, 15, 18, 19, 22, 44, 45, 46, 48, 52, 53, 55, 57, and 60 for a class and may eventually get around to reading the chapters we missed bc it was quite interesting!

[Nick]

The selections in this book are always important and usually interesting, but sometimes boring and occasionally dense. This was apparently required for a course my sister took, and I get the feeling that it isn't the kind of book you're supposed to read cover-to-cover. I'm glad I did so, but I certainly wouldn't do it again.

[annakristen]

uh, about sex = awesome!

[Marni Brown]

Great book for the sociology classroom. Strong articles and relevant resources.

[C Lynn]

Great text in the sociology of sex. Pushes boundaries. Lots of them.