The Social Construction of Sexuality

by Steven Seidman

An affordable primer to sexuality written from a sociological perspective.

In The Social Construction of Sexuality, Steven Seidman investigates the political and social consequences of privileging certain sexual practices and identities while stigmatizing others. Addressing a range of topics from gay and lesbian identities to sex work, Seidman delves into issues of social control that inform popular beliefs and moral standards. The new Third Edition features three new chapters that focus on the changing cultures of intimacy, the promise and perils of cyber intimacies, and youth struggles to negotiate independence and intimate solidarity.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sociology, Sexuality, Queer, LGBT, Psychology, Science

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

extremely educational book on sexuality. it’s worded super well and has helped me explain these issues better to others in a way i couldn’t before.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

The best part of this book is the Part I section, before we begin to get Seidman's grad-school arguments about pornography, homosexuality, prostitution, gay marriage, etc. There is nothing really new or particularly interesting except perhaps to an undergraduate in the remaining sections. His quick-and-dirty overview of Judith Butler, however, is worth the price of the book for me.

[6655321 · Rating 1 out of 5]

plodding, overly gensralized, abounds with false equivelincies, wastes a lot of time on Freud, sets up all positions as strawmen for him to concede a "rational" middle to, social constructivism without a materialist history, etc.

[Vee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was fantastic. The chapters are short and easy to read one at a time or in a series. The chapters seemed repetitive after awhile but the book as a whole was very informative.

[say · Rating 4 out of 5]

super duper comprehensive look at sexuality from a sociological standpoint. i really liked it overall but there is some dated moments, not as a result of bias i think because the original was published in 2003 and the third edition (which i read) was published in september 2014.

reasons: dated bc there was a chapter on gay marriage (which hadn't been federally recognized yet in the usa), there was a limited chapter on cyber intimacies and another on sex work, both of which have developed massively over the past 10 years (2 biggest developments: sending nudes on snapchat & onlyfans, respectively)

and and and there was one (1) paragraph about how scientists back the fact there is a biological foundation for why men and women are different. and yes, i know the research at the time was limited and everything, but this simply isn't true. it doesn't take into account what we know about transgender people, intersex people, nonbinary people, gender differences across cultures, etc.

i will say- all of the previous facts can be overlooked. there's only so much you can write about when you're constrained by time. however, there's one more thing i'd like to point out. this book is in english and is created by a euroamerican man. so its limited in that aspect. seidman can't access all of the historical documents and work by other sociologists because he probably can't speak every single language currently spoken, much less the antiquated versions of those languages + dead languages.

but he misses out on a major opportunity to address how sexuality (and gender) is socially constructed by mentioning other cultures. in i believe part 2 of the book, he points out how countries like canada, the usa, the uk, and australia take on their sexuality as an identity, whereas in other parts of the world it is simply fact/a behavior. however, this could've been a great time to point out how other cultures have statuses and people in their societies who could be viewed, from a western standpoint, as transgender, gay, nonbinary, etc.

but again, you can't have it all! great book

[Rachael Anra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had to read for class.

I like it because of the historical background that was given on the issues talked about throughout the book and it helps understand the basis of what sexuality is and how it is defined. Towards the end of the book, I felt that it started to repeat writing structure that it took a lot longer to read since it wasn't eye opening stuff. Would recommend reading if you're starting to learn about social views about sexuality. For someone whose been already exposed to sex issues, the book may help fill in the gaps regarding where issues starts and other's point of views.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Read for my 2021 gender and sexuality comprehensive exams**

A very comprehensive look at a lot of history and current issues surrounding sex/sexuality. Also covers a lot of other social theorists and gives a good analysis/explanation of their writings. Very helpful. Some of the authors own opinions are not ones I agree with but I appreciate him looking at all issues from various perspectives and presenting multiple arguments before stating his opinion. Definitely one of the more enjoyable books I've read for my comps recently.

[John Fredrickson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beginning sections of this book were particularly good. In these, the book discusses the history of (cultural) sexuality and explores some of the social dynamics that may have informed the changes that have taken place. The later sections deal more with the author's interpretations of current social issues of sexuality (gay marriage, S/M, pay for sex trades, etc.). I cannot think of any issues in which I disagreed with the author, but the book appears to lose focus at the end.

[Michael A. · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5. Very basic stuff but put into a concise manner. Foucault vis-a-vis sexuality is summed up decently enough for an introductory book. There just isn't really anything in here for someone who has some knowledge on the topic - which is not a failing of the book. Seidman also does tend to take a rather liberal "middle view" of each controversial position. This isn't a terrible place to start if you're new to the sociology of sexuality, but other than that I see no reason to read it.

[Eddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gret read for those who are interested in the study of sexuality. Contents from historical, cultural identies and how our social world creates identies that are seemingly fixed but in reality are fluid.

[Samuel Ake · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite reading the updated version, I thought it missed some pretty big perspectives that would help explain concepts better to readers. Informative but I wouldn’t recommend it to people who are just beginning to understand the complexities of sexuality

[HopeF · Rating 4 out of 5]

While society has continued to shift since its publication, this essay collection is a good review of both scholarship and public discourse up to that point. It's a useful primer for those who may want to dip their toe into this area of study.

[Jon Williamson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book from OSU days. When you think you know it all...you realize you don't. lol

[Tareq Alkhudari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marvelous simplified lit take on the concept of sexuality and the notion of sexualities as a spectrum.
Explains a lot in comprehensible words.

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative, but having to read it for class really made me dislike it

[Briana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book for a class I took. I found that the book made me think and for that reason I gave it 3 stars.

[Jules · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kind of all over the place but very informative on gay rights and struggles. Plus makes you question how you define sexuality and checks your privilege if you’re heterosexual

[Thalia Lambros · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little outdated but good overall concepts

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

this whole book felt like a high school essay

[Misha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started reading your sex book today. Nice critique of sexology. I
thought it was a legitimate science. Annoying review of Freud and the
rest of his ilk. When will the poor bastard be laid to rest already?
To get me excited they better stop reviewing the old stuff and focus
on current theories hopefully backed up by hard data.

well, I am finishing up the sex book: I am done with porn and S&M
chapters. The titles were exciting but somehow the contents wasn't as
titillating. I am still keeping my hopes up for the sexworkers
chapter.

If seriously, I liked the complete catalog of pro/con arguments in
the gay liberation/porn/S&M/sexworkers debate. The theories chapter
(sexology/psychoanalysis, etc) was not as interesting. Most probably
just because the theories were lame. What would make the book more
substantial is some empirical data and observations on the subject.

[Lindsay Wiertz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book is moderately knowledgeable on a range of topics. Some topics are more deeply explored than others, and may leave the reader with questions regarding certain things. Book is rather informal. There is a lot of fact, but also a lot of commentary by the author as if he was speaking directly to you, which is my only complaint. Over all, good read.

[Wiktor Dynarski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trochę przykro, że książka pojawiła się w Polsce tak późno, biorąc pod uwagę, że wiele z opisywanych tematów doczekało się już dyskusji społecznej i medialnej.
Poza tym książka jednak mnie zaskoczyła powierzchownością pewnych aspektów, szczególnie jest chodzi o równość małżeńską czy politykę bi i transpłciową oraz pracę seksualną.

[Vasili Birlidis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A concise, clear overview of feminism and sexuality through the social constructionist point of view. Read for WST 3603 - Sexualities Studies with Mrs. Nutter-Pridgen (fourth year, University of Florida, Fall 2016).

[chaos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily understood. Well written so it is interesting and informative.

[Susan Emery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. Provides a lot of information.