Taboo: Sex, Identity and Erotic Subjectivity in Anthropological Fieldwork

by Don Kulick, Margaret Willson (Editor)

Taboo looks at the ethnographer and sexuality in anthropological fieldwork and considers the many roles that sexuality plays in the anthropological production of knowledge and texts. How does the sexual identity that anthropologists have in their "home" society affect the kind of sexuality they are allowed to express in other cultures? How is the anthropologists' sexuality perceived by the people with whom he or she does research? How common is sexual violence and intimidation in the field and why is its existence virtually unmentioned in anthropology? These are but a few of the questions to be confronted, exploring from differing perspectives the depth of the influence this tabooed topic has on the entire practice and production of anthropology.
A long-overdue text for all students and lecturers of anthropology, many post-fieldwork readers will find a resonance of issues they have previously faced (or tried to avoid) and those who are still to undertake fieldwork will find articles that refer to other kinds of personal and professional experience as well as providing invaluable preparations for coping in the field.

Genres: Anthropology, Ethnography, Nonfiction, Sexuality, Academic

300 pages, Hardcover

First published October 5, 1995

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

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely worth the read if you are doing research, but not much of a read-for-personal-enjoyment book. Very interesting subject, though!

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for social science researchers who conduct fieldwork!

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moreno's account of her experience in Ethiopia is incredibly insightful and considerate. I feel privileged that she chose to share her traumatic experience in this edited edition along with the other incredible academics who contributed.

[Isabel Pie · Rating 4 out of 5]

boas histórias e boas reflexões…
é um livro que já tem quase 30 anos e acredito que por isso algumas das discussões estão desatualizadas, mas em como um todo é muito bom e bem pioneiro em relação à proposta geral

[Calen · Rating 3 out of 5]

very interesting.

[Sam Grace]

critiqued by Manderson as being weak on anthropological analysis and being pretty insufficient in its analysis of power dynamics.