Estelle Freedman

A very thorough historical assessment of sexuality in what can be known about practice and the view of sexuality in American culture from the beginnings of colonization to the present day.

The author does not fall into the trap of considering any type of movement or expectation as a given, as if views and perspectives about sexuality are heading toward a particular end. He assesses changes and reactions to changes; moments of "liberation," and moments of "withdrawal." And yet there is a general trajectory toward greater understanding and a higher social profile of sexuality and its practices over time.

The author also does well at looking at the various attitudes which existed among different classes and ethnic groups while not neglecting the overall picture that at least a few in America wanted to present about what appropriate sexuality looked like.

Fully researched and documented and a useful resource if one is interested in understanding the various contours of the views and arguments regarding human sexuality in American culture.… (altro)

This was written in 2002, before the round of backlashes that we're currently suffering through happened, when to some degree there were a vision of progress, a future with more equality. A time before being female on the internet was an offence to some.

Yes I'm an angry feminist, I am tired of fighting the same fight, different day. A lot of the points made here are stuff we're still dealing with over a decade later, it would be so easy to let it drop and just keep my head under the parapet but damn it, I'm tired of listening to young women with privilege claiming that they don't need feminism or don't think feminism has done them any favours. Yes there are some women who are radical and take a very anti-male line but often that's also part of a conversation we need to have. We are accepting fewer and fewer boxes we're willing to let people live in and that's a sad thing to disallow people from variety. I have no problem with people who want to wear makeup or wear culturally/religiously appropriate clothing (sometimes referred to as "modest" but that's a whole other can of worms) but I have a huge problem when you tell me I'm not professional for not wearing makeup, when men don't have to, or that I was asking for it...

It's food for thought. One of the ones that stopped me and made me think compared some of the ways we have normalised plastic surgery as being somewhat comparable to, in a minor way, to genital mutilation, both culturally acceptable as ways of making women more "attractive" to men, but both have costs. One is more severe, yes, but when I read about labioplasty and the damage being done to some children by having parents without facial expressions curtsey of botox I wonder.

I found it an occasionally demanding book, and occasionally it made me rage that this stuff is still so pertinent.… (altro)