166-202 The Politics of Sexual Reform Movements

Note

Available as 166-302 at 3rd-year level.

Credit Points

Coordinator

Prerequisites

Normally 25 points of first-year Politics; students with only 12.5 points in Politics may apply to the 2nd/3rd-year coordinator.

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

This subject will look at the way that lesbianism and male homosexuality have been constructed through sexology and legislation and how changing social and political contexts have shaped different forms of political organising by lesbians and gay men, from gay liberation and lesbian feminism to queer politics. Controversies within lesbian and gay theory and politics will be analysed such as the idea of a gay gene, theorising heterosexuality, racist sexual stereotyping, the Sydney Mardi Gras, drag and role-playing, erotica and the politics of sexual practice.

Assessment

Essay work or equivalent totalling 5000 words.