131-033 A History of Sexualities

This is a core subject for the interdepartmental program in gender studies.

Usually 25 points of first-year history, see Prerequisites, or first-year gender studies, see Prerequisites.

How has sexual identity and practice been understood, represented and expressed from the late 19th to the late 20th century? This course will analyse these themes with particular attention to theories of sexuality from the sexologists to Freud, feminism and queer theory. It will also explore the history of bisexuality, transvestism, and gay and lesbian movements. In doing so, representation of racialised and ethnic sexuality in film, literature and music will also be considered. On completion of this subject, students should understand the ways in which sexuality both has a history, and is contested.