Same-Sex Cultures and Sexualities
An Anthropological Reader
Blackwell Readers in Anthropology
This book demonstrates the centrality of sex, gender, and sexuality
to theories of human behaviors and practices.
* * Moves beyond other "lesbian and gay studies"
readers by presenting a broader view of the significance of
studying same-sex cultures and sexualities across cultures.
* Offers readings from all four subfields of anthropology:
cultural, biological, linguistic, and archaeological (along with
historical and applied anthropology).
* Includes discussion of biotechnology and bioethics, health and
illness, language, ethnicity, identity, politics, post-colonialism,
kinship, development, and policymaking.
Introduction: Sexualizing anthropology's fields (Jennifer
Robertson).
Part 1: Anthropology's Sexual Fields.
1. "Anthropology rediscovers sexuality: A theoretical
comment." (Carole Vance).
2. "Biological determinism and homosexuality."
(Bonnie Spanier).
3. "Feminisms, queer theories, and the archaeological
study of past sexualities." (Barbara Voss).
4. "No." (Don Kulick).
5. "Resources for lesbian ethnographic research in the
lavender archives." (Alisa Klinger).
Part 2: Problems and Propositions.
6. "Erotic anthropology: 'ritualized
homosexuality' in Melanesia and beyond." (Deborah
Elliston).
7. "Gender, genetics, and generation: reformulating
biology in lesbian kinship." (Corinne Hayden).
8. "Transsexualism: reflections on the persistence of
gender and the mutability of sex." (Judith
Shapiro).
9. "Problems encountered in writing the history of
sexuality: Sources, theory and interpretation." (Estelle
B. Freedman and John D'Emilio).
Part 3: Ethics, Erotics and Exercises .
10. "Choosing the sexual orientation of children."
(Edward Stein).
11. "Yoshiya Nobuko: Out and outspoken in practice and
prose." (Jennifer Robertson).
12. "Outing as performance/outing as resistance: a queer
reading of Austrian (homo)sexualities." (Matti
Bunzl).
13. "Tombois in West Sumatra: constructing masculinity and
erotic desire." (Evelyn Blackwood).
14. "Freeing South Africa: the 'modernization'
of male-male sexuality in Soweto." (Donald
Donham).
15. "Gay organizations, NGOs, and the globalization of
sexual identity: the case of Bolivia." (Timothy
Wright).
Robertson).
Part 1: Anthropology's Sexual Fields.
1. "Anthropology rediscovers sexuality: A theoretical
comment." (Carole Vance).
2. "Biological determinism and homosexuality."
(Bonnie Spanier).
3. "Feminisms, queer theories, and the archaeological
study of past sexualities." (Barbara Voss).
4. "No." (Don Kulick).
5. "Resources for lesbian ethnographic research in the
lavender archives." (Alisa Klinger).
Part 2: Problems and Propositions.
6. "Erotic anthropology: 'ritualized
homosexuality' in Melanesia and beyond." (Deborah
Elliston).
7. "Gender, genetics, and generation: reformulating
biology in lesbian kinship." (Corinne Hayden).
8. "Transsexualism: reflections on the persistence of
gender and the mutability of sex." (Judith
Shapiro).
9. "Problems encountered in writing the history of
sexuality: Sources, theory and interpretation." (Estelle
B. Freedman and John D'Emilio).
Part 3: Ethics, Erotics and Exercises .
10. "Choosing the sexual orientation of children."
(Edward Stein).
11. "Yoshiya Nobuko: Out and outspoken in practice and
prose." (Jennifer Robertson).
12. "Outing as performance/outing as resistance: a queer
reading of Austrian (homo)sexualities." (Matti
Bunzl).
13. "Tombois in West Sumatra: constructing masculinity and
erotic desire." (Evelyn Blackwood).
14. "Freeing South Africa: the 'modernization'
of male-male sexuality in Soweto." (Donald
Donham).
15. "Gay organizations, NGOs, and the globalization of
sexual identity: the case of Bolivia." (Timothy
Wright).
"It is volumes like this one that allow us to see all sorts
of new connections and possibilities. The vibrant thematic
coherence of these articles is intellectually exciting, and one can
genuinely say that, in this volume, the whole is far greater than
the sum of its parts. It is a particular strength that the articles
come from across the anthropological subfields."
Margaret Conkey, University of California, Berkeley
"An exquisite collection! The ethnographic reach and
theoretical sophistication of this reader ensure that it is
destined to become a classic reference and an indispensable tool
for teaching. In addition to its contributions to the study of
same-sex cultures, it boldly articulates anthropology's
special claims and unique role in the study of human
sexualities."
Gayle Rubin, University of Michigan
"An exceptionally coherent collection, with uniformly
strong contributions. Same-Sex Cultures and Sexualities is a
lucid demonstration of the ways that research on same-sex
sexualities has intervened in and redefined core problems and
debates in anthropology and history."
Mary Hancock, University of California, Santa Barbara
of new connections and possibilities. The vibrant thematic
coherence of these articles is intellectually exciting, and one can
genuinely say that, in this volume, the whole is far greater than
the sum of its parts. It is a particular strength that the articles
come from across the anthropological subfields."
Margaret Conkey, University of California, Berkeley
"An exquisite collection! The ethnographic reach and
theoretical sophistication of this reader ensure that it is
destined to become a classic reference and an indispensable tool
for teaching. In addition to its contributions to the study of
same-sex cultures, it boldly articulates anthropology's
special claims and unique role in the study of human
sexualities."
Gayle Rubin, University of Michigan
"An exceptionally coherent collection, with uniformly
strong contributions. Same-Sex Cultures and Sexualities is a
lucid demonstration of the ways that research on same-sex
sexualities has intervened in and redefined core problems and
debates in anthropology and history."
Mary Hancock, University of California, Santa Barbara
Jennifer Robertson is Professor of Anthropology at the University of Michigan. She has published many articles and book chapters (in several languages) on a wide spectrum of subjects and is the author of Native and Newcomer: Making and Unmaking a Japanese City (1991) and Takarazuka: Sexual Politics and Popular Culture in Modern Japan (2001 [1998]; Japanese translation 2000). The author's primary area specialty is Japan however she has also worked in Sri Lanka and is presently working in Israel.
