The Invention of HeterosexualityThis boldly original work reexamines our society's basic heterosexual/homosexual distinction - focusing on the evolution of the term heterosexual, which, as this study demonstrates, only entered our language a little more than a hundred years ago, ushering in a new way of dividing up and judging sexuality and people. Exploring the startling history of the heterosexual concept, Jonathan Ned Katz reveals that as late as the 1920s, heterosexuality was still defined in a major American dictionary as "morbid sexual passion for one of the opposite sex". It was only through a slow process that heterosexuality became this society's dominant norm. Analyzing the work of such pioneering students of sexuality as Sigmund Freud and Richard von Krafft-Ebing, Katz considers the effects of their ideas about the sacred primacy of heterosexuality on both scientific literature and popular culture. He also examines the varied commentaries on heterosexuality by such contemporary writers as James Baldwin, Betty Friedan, Adrienne Rich, Kate Millett, and Michel Foucault. |
From inside the book
Results 1-3 of 18
Page 69
... Dora " not to mention the incident . " 44 This time , however , Dora told her mother that Herr K had had " the audacity to make her a proposal , " and Dora's mother obligingly told her husband . On “ the next occasion " that Dora's ...
... Dora " not to mention the incident . " 44 This time , however , Dora told her mother that Herr K had had " the audacity to make her a proposal , " and Dora's mother obligingly told her husband . On “ the next occasion " that Dora's ...
Page 70
... Dora's perception . Freud seriously suggests to Dora that Frau K's affair with Dora's father “ made it certain " that Frau K would agree to di- vorce Herr K. Dora , Freud tells his client , would then be free to act upon her unconscious ...
... Dora's perception . Freud seriously suggests to Dora that Frau K's affair with Dora's father “ made it certain " that Frau K would agree to di- vorce Herr K. Dora , Freud tells his client , would then be free to act upon her unconscious ...
Page 71
... Dora had worshiped Frau K , Dora's father told Freud.53 " Dora talked about Frau K. , " says Freud , in terms appropriate to a lover , praising Frau K's “ ' adorable white body . ' " 54 Discussing Dora's intimacy with Frau K , Freud ...
... Dora had worshiped Frau K , Dora's father told Freud.53 " Dora talked about Frau K. , " says Freud , in terms appropriate to a lover , praising Frau K's “ ' adorable white body . ' " 54 Discussing Dora's intimacy with Frau K , Freud ...
Contents
THE DEBUT OF THE HETEROSEXUAL | 19 |
BEFORE HETEROSEXUALITY | 33 |
MAKING THE HETEROSEXUAL MYSTIQUE | 57 |
Copyright | |
7 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
active acts American analysis argues Baldwin body called century completely concept constructed critical culture defined desire different-sex discourse discussed distinction dominant Dora Dora's early edition equal erosexuality erotic eroticism essay example existence feeling female Feminine Feminism feminists Foucault Fragment Freud Friedan gender Herr hetero heterosexual homo homosexual human idea ideal identity included invention Journal Krafft-Ebing later lesbian liberation linked major male marriage masculine means men's Millett mind movement Mystique natural nineteenth nineteenth-century norm normal Notes organization original particular person pleasure points political practice present published question radical refers relations relationships reproductive Review Rich Rubin says sexual social society speak specific standard straight stresses Studies suggests talk term Theory thought tion true University Press Victorian Volume Wittig woman women writers York