First published 2021
In "Sexuality," renowned thinker Michel Foucault challenges the notion of sexuality as a natural, biological drive. Tracing the historical construction of sexuality, he reveals how it has been shaped by complex social, political, and institutional forces. From the confessional practices of the Catholic Church to the rise of modern psychiatry, Foucault uncovers the ways in which sexuality has been regulated, controlled, and instrumentalized throughout history. Navigating this dense, thought-provoking terrain, readers are confronted with the uncomfortable truth: that the very concept of "sexuality" is a product of power relations, not a universal, innate truth. Foucault's radical perspective forces us to rethink the most intimate aspects of our lives, ultimately inviting us to reimagine the possibilities of human desire and expression.
Genres: 20th-century, gender-studies, sexuality, non-fiction, history-of-medicine, 21st-century, academia, academic
Vibes: dark, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: academic, historical
Period: 20th-Century, 21st-Century
440 pages · Paperback · Columbia University Press