In our sex-obsessed society, the idea of a perspective devoid of sex might seem impossible. In response to this, Anthony Bogeart—in his article “Asexuality: What It Is and Why It Matters—introduces the lens of asexuality, which is essentially that “the study of asexuality allows for a broader view and, potentially, a deeper understanding of sexuality” (375). He goes on to suggest “that studying asexuality—for example, taking an asexual’s perspective, to the degree that such a view is possible for a sexual person—reveals how sex is deeply embedded in our worldview/culture” (375). Despite Bogaert’s suggestion to turn the lens of asexuality to literature and other forms of art, it still seems as though asexuality theory flounders past only identifying …show more content…
Scholars such as Karli Cerankowski and Megan Milks in their 2010 article “New Orientations: Asexuality and Its Implications for Theory and Practice” state that their “current interest is in considering how asexuality intersects with feminist and queer theories of sexuality and with feminist and queer movements and politics” (653). Seven years later, however, and the study of asexuality in literature seems near nonexistent. Even Bogaert does not go into an in-depth analysis of asexuality in literature in both his articles and books, despite suggesting it. I have only found two articles which explore asexuality in literature: the abstract to Jana Fedtke’s 2012 doctoral dissertation “53x+m³=Ø? (Sex+Me=No Result?): Tropes of Asexuality in Literature and Film” and Megan Arkenberg’s full 2014 article “‘A Mayde, and Last of Youre Blood’: Galahad’s Asexuality and Its Significance in Le Morte Darthur.” Whereas Fedtke seems to focus on representation, Arkenberg takes it further, as her essay “applies the concept of asexuality to literary study, contributing to the project of exploring the potential for an asexual reading to generate new understandings of canonical texts” (4). Likewise, I will take Arkenberg’s method of reading and apply it to Daphne; first to identify her as an asexual, and then to go on and interpret her encounter with …show more content…
As a nymph, Daphne falls into one of the most stereotyped characteristics – and insults – of asexuals: She is not human. Bogaert supplies findings from researchers McInnis and Hodson, who “found evidence that heterosexual people often view asexual people with more disfavor than other sexual minorities (e.g., gays, lesbians) and may characterize them as ‘less than human’” (“Asexuality: What It Is” 368). The research reveals that people see sex and humanity as closely intertwined; if we lack sex, we lack humanity. To Decker’s understanding, people might see asexual people as unnatural (9). In terms of modern society, the notion that life without sex seems inhuman is rather ridiculous. However, the stereotype works for Daphne as she is not human. To view Daphne’s inhumanity as a call sign for asexuality might seem problematic, seeing how modern asexuals try to avoid this stigma. However, we must also consider the implication of her disregard for sex when one takes to mind that “historically in many societies or within segments of society (e.g., many religions) celibacy has been seen as a godly virtue and something to which humans should aspire” (Bogaert “Asexuality: What It Is” 363). Daphne invokes this belief first as she acts “in emulation of the chaste / goddess Phoebe” (660-661). It is no mistake Daphne presents herself in a manner that mirrors Phoebe, an asexual-coded
A reoccurring theme that will be discussed in the literature review as well as the chapter on The Captive will discuss the ways in which the use of the voice (or lack of) in Irene and Madame d’ Aiguines character is a signifier of their lesbianism. Sherrie
When I was looking at the first sexual autobiography, Initially, I thought I had very little input in regards to sexuality. However, as a result of learning about sexuality through Sexing Shakespeare, I have learned that this is not the case. By learnings about Butler, Foucault, Bataile, and Freud, I have learned that my expression of sexuality is present in my being. An example of my sexuality being portrayed would be through the teachings of Judith Butler. Judith Butler states that an individual performs certain actions, then that person takes on a certain identity. Therefore, even though I have performed zero physical activity, as a result of not performing such an activity, I constitute the category of either a romantic or an asexual. Which category I belong to I am not sure of yet, and Judith Butler fails to clarify as to which category
In Zora Neale Hurston’s novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, the reader is treated to an enthralling story of a woman’s lifelong quest for happiness and love. Although this novel may be analyzed according to several critical lenses, I believe the perspectives afforded by French feminists Helene Cixous and Luce Irigaray have been most useful in informing my interpretation of Hurston’s book. In “The Laugh of the Medusa,” Cixous discusses a phenomenon she calls antilove that I have found helpful in defining the social hierarchy of women and relationships between them in the novel. In addition, Cixous addresses the idea of woman as caregiver, which can be illustrated through the character of Janie in Their Eyes Were Watching God. On the other hand, Luce Irigaray discusses the different modes of sexual desire of men and women in her essay, “The Sex Which is Not One.” Many examples supporting and refuting her claims can be found in the novel. According to Cixous, the most heinous crime committed by men against women is the promotion of antilove. “Insidiously, violently, they have led [women] to hate women, to be their own enemies, to mobilize their immense strength against themselves, to be the executants of their virile needs” (1455). Their Eyes Were Watching God offers many examples of women in vicious contention with one another, usually involving or benefiting a man. Janie is confronted by the malice of her female neighbors in the very first chapter of the novel, as she arrives back in Eatonville after her adventure with Tea Cake. “The women took the faded shirt and muddy overalls and laid them away for remembrance. It was a weapon against her strength and if i...
...ing: Questions of Appropriation and Subversion." Bodies That Matter: On the Discursive Limits of "Sex." 121-156.New York: Routledge, 1993.
In Sigmund Freud’s “Sexual Morality and Modern Nervousness”, contained in Sexuality and the Psychology of Love, the writer presents separate roles for men and women as it relates to sexuality, even referring to a “double code of morality” (22) for the genders. In his paper the former often takes the role of the subject while the former becomes the object. In fact, women are described as the “true sexual guardians of the race” glorified, it seems, instead of truly studied. However, in one particular section of the essay, Freud turns his focus onto the female sexuality. In specific he references the various factors that, in his eyes, can influence the female sexual formation. The primary influences being that of the society, primarily the institution of marriage, and that of the family, which would include both a woman’s parents and children. After discussing these elements, Freud then
Wolff, Cynthia Griffin. "Un-Utterable Longing: The Discourse of Feminine Sexuality in The Awakening." Studies in American Fiction 24.1 (Spring 1996): 3-23. Rpt. in Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism. Ed. Janet Witalec. Vol. 127. Detroit: Gale, 2002. Literature Resource Center. Web. 19 May 2014.
Fausto-Sterling, Anne. Sexing the Body: Gender Politics and the Construction of Sexuality. NY: Basic Books, 2000.
Sexuality is a fundamental part of our self-discovery, involving much more than just being genetically or anatomically male and female and it is not defined solely by one 's sexual acts (Ministry of Education 1989, p.79 cited in Gourlay, P 1995). The notion that sexuality is fixed and innate disregards the social aspects that impact ones’ sexualities. Gagnon and Simon (1973) further commented that sexuality is a feature of social
From this reference, we find that sexuality has depended upon historical context, something that is also discussed in Marinucci’s article. Mottier’s reference to Aristophanes led us into the topic of sex, gender, and sexuality in Ancient Greece. Much different compared to today, during Ancient Greek times, sex was considered more fluid, gender more social, and sexuality was based on penetrative pleasure or reproduction. Sexual identity hadn’t quite made its way into society yet. One could say that Ancient Greece had a primary focus on sexual behaviors over sexual identity. From here, Marinucci leads her readers into a discussion of how an understanding of sexuality develops in the Western modern
Wilton, Tamsin. "Which One's the Man? The Heterosexualisation of Lesbain Sex." Gender, Sex, and Sexuality. New York: Oxford University, 2009. 157-70. Print.
Many of us have been reflecting on questions about intersex and what it actually is. I’ll be explaining the definition of intersex, how common it is the conditions of intersex and what is basically considered to be intersex. Intersex is when a person is born with a sexual anatomy or reproductive system that doesn’t quite fit the description of male or female. Some examples are, a person could be born with an outer appearance as a female but could have male anatomy on the inside. Also a person can be born with what looks to be as both male and female genitals, such as, a boy can be born with a small penis or a scrotum that’s divided forming what can look like a labia or a girl can be born with a very large clitoris or even not having a vaginal opening. Then there’s the gene mix up. A person can be born with mosaic genetics which means that some of her cells have xx chromosomes and some have XY chromosomes.
Paul, J. (2017, November 12). The New Ace: Coming Out As Asexual. Retrieved November 15,
The relationship between sex and gender can be argued in many different lights. All of which complicated lights. Each individual beholds a sexual identity and a gender identity, with the argument of perceiving these identities however way they wish to perceive them. However, the impact of gender on our identities and on our bodies and how they play out is often taken for granted in various ways. Gender issues continue to be a hugely important topic within contemporary modern society. I intend to help the reader understand that femininities and masculinities is a social constructed concept and whether the binary categories of “male” and “female” are adequate concepts for understanding and organising contemporary social life with discussing the experiences of individuals and groups who have resisted these labels and forged new identities.
How does 'sexuality' come into being, and what connections does it have with the changes that have affected personal life on a more general plane? In answering these questions, Anthony Giddens disputes many of the interpretations of the role of sexuality in our culture. The emergence of what he calls plastic sexuality, which is sexuality freed from its original relation of reproduction, is analyzed in terms of the long-term development of the modern social order and social influences of the last few decades. Giddens argues that the transformation of intimacy, in which women have played the major part, holds out the possibility of a society that is very traditional. "This book will appeal to a large general audience as well as being essential reading for those students in sociology and theory."(Manis 1)