Politics and Sex: Exploring the Connections Between Gender, Sexuality, and the State

Politics and Sex demonstrates how the “private” is also a site of power. The study of politics is traditionally founded on a fundamental distinction between the public and private spheres. Focusing on the particular challenges faced by women, author Edna Keeble interrogates the relationship between the desire to control female sexuality and gender inequality in a broader political context. This introductory text brings together a diverse collection of issues including body image, body politics, the veiling of women, female genital mutilation or cutting, rape and sexual violence, pornography, and prostitution, and will encourage informed conversations about gender and sexuality in the political science classroom. Edna Keeble takes a much-needed feminist liberal perspective through which readers can engage with questions of gender, culture, public policy, and human rights. Each chapter is rich with pedagogical features, including lists of recommended films, video clips, websites, and additional readings. Interdisciplinary in nature, this text is a welcome resource for courses in political science, politics and sex, women and politics, and contemporary politics. Review “This book provides an excellent overview of an interesting and important subject in the study of politics. Ideal for an undergraduate introductory course on sex and politics, students will come away from this with a solid understanding of a wide range of topics related to gender, sexuality, and the state.” - Dr. Amanda Bittner, Political Science, Memorial University “I think this book could be a game-changer in terms of its focus on sexuality and the individual, its promotion of feminist liberalism, and the unique combination of important contemporary issues and perspectives addressed. I will definitely be using this book.” - Dr. Meredith Ralston, Women’s Studies, Mount Saint Vincent University About the Author Edna Keeble is a Professor in the Department of Political Science at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax. She is a recipient of three distinguished teaching awards and was formerly a Saint Mary’s University Teaching Scholar. Dr. Keeble’s research has focused on Canadian foreign policy, definitions of security, and linkages between politics, gender, and sexuality. She has been involved in two substantial projects funded by the Canadian International Development Agency: one addressing prostitution in the Philippines and the other focusing on security and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. Reflecting her commitment to balancing teaching and research with service, Dr. Keeble was also an inaugural member of the Canadian government’s Cross-Cultural Roundtable on Security, which advised the public safety and justice ministers.