Queer Theory/sociology - Twentieth-Century Social Theory

In the past few decades, homosexuality has become an exciting field of knowledge. New approaches emphasizing the socially constructed and political character of same-sex desires have moved to the forefront of debate across the disciplines and the broader public. Although the social sciences have been pivotal to the flourishing of lesbian, gay and bisexual studies, discursive approaches associated with poststructuralism have proven productive.;This volume aims to productively engage the pioneering work of queer theorists. Sociological perspectives emphasize the role of history, social institutions and cultural dynamics beyond the play of signs and discourse in the making of homosexual desire.;Bringing together some of the classic sociological statements and the new sociology of homosexual desire, this book points to new synthetic approaches to queer studies. It suggests ways a sociological perspective can contribute to imagining a queer studies that preserves the critical spirit of queer theory, while being attentive to the deeply institutional and structural dynamics in the formation of the sexual self and social order.