About the book
How much sex should a person have? With whom? What do we make of people who choose not to have sex at all? As present as these questions are today, they were subjects of intense debate in the early American republic. In this richly textured history, Kara French investigates ideas about, and practices of, sexual restraint to better understand the sexual dimensions of American identity in the antebellum United States. French considers three groups of Americans—Shakers, Catholic priests and nuns, and followers of sexual reformer Sylvester Graham—whose sexual abstinence provoked almost as much social, moral, and political concern as the idea of sexual excess. Examining private diaries and letters, visual culture and material artifacts, and a range of published works, French reveals how people practicing sexual restraint became objects of fascination, ridicule, and even violence in nineteenth-century American culture.
Against Sex makes clear that in assessing the history of sexuality, an expansive view of sexual practice that includes abstinence and restraint can shed important new light on histories of society, culture, and politics.
Editions of Against Sex
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781469662138
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781469662145
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469662169
- EBook
- ISBN 9798890859570
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469662152
- PDF
- ISBN 9798890859563
Read an Excerpt
How much sex should a person have? With whom? What do we make of people who choose not to have sex at all? As present as these questions are today, they were subjects of intense debate in the early American republic. In this richly textured history, Kara French investigates ideas about, and practices of, sexual restraint to better understand the sexual dimensions of American identity in the antebellum United States. French considers three groups of Americans—Shakers, Catholic priests and nuns, and followers of sexual reformer Sylvester Graham—whose sexual abstinence provoked almost as much social, moral, and political concern as the idea of sexual excess. Examining private diaries and letters, visual culture and material artifacts, and a range of published works, French reveals how people practicing sexual restraint became objects of fascination, ridicule, and even violence in nineteenth-century American culture.
Against Sex makes clear that in assessing the history of sexuality, an expansive view of sexual practice that includes abstinence and restraint can shed important new light on histories of society, culture, and politics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Against Sex about?
How much sex should a person have? With whom? What do we make of people who choose not to have sex at all? As present as these questions are today, they were subjects of intense debate in the early American republic. In this richly textured history, Kara French investigates ideas about, and practices of, sexual restraint to better understand the sexual dimensions of American identity in the antebellum United States. French considers three groups of Americans—Shakers, Catholic priests and nuns, and followers of sexual reformer Sylvester Graham—whose sexual abstinence provoked almost as much social, moral, and political concern as the idea of sexual excess. Examining private diaries and letters, visual culture and material artifacts, and a range of published works, French reveals how people practicing sexual restraint became objects of fascination, ridicule, and even violence in nineteenth-century American culture.
Against Sex makes clear that in assessing the history of sexuality, an expansive view of sexual practice that includes abstinence and restraint can shed important new light on histories of society, culture, and politics.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Against Sex?
Society and Social Sciences > Society and culture: general > Social groups, communities and identities > Gender studies, gender groups
Where can I read a sample of Against Sex?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781469662138
How long is Against Sex and how many pages does it have?
Against Sex has 232 page(s)
Is Against Sex part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series Gender and American Culture
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Against Sex?
Kara M. French
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Against Sex is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781469662138) and paperback(ISBN 9781469662145) and ebook(ISBN 9781469662169) and ebook(ISBN 9798890859570) and ebook(ISBN 9781469662152) and pdf(ISBN 9798890859563)
Where can I buy Against Sex online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Against Sex from below
Where can I buy Against Sex?