Handbook of the Sociology of Sexualities (Handbooks of Sociology and Social Research)

This Volume Provides Researchers And Scholars With A Broad Overview Of The Contributions Of Social Psychologists And Sociologists To The Study Of Sexual Relationships And Sexual Expression Across The Life Course. These Contributions Include Analyses Of The Dynamics Of Several Types Of Contemporary Sexual Relationships – E.g., Short-term, Long-term Non-exclusive, And Committed. Chapters Analyze The Influence Of Major Social Institutions – E.g., Religion, Family And Economy - On Them. The Content And Scope Of This Volume Have Been Carefully Chosen To Balance Coverage Of Traditional Emphases – Dating, Marriage, Commercial Sex Work, Sex Education - With New And Cutting Edge Materials – Embodiment, Trans*, Asexualities. Sections Review Major Theoretical Perspectives And The Principal Research Methods. Coverage Of Sexual Orientation Is Integrated Throughout. This Volume Provides Excellent Resources For Anyone Interested In Research On Sexualities. Chapter 1. Introduction; John Delamater And Rebecca F. Plante -- Part I. Theories -- Chapter 2. Sexual Script Theory: Past, Present, And Future; Michael Wiederman -- Chapter 3. Sexual Fields; Adam Isaiah Green -- Chapter 4. Macro Theory In Sexual Science; Ira L. Reiss -- Chapter 5. Studying Sexualities From A Life Course Perspective; Laura Carpenter -- Part Ii. Methods -- Chapter 6. Surveying Sexualities: Minimizing Survey Error In The Study Of Sexuality; Anthony Paik -- Chapter 7. Ethnography In A ''sex Setting'': Doing Research In A New Zealand Massage Parlour; María Pérez-pérez -- Chapter 8. Observational Methods In Sexuality Research; Kate Frank -- Part Iii. Bodies And Sexuality -- Chapter 9. Unpacking Sexual Embodiment And Embodied Resistance; Breanne Fahs And Eric Swank -- Chapter 10. Missing Intersections: Contemporary Examinations Of Sexuality and Disability; Amanda Jungels And Alexis Bender --^ Chapter 11. Trans* Sexualities; Aaron Devor And Kimi Dominic.- chapter 12. Casual Sex: Integrating Social, Behavioral, And Sexual Health Research; Justin R. Garcia, Susan Seibold-simpson, Sean G. Massey, And ann M. Merriwether -- Chapter 13. Consensual Non-monogamies In Industrialized Nations; Elizabeth Sheff And Megan Tesene -- Chapter 14. Sexuality In Long-term Relationships; Amy Lodge -- Chapter 15. Intersectionality: Race, Gender, Sexuality, And Class; Angelique Harris And Susannah Bartlow -- Chapter 16. Asexualities; Carol Haefner And Rebecca F. Plante -- Chapter 17. Cities And Sexualiries; Phil Hubbard, Andrew Gorman Murray And Catharine J. Nash -- Chapter 18. The Queer Metropolis; Amin Ghaziani -- Part V. Sexualities In Institutional Context -- Chapter 19. The Family In Flux: Changing Sexual And Reproductive Practices; Lauren Jade Martin -- Chapter 20. Understanding Religious Variations In Sexuality And Sexual Health; Amy Burdette, Terrence D. Hill And Kyl Myers --^ Chapter 21. Sexuality And Education: Toward The Promise Of Ambiguity; Jessica Fields, Jen Gilbert And Michell Miller -- Chapter 22. Sex Work; Susan Dewey -- Chapter 23. Pornography; Kassia Wosick -- Chapter 24. The Medicalization Of Sexual Deviance, Reproduction, And Functioning; Thea Cacchioni -- Chapter 25. Sexualities And Social Movements: Three Decades Of Sex And Social Change; Amy Stone And Jill. D. Weinberg. Edited By John Delamater, Rebecca F. Plante. Contents 7 Contributors 10 Chapter-1 13 The Sociological Study of Sexuality: An Introduction 13 References 16 Part I 17 Theories 17 Chapter-2 18 Sexual Script Theory: Past, Present, and Future 18 2.1 Sexual Script Theory 18 2.2 Sexual Script Theory in Historical Context 21 2.3 Similar Theoretical Perspectives in Social Science 22 2.4 Methods and Application in Research on Sexual Scripts 24 2.4.1 Critical Review Approaches 24 2.4.2 Self-Report Approaches 25 2.4.2.1 Innovative Approaches 26 2.5 Sexual Script Theory: Critique and Future Directions 27 References 31 Chapter-3 34 Sexual Fields 34 3.1 Introduction 34 3.2 Historical Factors Shaping Sexual Life in the West 35 3.3 The Sexual Fields Approach 36 3.3.1 Field theory 36 3.3.2 The Sexual Fields Framework 37 3.3.3 Desire and Desirability in Collective Sexual Life 41 3.3.4 Sexual Fields and Levels of Analysis 43 3.3.5 Sexual Fields Scholarship 43 3.4 Future Directions in Sexual Fields Research 47 References 48 Chapter-4 51 Macro Theory in Sexual Science 51 4.1 Part One: Macro Theory and the Birth of Two Disciplines 51 4.2 Part Two: Macro Studies on Sexuality in the United States 52 4.2.1 The Autonomy Theory of Premarital Sexuality 53 4.2.2 Proposition One 54 4.2.3 Proposition Two 54 4.2.4 Proposition Three 55 4.2.5 Proposition Four 55 4.2.6 Proposition Five 55 4.2.7 Proposition Six 56 4.2.8 Proposition Seven 56 4.2.9 Summary Statement of the Autonomy Theory 56 4.2.10 The National Health and Social Life Survey 57 4.3 Part Three: Cross Cultural Macro Theories 59 4.3.1 The Cross Cultural PIK Linkage Theory 59 4.3.2 A Post-Industrialization Theory 64 4.4 Part Four: Recent Macro Theoretical Studies 66 4.4.1 Sociology and Biology: A Scientific Match? 67 4.4.2 The Future of Sexual Science 69 References 70 Chapter-5 74 Studying Sexualities from a Life Course Perspective 74 5.1 Introduction 74 5.2 Studying Sexualities Over the Life Course 75 5.2.1 Background 75 5.2.2 The Gendered Sexuality Over the Life Course (GSLC) Framework 77 5.2.2.1 Life Course Basics 77 5.2.2.2 Human Agency, Social-Historical Context, and Linked Lives 79 5.2.2.3 Gender and Sexuality as They Intersect with Other Social Statuses 80 5.2.2.4 Sexual Scripting 81 5.2.3 A Related Conceptual Framework 82 5.3 Methods for Studying Sexualities Over the Life Course 82 5.4 Recent Sexualities Research Drawing on, or Consistent with, the Life Course Perspective 85 5.4.1 Adolescence and Young Adulthood 85 5.4.2 Sexual Identity and Orientation 86 5.4.3 Sexualities from Young Adulthood Onward 88 5.4.4 Sexualities and Parenthood 88 5.4.5 Sexualities in Midlife 89 5.4.6 Sexualities in Later Life 89 5.4.7 Other Life Transitions and Experiences 90 5.5 Future Directions for the Field 91 5.5.1 Transgender and Intersex 91 5.5.2 Seldom-Studied Life Stages and Links Among Them 92 5.5.3 Other Understudied Phenomena 93 5.5.4 Attending to Intersectionality and International Diversity 94 5.6 Conclusion 95 References 95 Part II 99 Methods 99 Chapter-6 100 Surveying Sexualities: Minimizing Survey Error in Study of Sexuality 100 6.1 Introduction 100 6.2 Background 101 6.3 Survey Error in the Study of Sexualities 102 6.3.1 Populations, Sampling Frames, and Coverage Error 102 6.3.2 Nonprobability Sampling 103 6.3.3 Nonresponse in Surveys 105 6.3.4 Measurement and Coding Errors in Survey Responses 105 6.3.4.1 Item-specific Error 106 6.3.4.2 Mode of Administration 106 6.3.4.3 Questionnaire Design and Interviewer Effects 106 6.3.4.4 Coding Error 107 6.4 Applications 107 6.4.1 Chicago Health and Social Life Survey (CHSLS) 107 6.4.2 National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) 109 6.4.3 New Family Structures Study (NFSS) 110 6.5 Conclusion 112 References 113 Chapter-7 115 Ethnography in a “Sexy Setting:” Doing Research in a New Zealand Massage Parlour 115 7.1 Introduction 115 7.2 Ethnography and “Climbing into the Worlds of Participants” 116 7.3 Ethnography and Sex Worlds 117 7.3.1 Getting into Sex Worlds 118 7.3.2 The Right “Currency:” Staying in Sex Worlds 119 7.4 On Following Sex Work 120 7.4.1 Applying ANT Sensibility 121 7.4.2 Following Identity Work: Assembling the Manager 122 7.4.3 Following Identity Work: Assembling the “Professional Hooker” 123 7.5 Conclusion 124 References 125 Chapter-8 129 Observational Methods in Sexuality Research 129 8.1 Ethnography, Observation, and Participant Observation—Clarifying the Terms 130 8.2 Seeing Is Believing—Or Is It? 131 8.3 Insiders and Outsiders: A Brief History 134 8.4 Reflexivity as Practice 137 8.4.1 Degrees of Engagement 137 8.4.2 Practicing Reflexivity 138 8.5 Covert Versus Overt Research 141 8.5.1 Covert Observation 141 8.5.2 Overt Observation 143 8.6 Researcher Sexuality and Sexual Interactions 143 8.7 Some Practical Suggestions 148 References 151 Part III 153 Bodies and Sexuality 153 Chapter-9 154 Unpacking Sexual Embodiment and Embodied Resistance 154 9.1 Introduction 154 9.2 Part 1: What is Embodiment? 155 9.2.1 Key Conflicts and Issues 155 9.2.2 The Trouble with Defining Embodiment 156 9.2.3 Methodological Conflicts to Studying and Measuring Embodiment 156 9.3 Part 2: Theorizing Embodiment 157 9.3.1 Who Gets to Decide What is “Embodied” or Not? 157 9.3.2 Feminist Contributions to Embodiment 157 9.3.3 Queer Contributions to Embodiment 158 9.4 Part 3: The Body Becoming Sexual Throughout the Lifespan 159 9.4.1 Childhood 159 9.4.2 Adolescence 159 9.4.3 Adulthood 160 9.4.4 Old Age 161 9.5 Part 4: Sexual Performance and Embodiment 162 9.5.1 Producing Body Parts 162 9.5.2 Orgasm 163 9.5.3 Trans Embodiment 163 9.6 Part 5: Embodied Resistance 164 9.6.1 Who Fights Back and How? 164 9.6.2 Bodies Outside of the Norm 165 9.6.3 “Freak” Studies 165 9.6.4 Anarchism and the Sexual Body 165 9.7 Conclusion 165 References 166 Chapter-10 173 Missing Intersections: Contemporary Examinations of Sexuality and Disability 173 10.1 Introduction 173 10.2 Key Terms 174 10.3 Theoretical Perspectives 175 10.4 Literature Review 177 10.4.1 Sexual Rights 177 10.4.2 Attitudes and Perceptions About Disabled Sexuality 178 10.4.3 Sex Education 180 10.4.4 Sexual Facilitation 181 10.4.5 Sexual Satisfaction 181 10.5 Conclusion 182 References 183 Chapter-11 185 Trans* Sexualities 185 11.1 Introduction to Some Key Terms 185 11.2 Older Ideas About Gender and Sexuality Persist Along with Newer Ones 188 11.3 Methodological Concerns 190 11.4 Sexualities Involve Bodies. Sexualities Involve Genders 191 11.5 Stability and Change in Sexualities 194 11.6 Sexualities Involve Other People 196 11.7 Sexual and Reproductive Health 197 11.8 Future Directions 198 11.9 Conclusion 199 References 199 Part IV 204 Sexualities in Social Context 204 Chapter-12 205 Casual Sex: Integrating Social, Behavioral, and Sexual Health Research 205 12.1 Introduction 205 12.2 Cultural Representations of Sex Without Commitment 206 12.3 Hooking Up 207 12.4 Theoretical Approaches to Casual Sex 209 12.5 Methodological Approaches to Casual Sex 211 12.6 Affect and Casual Sex 212 12.7 Casual Sex and Sexual Health 215 12.8 Unwanted Sexual Contact 218 12.9 Conclusion 219 References 219 Chapter-13 225 Consensual Non-Monogamies in Industrialized Nations 225 13.1 Types of Non-Monogamy 226 13.1.1 Adultery and Cheating 226 13.1.2 Monogamish 227 13.1.3 Polyamory 228 13.1.4 Polygamy 230 13.1.5 Rejection of Categorization 231 13.1.6 Swinging 232 13.2 Commonalities Among Non-Monogamies 234 13.2.1 (Lack of) Diversity 234 13.2.2 Consent via Negotiation 235 13.2.3 Focus on Emotions 235 13.3 Theories of Non-Monogamy 236 13.3.1 Social Constructionism 236 13.3.2 Feminisms 237 13.3.3 Queer Theory 237 13.4 Methods 237 13.5 Directions for Future Research 239 13.5.1 Numbers and Types 239 13.5.2 Diversity Among Practitioners 239 13.6 Relationship Outcomes 240 References 240 Chapter-14 244 Sexuality in Long-Term Relationships 244 14.1 Literature Review 245 14.1.1 Why Sex Matters for Relationships 245 14.1.2 Descriptive Studies 245 14.1.2.1 Sexual Frequency 245 14.1.2.2 Sexual Satisfaction 247 14.1.2.3 Sexual Attitudes 248 14.1.2.4 Sexual Desire 249 14.1.2.5 Sexual Dysfunction 249 14.1.3 Feminist Studies 250 14.1.3.1 Performativity Studies 250 14.1.3.2 Emotion Work and Sex 251 14.1.3.3 Gay and Lesbian Couples 252 14.2 Methodologies 252 14.2.1 Dyadic Data 253 14.2.2 Longitudinal Methods 253 14.2.3 Qualitative Methods 254 14.2.4 Nationally Representative Data on Gay and Lesbian Couples 254 14.3 Future Directions 254 14.3.1 The Need for Theoretically-Informed Studies 254 14.3.1.1 Gendered Sexuality Over the Life Course Perspective 255 14.3.1.2 Gender as Relational 255 14.3.1.3 Critical Feminist Gerontology 256 14.3.1.4 Queer Theory 256 14.3.2 The Need for More Research on Diversity in Long-Term Relationships 256 References 257 Chapter-15 261 Intersectionality: Race, Gender, Sexuality, and Class 261 15.1 Introduction and Definitions 261 15.2 History of Thought 262 15.3 Methodologies 263 15.3.1 Intersectionality in Qualitative Research 263 15.3.2 Intersectionality in Quantitative Research 264 15.4 Sexualities Research 265 15.5 Intersectionality, Social Science Research, and Social Locations 267 15.5.1 Intersectionality and Religion 267 15.5.2 Intersectionality and the Body: 268 15.5.2.1 Sexual Violence and Gender-Based Violence 268 15.5.2.2 Intersectionality and Health 268 15.6 Future Directions 269 References 270 Chapter-16 272 Asexualities: Socio-Cultural Perspectives 272 16.1 Introduction 272 16.2 Studying Asexualities 273 16.3 Asexuality as Orientation: Some Historical Perspectives 274 16.4 Contemporary Myths 276 16.5 The Impact of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 277 16.6 Asexuality in the Popular Press 278 16.7 Asexual Voices and Perspectives 278 16.8 Diversity among Asexuals 280 16.9 Future Research 280 16.9.1 Longitudinal Study 281 16.9.2 Models of Asexual Identity/Orientation Development 281 16.9.3 The Process of “Coming Out” 281 16.9.4 How to Improve Research on Asexualities 282 References 282 Chapter-17 285 Cities and Sexualities 285 17.1 Introduction 285 17.2 The Sexual Organisation of the City 286 17.2.1 Ecological Perspectives 286 17.2.2 Social Constructionism and “Sexual Fields” 287 17.2.3 Marxist Urbanism and the Place of Sex in the City 288 17.2.4 Queer Urban Theory 289 17.3 Gay Villages and LGBT Identities 290 17.4 Heterosexual Landscapes of the City 292 17.5 Virtualisation, Mobility and Globalisation 294 17.6 Methodological Challenges 296 17.7 Conclusions 297 References 298 Chapter-18 302 The Queer Metropolis 302 18.1 The Closet Era (1870—World War II): “Scattered Gay Places” 302 18.2 The Coming Out Era (World War II—1997): Gayborhoods Form (1940s) and Flourish (1970s) 305 18.2.1 Ecology Arguments 306 18.2.2 Historical Arguments 307 18.2.3 Community Arguments 307 18.2.4 Sexuality Arguments 308 18.2.5 Economic Arguments 309 18.2.6 Political Arguments 310 18.2.7 Are Gayborhoods Ghettos? 311 18.3 The Post-Gay Era (1998—Present): Gayborhoods Change 312 18.3.1 Ecology Arguments 316 18.3.2 Historical Arguments 316 18.3.3 Community Arguments 316 18.3.4 Sexuality Arguments 317 18.3.5 Economic Arguments 317 18.3.6 Political Arguments 318 18.4 Critiques and Caveats 319 18.4.1 A Queer Pluralization 319 18.4.2 The Gendered Metropolis 319 18.4.3 Inclusions and Exclusions 321 References 322 Part V 328 Sexualities in Institutional Context 328 Chapter-19 329 The Family in Flux: Changing Sexual and Reproductive Practices 329 19.1 Theoretical Perspectives 329 19.2 Methods for Studying Sexuality and Sexual Expression Within Family Studies 331 19.3 Changing Patterns in Families and Childbearing 332 19.4 Impact of Family Structure on Sexuality and Sexual Behavior of Adults 336 19.5 Impact of Family Structure on Sexuality of Offspring 338 19.6 Emerging Areas in Family and Sexuality Studies 339 19.7 Conclusion 340 References 341 Chapter-20 345 Understanding Religious Variations in Sexuality and Sexual Health 345 20.1 Introduction 345 20.2 Religion and Sexual Behavior 346 20.2.1 Religion and Adolescent Sexual Behavior 346 20.2.2 Religion and Adolescent Contraceptive Use 347 20.2.3 The Virginity Pledge Movement 347 20.2.4 Subgroup Variations in the Relationship Between Religion and Sexual Behavior 348 20.2.5 Religion and Young Adult Sexual Behavior 348 20.2.6 Religion and Sexual Behavior in Adulthood 349 20.2.7 Religion and Sexual Behavior in Later Life 351 20.3 Religion and Sexual Health Education 351 20.4 Religion and Abortion 353 20.4.1 Religion and Abortion Attitudes 353 20.4.2 Religion and Abortion Behaviors 354 20.5 Religion and HIV/AIDS 355 20.5.1 Religion and HIV/AIDS in the United States 355 20.5.2 Religion and HIV/AIDS in Africa 356 20.6 Religion and the GLBT Community 357 20.6.1 Attitudes Toward Gays and Lesbians 357 20.6.2 Religion in the Lives of Gays and Lesbians 358 20.7 Research Limitations and Future Directions 359 20.7.1 Measurement Issues 359 20.7.2 Sexuality and Sexual Health Outcomes 360 20.7.3 Indirect Effects 360 20.7.4 Subgroup Variations 360 20.7.5 Alternative Explanations: Personality Traits and Social Desirability 360 20.8 Conclusion 361 References 361 Chapter-21 367 Sexuality and Education: Toward the Promise of Ambiguity 367 21.1 A History of Educating Sexuality 368 21.2 A Sense of Danger 370 21.3 Sexuality Education’s Risky Lessons: Formal and Informal 372 21.4 Sexual Speech, Knowledge, and Innocence 375 21.5 The Promise of Rationality 376 21.6 The Ambiguity of Risk 379 References 380 Chapter-22 384 Sex Work 384 22.1 Defining Sex Work 384 22.2 Controversies Surrounding Sex Work 385 22.2.1 Sex Workers’ Rights Advocacy 385 22.2.2 Abolitionism 386 22.2.3 Harm Reduction 386 22.3 Types of Sex Work 387 22.3.1 Live Stage Shows 388 22.3.2 Pornography 389 22.3.3 Massage and Sauna 390 22.3.4 Escorting 391 22.3.5 Brothel or Establishment-Based 392 22.3.6 Tourism-Related 393 22.3.7 Street-Based 394 22.4 Theoretical Approaches and Associated Regulatory Frameworks 395 22.4.1 Criminalization 396 22.4.2 Legalization 397 22.4.3 Decriminalization 398 22.5 Methodologies Employed in Sex Work Research 398 22.6 Future Research Directions 400 22.6.1 Clients 400 22.6.2 Race and Racism 400 22.6.3 Politicization of Research 401 22.6.4 Ethnographies of Sex Workers’ Full Personhood 401 22.7 Concluding Thoughts 402 References 402 Chapter-23 407 Pornography 407 23.1 Introduction 407 23.2 Defining Pornography 408 23.3 Categorizing Pornography 409 23.4 Main Dialogues Surrounding Pornography 410 23.4.1 Empirical Approaches to Pornography 411 23.4.2 Key Factors: Gender and Sexual Orientation 412 23.5 Pornographic Genres, Subgenres, and Niches 413 23.5.1 Gay and Bisexual Male Pornography 414 23.5.2 Female-Friendly, Women-Made, and Lesbian/Bisexual Pornographies 415 23.5.3 Transgender and Genderqueer Pornography 417 23.6 Technology and Pornography 417 23.7 The Business of Pornography 418 23.8 Conclusions and Directions for Future Research 420 References 424 Chapter-24 428 The Medicalization of Sexual Deviance, Reproduction, and Functioning 428 24.1 Introduction 428 24.2 The Medicalization Thesis 428 24.3 The Medicalization of Sexual Deviance 429 24.3.1 Nineteenth Century Perspectives 430 24.3.2 Twentieth Century Perspectives 431 24.4 The Medicalization of Reproduction 433 24.4.1 Pregnancy and Birth 433 24.4.2 Birth Control 435 24.4.3 Menstruation 436 24.4.4 Menopause 437 24.5 The Medicalization of Sexual Functioning 437 24.5.1 The Medicalization of Men’s Sexual Functioning 437 24.5.2 The Medicalization of Women’s Sexual Functioning 439 24.5.3 Debating The Medicalization of Sexual Functioning 440 24.6 Conclusions and Further Research 442 References 443 Chapter-25 446 Sexualities and Social Movements: Three Decades of Sex and Social Change 446 25.1 The Role of Social Movements in Sexual Change 447 25.1.1 Legal and Political Change 448 25.1.2 Public Opinion 451 25.1.3 Culture and Visibility 452 25.1.4 Identity 453 25.2 Methodology 454 References 456 Index 459 Front Matter....Pages i-xiii The Sociological Study of Sexuality: An Introduction....Pages 1-4 Front Matter....Pages 5-5 Sexual Script Theory: Past, Present, and Future....Pages 7-22 Sexual Fields....Pages 23-39 Macro Theory in Sexual Science....Pages 41-63 Studying Sexualities from a Life Course Perspective....Pages 65-89 Front Matter....Pages 91-91 Surveying Sexualities: Minimizing Survey Error in Study of Sexuality....Pages 93-107 Ethnography in a “Sexy Setting:” Doing Research in a New Zealand Massage Parlour....Pages 109-122 Observational Methods in Sexuality Research....Pages 123-146 Front Matter....Pages 147-147 Unpacking Sexual Embodiment and Embodied Resistance....Pages 149-167 Missing Intersections: Contemporary Examinations of Sexuality and Disability....Pages 169-180 Trans* Sexualities....Pages 181-199 Front Matter....Pages 201-201 Casual Sex: Integrating Social, Behavioral, and Sexual Health Research....Pages 203-222 Consensual Non-Monogamies in Industrialized Nations....Pages 223-241 Sexuality in Long-Term Relationships....Pages 243-259 Intersectionality: Race, Gender, Sexuality, and Class....Pages 261-271 Asexualities: Socio-Cultural Perspectives....Pages 273-285 Cities and Sexualities....Pages 287-303 The Queer Metropolis....Pages 305-330 Front Matter....Pages 331-331 The Family in Flux: Changing Sexual and Reproductive Practices....Pages 333-348 Understanding Religious Variations in Sexuality and Sexual Health....Pages 349-370 Front Matter....Pages 331-331 Sexuality and Education: Toward the Promise of Ambiguity....Pages 371-387 Sex Work....Pages 389-411 Pornography....Pages 413-433 The Medicalization of Sexual Deviance, Reproduction, and Functioning....Pages 435-452 Sexualities and Social Movements: Three Decades of Sex and Social Change....Pages 453-465 Erratum to: Pornography....Pages E1-E1 Back Matter....Pages 467-472 This volume provides researchers and scholars with a broad overview of the contributions of social psychologists and sociologists to the study of sexual attraction, sexual relationships and sexual expression across the life cycle. The content and scope of this volume have been carefully chosen to balance coverage of traditional emphases with new and cutting edge materials. It includes materials using diverse perspectives and research conducted in the entire range of relevant research methods. This volume provides excellent resources for anyone interested in research in the sexuality area.