Sexed Texts; Language, Gender and Sexuality; Paul Baker

Paul Baker [+–]

Lancaster University

Paul Baker is a lecturer in the Department of Linguistics and English Language at Lancaster University. His previous books include Public Discourses of Gay Men, Hello Sailor and Using Corpora for Discourse Analysis. He has also published on the subject of Polari, a lost language variety used by gay men.

Sexed Texts explores the complex role that language plays in the construction of sexuality and gender, two concepts that are often discussed separately, although in practice are closely intertwined. The book draws on a range of theoretical perspectives and published research including performativity theory, feminism, queer studies, psychoanalytical theory, Marxism, social constructionism and essentialism. Illustrative examples are taken from written, spoken, internet, non-verbal, visual, media-scripted and naturally occurring texts.

Some of the questions addressed in the book include: how do people construct their own and other’s gendered or sexual identities through the use of language? What is the relationship between language and desire? In what ways do language practices help to reflect and shape different gendered/sexed discourses as ‘normal’, problematic or contested? Taking a broadly deconstructionist perspective, the book progresses from examining what are seen as preferable or acceptable ways to express gender and sexuality, moving towards more ‘tolerated’ identities, practices and desires, and finally arriving at marginalized and tabooed forms. The book locates sexuality and gender as socially constructed, and therefore examines language use in terms of socio-historical factors, linking changing conceptualisations of identity, discourse and desire to theories surrounding regulation, globalisation, new technologies, marketisation and consumerism.

Prelims

Acknowledgements [+–] vii

Sexed Texts explores the complex role that language plays in the construction of sexuality and gender, two concepts that are often discussed separately, although in practice are closely intertwined. The book draws on a range of theoretical perspectives and published research including performativity theory, feminism, queer studies, psychoanalytical theory, Marxism, social constructionism and essentialism. Illustrative examples are taken from written, spoken, internet, non-verbal, visual, media-scripted and naturally occurring texts. Some of the questions addressed in the book include: how do people construct their own and other’s gendered or sexual identities through the use of language? What is the relationship between language and desire? In what ways do language practices help to reflect and shape different gendered/sexed discourses as ‘normal’, problematic or contested? Taking a broadly deconstructionist perspective, the book progresses from examining what are seen as preferable or acceptable ways to express gender and sexuality, moving towards more ‘tolerated’ identities, practices and desires, and finally arriving at marginalized and tabooed forms. The book locates sexuality and gender as socially constructed, and therefore examines language use in terms of socio-historical factors, linking changing conceptualisations of identity, discourse and desire to theories surrounding regulation, globalisation, new technologies, marketisation and consumerism.

Introduction [+–] 1-28

Topics include: ‘Some people get really angry about labels’; Defining terms: Why gender and sexuality?; Identity, difference and power; Language and identity; Action research?; Texts and methodologies; Overview of the book

Accounting for difference [+–] 29-61

Topics include: Introduction; Jespersen and Legman – deficit; Second wave feminism – dominance; Sexist language and political correctness; Men are from Mars – difference; Difference revisited – corpus approaches; ‘Gay’ language

Doing gender: community and performativity [+–] 63-89

Topics include: Community, contact and co-operation; Gender as performance; Conclusion

Constructing normality: gendered discourses and heteronormativity [+–] 91-120

Topics include: Gendered discourses; Compulsory heterosexuality and heteronormativity; Conclusion

Maintaining boundaries: hegemony and erasure [+–] 121-154

Topics include: Introduction; Hegemonic masculinity; Hegemonic femininity?; Exaggerating binaries: the erasure of bisexuality; Conclusion

Selling sex: commodifi cation and marketisation [+–] 155-183

Topics include: Introduction; A new, improved gender!; Commodity feminism and the ‘pink pound’; The marketisation of the self: personal adverts; Resisting commodification?; Conclusion

Queering identity: the new tolerance (and its limits) [+–] 185-217

Topics include: Introduction; Queer theory; Queer straights; Bachelors and husbands; Conclusion

Exploring taboo: on and beyond the margins [+–] 219-250

Topics include: Introduction; Vile perverts; Doggers, feeders and swingers; Straight to hell; Conclusion

Conclusion [+–] 251-264

Concluding chapter

End Matter

References [+–] 265-288

Index [+–] 289-300

Reviews

Sexed Texts offers an excellent introduction to the field for those interested in understanding the construction of gender and sexualities through language and the complicated ways in which dominant discourses emerge in our textual worlds.
Gender & Language, 7.2, 2013

For although I may not think this is the perfect teaching text (which I expect to be published at the exact moment hell freezes over), its strength is that it does show what can be done with textual analysis, and provides models for doing it systematically. For certain kinds of courses that is exactly what teachers want; if you teach that kind of course then you should certainly order a copy.
Journal of Sociolinguistics 13/4, 2009

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Books and Journals in Humanities, Social Science and Performing Arts

Sexed Texts

Language, Gender and Sexuality

Paul Baker [+–]

Lancaster University

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