Sexuality and Socialism: History, Politics, and Theory of LGBT Liberation [Paperback]

Sherry Wolf (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2009 | ISBN-10: 1931859795 | ISBN-13: 978-1931859790

Sexuality and Socialism is a remarkably accessible analysis of many of the most challenging questions for those concerned with full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people.

Inside are essays on the roots of LGBT oppression, the construction of sexual and gender identities, the history of the gay movement, and how to unite the oppressed and exploited to win sexual liberation for all. Sherry Wolf analyzes different theories about oppression—including those of Marxism, postmodernism, identity politics, and queer theory—and challenges myths about genes, gender, and sexuality.

“Sexuality and Socialism is the most intelligent and enlightened discussion on sexuality to come from the Left in a long time. No other work that comes to my mind explains the history of sexuality and sexual repression in the United States as comprehensively and compellingly.”—Ron Jacobs, Dissident Voice

“Sherry Wolf: Lesbian, Activist, Communist & Badass-ist... spoke to a pre-National Equality March rally. She. Blew. It. Up.”—Austin Chronicle

“Sherry speaks with such eloquence and plain common sense that I can't help but want to know more about her ideas and convictions.”—Derek Washington, “In the LV” radio host, Director of LGBT Outreach, Clark County Democratic Black Caucus

“The icons of the new generation of activists are people like Lady Gaga, Dustin Lance Black, Judy Shephard, Lt. Daniel Choi (ret.) and Sherry Wolf (author of Sexuality and Socialism).”—Don Gorton, Join the Impact Board Member

“Surprisingly funny, very readable and a fitting tome for a new movement in these troubled times.”—Dave Zirin for Progressive's Best Books of 2009

“‘What humans have constructed they can tear down.’ This is the powerful insight of this rare book that is at once politically important, theoretically and historically sophisticated, and clearly written. Sexuality and Socialism is enlivened in its engagement with a number of controversies, including those over the alleged biological determination of homosexuality, the myth of Black homophobia, and the consequences of postmodernist theories for the politics of gay liberation. Above all else, Wolf puts forward a cogent defense of the Marxist tradition—long and wrongly reviled as homophobic in itself—as a way to explain how LGBT oppression arose and what we can do to put it to bed.”—Dana Cloud, University of Texas at Austin

Sherry Wolf is the associate editor of the International Socialist Review. She was on the executive committee of the National Equality March Oct. 11, 2009 and has written for publications including the Nation, MRZine, Counterpunch, Dissident Voice, and Socialist Worker and speaks frequently across the country on the struggle for LGBT liberation as well as a wide range of social and economic justice issue.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Sherry Wolf is on the editorial board of the International Socialist Review. She has written for publications including MRZine and Counterpunch, and has spoken across the country on the struggle for gay and lesbian liberation.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Haymarket Books (June 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931859795
• ISBN-13: 978-1931859790
• Product Dimensions: 4.9 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #495,983 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Invaluable Analysis of LGBT Liberation Politics July 7, 2009

By Ashley Simmons

Format:Paperback

As an organizer that has been completely swept up in the movement for marriage equality and beyond, I found this book to be a clear, materialist analysis of where LGBT oppression comes from and what to do about it. It also makes a strong argument through some of the best LGBT history for political struggle from bellow being the decisive force in combating homophobia. The author makes a brilliant case for how sexual liberation of all people is inextricably linked to combating homophobia. Ultimately with a movement on the rise happening at the same time as rising unemployment and poverty, the politics of solidarity and socialism are more relevant than ever in building the LGBT struggle. It is so refreshing to talk about how gender and sexuality haven't always been this rigid and how things don't always have to be that way, that a revolutionary overthrow of the sexual order of the day is possible. Sexuality and Socialism contains vital history that has been buried from so many of our history books such as unified, steadfastly pro-gay black and white integrated workers organizations in the 1930's. This makes me proud to be a fighter for LGBT Liberation and ultimately, working class revolution.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read, funny, well-researched January 27, 2012

By Delia Hunter

Format:Paperback

As a longtime gender and queer studies teacher, I heard Ms. Wolf speak on campus and she was hilarious and insightful, so I bought her book hoping that her witty style carries over to her writing, which it certainly does.

I can see why her work is so popular among young activists looking for a left-wing critique of Gay Inc., but also an accessible account of queer theory, which Ms. wolf accomplishes with aplomb. She is critical of queer theory from the standpoint of a historical materialist, which she explains extremely well. I don't have any formal training in Marxism, so the surprise benefit of this book is that I came away with not only a more critical eye toward my own field of study, but much-needed understanding of Marxism, what socialism actually means to those who adhere to its principles and the links between our economic system and intimate lives. It was really a revelation and I enjoyed reading this book and plan to use it in future classes.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars What about the 'A' word? December 25, 2010

By John Winters

Format:Paperback

I am absolutely shocked that the author of this book claims to be a socialist. The word 'equality' comes up hundreds of times, which is fine in connecting socialist politics with existing movements. However there's no larger vision directing readers to the general contours of what a liberated sexual society might look like. Without that vision, any movement for LGBT liberation will wither on the vine once the two main political demands Wolf makes in this book are met (repeal of DADT, which is mentioned on 30 pages, and same-sex marriage legalization, which is alluded to on 50 pages!). The fact that DADT has recently been repealed and gays have since this books initial publication won the right to get married throughout most of New England not only undermines her ill-advised functionalist argument that capitalism somehow depends upon and is therefore the source of homophobia. It also means that much of what she spends time getting outraged about in this book is quickly becoming a non-issue. So much for being on the cutting edge or vanguard of mass politics. Do LGBT people call it a day and rest contentedly on their laurels now, or is there something more to fight for in the realm of sexuality, like maybe liberation? Clearly Wolf would respond in favor of the latter, but by focusing so strongly on equality at the expense of liberation she is unable to offer a real way forward past the political framework established by bourgeois society.

Useful in breaking that framework would have been some discussion of the a-word: 'alienation,' a term that comes up on exactly two pages in what amounts to a superficial discussion of Wilhelm Reich's earlier work. This oversight would not be so damning were it not for the established literature on alienated sexuality within Marxian literature, a literature extending far beyond Reich's contribution (see Alan Soble's 'Pornography'). Instead Wolf is too busy calling for equality to bother with developing an identifiably socialist understanding of sexuality that could benefit heterosexual people as well as LGBT people. A shame, really, considering the amount of attention this book has received and how large its potential audience is. My advice is to acquire Mario Mieli's Homosexuality and Liberation: Elements of a Gay Critique and compare it to this work. You'll notice immediately which one is calling for a liberatory sexual politics.