Examining Heterosexual (Power) Relations

Abstract

The collected volume provides insight into central aspects of the work being done in heteronormativity research in the social sciences and cultural studies. As the subtitle suggests, the volume’s primary concern is to demonstrate and discuss the usefulness of the concept of heteronormativity for empirical analysis of power relations surrounding sexuality and gender. The strength of the volume lies in its thematic diversity, in its methodological reflection, and most particularly in its systematic approach, made possible through the well-done introductory texts. But the anthology also documents the difficulty in incorporating new impulses into such a young field; in the end, many of the expectations produced by the introductory texts are not fulfilled.