Taking as its starting point the social construction of sexualities, this article examines the means through which men construct and perform a group of sexualities and sexual identities, referred to collectively here as gay SM. Following the presentation of the findings of a socio-historical study of gay SM in the UK from the 1950s to the present, this article gives a preliminary description of gay SM ‘sexual identity practices’ that are the mechanism that allows men not only to construct and perform their sexualities and sexual identities but also to change and discard them. The article concludes with recommendations for future research.

The Undergrowth of Literature

The Construction, Maintenance, and Evolution of Gay SM Sexualities and Sexual Identities: A Preliminary Description of Gay SM Sexual Identity Practices

This article uses the music of the Kinks to explore the social and political impact of the ‘post-war consensus’ on the British working-class The songs of Ray Davies composed between 1965 and 1971 

From ‘Dead End Streets’ to ‘Shangri Las’: Negotiating Social Class and Post-War Politics with Ray Davies and the Kinks

After a brief review of recent surveys and reports the problems over definitions and further classification of pornographical and obscene writings are discussed. The important socio-cultural variables are described, followed by an account of the legal position, with particular reference to the Obscene Publications Acts 1959 and 1964, recent legal decisions and possible future legislation. The main psychopathological features of pornography are detailed as well as six general theories of its postulated effects; these are summarized as cathartic, aversive, stimulant, corrupting, liberating and no important effects. The special cases of children, the immature and the mentally disordered are further considered, and the many important variables often neglected in research. It is concluded that on present evidence pornography does little harm to mental health but can be offensive to many people. It is suggested that instead of further restrictive legislation a better policy would be increased education, with pornography regarded simply as being in rather poor taste.

Pornography, the Law and Mental Health

The Superhero Meets the Culture Critic

The word homosexuality is derived from the Greek prefix ‘homos’ meaning ‘same’, and not the Latin for man; there is no special name for male homosexuality. Female homosexuality is variously described as lesbianism, sapphism or tribadism. The first is derived from Lesbos, the Greek island in the Aegean; one of its more famous inhabitants was the lyric poetess Sappho (born about 612 BC) who founded a sort of female literary society. The popular term tribadism is a misnomer as it refers to a particular sexual practice (from Greek ‘to rub’) and not to lesbianism in general. A now obsolete term ‘urninde’ was proposed by Ulrichs in 1862. The first person to use the term lesbian in the sexual sense would seem to be Aristophanes (fourth century) in his play ‘The Frogs’ (405 BC).

The Undergrowth of Literature

Citations

The Construction, Maintenance, and Evolution of Gay SM Sexualities and Sexual Identities: A Preliminary Description of Gay SM Sexual Identity Practices

From ‘Dead End Streets’ to ‘Shangri Las’: Negotiating Social Class and Post-War Politics with Ray Davies and the Kinks

Pornography, the Law and Mental Health

The Superhero Meets the Culture Critic

Female Homosexuality—A Review

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