Difference Troubles: Queering Social Theory and Sexual Politics

Steven Seidman

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511557910

Difference Troubles, first published in 1997, examines the implications for social theory and sexual politics of taking difference seriously. It explores the trouble difference makes not only for the social sciences, but also for the people - feminists, queer theorists, postmodernists - who champion difference. Seidman asks how social thinkers should conceptualize differences such as gender, race, and sexuality, without reducing them to an inferior status. This is a wide-ranging and sophisticated discussion of contemporary social theory and sexual politics, presented with Seidman's familiar imagination and clarity. In addition, it argues persuasively for a pragmatic approach to difference troubles in theory and politics.

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-vi
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Contents
pp vii-viii
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Preface
pp ix-xi
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Acknowledgements
pp xii-xiv
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Introduction: the contemporary reconfiguring of social theory
pp 1-18
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Part I - Resisting difference: the malaise of the human sciences
pp 19-20
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1 - The political unconscious of the human sciences
pp 21-42
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2 - The end of sociological theory
pp 43-60
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3 - Relativizing sociology: the challenge of cultural studies
pp 61-80
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4 - The refusal of sexual difference: queering sociology
pp 81-96
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5 - Difference troubles: the flight of sociology from “otherness”
pp 97-106
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Part II - Engaging difference: from lesbian and gay studies to queer theory
pp 107-108
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6 - Identity and politics in a “postmodern” gay culture
pp 109-138
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7 - Deconstructing queer theory, or, some difficulties in a theory and politics of difference
pp 139-162
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Part III - Democratic prospects: the politics of knowledge and identity
pp 163-164
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8 - Transfiguring sexual identity: AIDS and the cultural politcs of sexuality and homosexuality, 1981–1986
pp 165-184
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9 - From gay ethnicity to queer politics: the renewal of gay radicalism in the United States
pp 185-197
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10 - Postmodern anxiety: the politics of epistemology
pp 198-211
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11 - The politics of sexual difference in late twentieth-century America
pp 212-236
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12 - Difference and democracy: group recognition and the political cultures of the US, Holland, and France
pp 237-254
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Epilogue: pragmatism, difference and a culture of strong democracy
pp 255-265
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Notes
pp 266-281
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References
pp 282-303
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Index
pp 304-307
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Difference Troubles

Queering Social Theory and Sexual Politics

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-vi

Contents
pp vii-viii

Preface
pp ix-xi

Acknowledgements
pp xii-xiv

Introduction: the contemporary reconfiguring of social theory
pp 1-18

Part I - Resisting difference: the malaise of the human sciences
pp 19-20

1 - The political unconscious of the human sciences
pp 21-42

2 - The end of sociological theory
pp 43-60

3 - Relativizing sociology: the challenge of cultural studies
pp 61-80

4 - The refusal of sexual difference: queering sociology
pp 81-96

5 - Difference troubles: the flight of sociology from “otherness”
pp 97-106

Part II - Engaging difference: from lesbian and gay studies to queer theory
pp 107-108

6 - Identity and politics in a “postmodern” gay culture
pp 109-138

7 - Deconstructing queer theory, or, some difficulties in a theory and politics of difference
pp 139-162

Part III - Democratic prospects: the politics of knowledge and identity
pp 163-164

8 - Transfiguring sexual identity: AIDS and the cultural politcs of sexuality and homosexuality, 1981–1986
pp 165-184

9 - From gay ethnicity to queer politics: the renewal of gay radicalism in the United States
pp 185-197

10 - Postmodern anxiety: the politics of epistemology
pp 198-211

11 - The politics of sexual difference in late twentieth-century America
pp 212-236

12 - Difference and democracy: group recognition and the political cultures of the US, Holland, and France
pp 237-254

Epilogue: pragmatism, difference and a culture of strong democracy
pp 255-265

Notes
pp 266-281

References
pp 282-303

Index
pp 304-307

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Difference Troubles

Queering Social Theory and Sexual Politics

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