Sex in the Long Nineteenth Century

In The History of Sexuality (1976), Foucault outlines the ‘discursive explosion’ that occurred around sex during the long nineteenth century. Sexuality, as we define it today, became attached to personal identity for the first time. In literature, art, and politics, sex often reflected the period’s social anxieties and around gender and power, yet also newfound uses of erotic aesthetics. Modern queer theorists first situated their work within nineteenth- century studies (Eve Kofosky Sedgewick, Between Men, 1985), and recent work in the field historicises marginalised groups (Jen Manion, Female Husbands: A Trans History, 2020). Sex encourages us to consider the broader cultural and societal dynamics of the long nineteenth century, and the lasting influence of these structures today. This issue of Romance, Revolution and Reform is looking for papers of 5,000-8,000 words on ‘Sex in the Long Nineteenth Century’ (1789-1914) in all its forms and in a global context. We encourage broad interpretations of sex and invite submissions that explore its fluid and multifaceted nature. The journal encourages multi- and interdisciplinary papers from across the Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities and invites contributions from those at any career stage, including PGRs and ECRs. The closing date for submissions is midnight on Friday 16th April. Papers should be submitted to rrr@soton.ac.uk. Early expressions of interest are welcomed. Submission guidelines can be found here: https://www.rrrjournal.com/policies