Hidden Anxieties: Male Sexuality, 1900 – 1950: Male Sexuality, 1900-50 (Family Life) - Softcover

Hall, Lesley A.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0745609333 ISBN 13: 9780745609331

Publisher: Polity Press, 1991

Synopsis

Male sexuality is often seen as simple and monolithic, the ′normal′ male appears unchanging and unproblematic. In this major new study, Lesley Hall examines the historical figure of the sexually ′normal′ male and addresses the assumptions inherent in this concept.

Common male difficulties are concealed by assumptions that desire is crude, insurgent, spontaneous and unproblematic, and are therefore ignored. Hidden Anxieties explores this view, examining the letters of thousands of men who wrote to Marie Stopes, author of Married Love, seeking help for problems that were otherwise unmentionable.

Hall clarifies the concepts of the ′normal′ male which changed considerably between the late Victorian era and the end of World War II. While examining these evolving ideas, Hall shows how men, as well as women, were the victims of a repressive climate in relation to their sexuality.

About this title

Review:

"... a most worthwhile book which questions many facile assumptions. It has a good bibliography and is worthy of a wide readership." British Medical Journal

"... an extremely valuable addition to the growing debate about the historical construction of sexuality." Jeff Weeks, author of Sex, Politics and Society: The Regulation of Sexuality since 1880

"... sensitive, scholarly ... Her book could not be more timely." Lynne Segal, author of Slow Motion: Changing Masculinities, Changing Men

"... an interesting contribution to the growing body of feminist writing on changing masculinity." Everywoman

"... an absorbing and illuminating account" The Independent

"... an important new book... it deserves a wide, attentive readership." Journal of the Social History of Medicine

"Hall′s book offers an illuminating insight into the male–female relationship and the sexual conundrum." Sexual And Marital Therapy

"Lesley Hall has done the study of gender and sexuality a service ... this is a valuable sourcebook of new voices attesting to the importance of understanding the ways in which men were gendered at the beginning of the modern era." American Journal of Sociology

" Hidden Anxieties is a fascinating read ... organised with great skill and thoroughness." British Journal of Sociology

" Hidden Anxieties will be an indispensable text." History Workshop Journal

Synopsis:

Male sexuality is often seen as simple and monolithic, the "normal" male appears unchanging and unproblematic. In this study, Leslie Hall examines the historical figure of the sexually "normal" male and addresses the assumptions inherent in this concept. Common male difficulties, the author argues, are concealed by assumptions that desire is crude, insurgent, spontaneous and unproblematic, and are therefore ignored. She explores this view, examining the letters of men who wrote to Marie Stopes, author of "Married Love", seeking help for problems that were otherwise unmentionable. Hall clarifies the concepts of the "normal" male which changed considerably between the late Victorian era and the end of World War II. While examining these evolving ideas, she shows how men, as well as women, were the victims of a repressive climate in relation to their sexuality.

About this edition

• Publisher: Polity Press
• Publication date: 1991
• ISBN 10: 0745609333
• ISBN 13: 9780745609331
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 228