Sandy Berman is calling for the Library of Congress to establish a subject heading for SEX-POSITIVE FEMINISM. He cites the an interview Celeste West did with Joani Blank and Annie Sprinkle's Wikipedia entry, and other women sex writers as warrant.
He recommends these cross references:
UF Feminism, Sex-positive
BT Feminism
BT Women--Sexuality (HCL form)
and suggests that they "can be immediately assigned to most works by or about Annie Sprinkle, Betty Dodson, Carol Queen, Susie Bright, Candida Royalle, Joani Blank, and Tristan Taormino. Nina Hartley, too."
I agree that this would be a useful subject heading, and add that it could be used for some of Dorothy Allison's writings, as well.
Comments
dena (not verified)
Sun, 04/12/2009 - 11:37pm
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the thing about a term like
the thing about a term like "sex positive feminism" is that it implies that there is such a thing as "sex negative feminism" or that all feminism is "sex negative" unless otherwise qualified.
although it's true that there is controversy and a difference of opinion about the affects of pornography and various other sex industries on the lives and civil liberties of women, i don't think you'll find many "sex negative" feminists, or that that term actually has any meaning.
rather, i would suggest that LC might adapt a subject term "sex positivism" and define that as the school of thought or genre of writing that encompasses the above mentioned writers, and leave the feminism out of it.