Disciplining Gender: Rhetorics of Sex Identity in Contemporary U.S. Culture
By arguing persuasively that bigenderism and heteronormativity structure, emerge in, and are reinforced by popular discourses, Sloop makes a strong case for why as cultural critics we must remain suspicious of popular representations of not only these cases but also others like them.(Sarah Projansky, author of Watching Rape: Film and Television in Postfeminist Culture)The argument is both compelling and well supported.... The book is readable and scholarly, engaging and studious.(Lisa M. Cuklanz, author of Rape on Prime-Time: Television, Masculinity, and Sexual Violence)You should buy this book. It is tightly argued with engaging prose, and deftly analyzes a fascinating set of five pubilc controversies concerning gender trouble. It provides valuable insights about the way in which potential transgressions of bi-gender heteronormativity are prophylactically contained.(Argumentation and Advocacy)In his latest book, Sloop demands that readers stop, read, consume, and contemplate the various articulations of sex identity in present-day U.S. culture, particularly as they are portrayed in public discourse and by the media. Beings that appear to question, defy, and/or transcend circumscribed societal notions of gender are rarely validated by the dominant norm, which strictly defines sex identity as biologically either male or female. Sloop attempts to take the reader beyond the confines of contemporary sex identity by reflecting upon five different cases that challenge the notion of a clear-cut male/female identity, those of Brandon Teena, k.d. lang, John/Joan or David Reimer, Barry Winchell/Calpernia, and Janet Reno. Presenting popularized gender and sexuality theories alongside the previously mentioned cases, Sloop challenges many of the theories he cites and gives his reader ideas to consider in regards to publicly held views of sex identity. Highly recommended.(Library Journal)