Deadly and Slick: Sexual Modernity and the Making of Race

Sita Balani argues that the concept of race is socially constructed, but it continues to seem like a physiological reality due to its embedding in everyday life through sexuality. She examines the regulation of sexual life at Britain's borders, in colonial India, and the functioning of the welfare state, marriage laws, education, and counterterrorism to reveal that sexuality has become fatally intertwined with the making of race.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 16 May 2023
Publisher: Verso Books

The concept of race, which is widely acknowledged as being socially constructed, can still be perceived as a physiological reality. This phenomenon can be attributed to the intricate ways in which race is embedded in our daily lives, particularly in the realm of sexuality. Sita Balani, in her book "The Trickery of Race," explores this concept and argues that sexuality plays a central role in shaping the perception and understanding of race.

In the modern era, modernity has brought about a new political subject that is defined as an individual. This individual is constructed through the nuclear family, sexual exploration, and the pursuit of romantic love. Balani examines the regulation of sexual life at Britain's borders, in colonial India, and through the functioning of the welfare state, marriage laws, education, and counterterrorism. Through these diverse contexts, she reveals that sexuality has become deeply intertwined with the process of making race.

Balani argues that the regulation of sexual life at Britain's borders, in colonial India, and through the welfare state has played a significant role in shaping the perception and understanding of race. For example, in colonial India, the British government implemented laws that regulated the sexual relationships between Indians and Europeans. These laws were designed to maintain the colonial power structure and to control the spread of venereal diseases. However, these laws also had the unintended consequence of perpetuating racial stereotypes and inequalities.

Similarly, in Britain's borders, the regulation of sexual life has been used to control immigration and to prevent the spread of diseases. The government has implemented policies that limit the number of immigrants from certain countries, particularly those with high rates of HIV/AIDS. These policies have been criticized for perpetuating racial stereotypes and for discriminating against certain groups of people.

Furthermore, the welfare state has also played a role in shaping the perception and understanding of race. The welfare state provides social and economic support to individuals and families in need. However, the distribution of welfare benefits has been criticized for perpetuating racial inequalities and for reinforcing the idea that certain groups of people are more deserving of support than others.

Balani also argues that marriage laws, education, and counterterrorism have all played a role in shaping the perception and understanding of race. Marriage laws, for example, have been used to regulate the relationships between different racial groups and to prevent interracial marriages. These laws have been criticized for perpetuating racial stereotypes and for discriminating against certain groups of people.

Education, similarly, has been used to perpetuate racial stereotypes and to promote the idea that certain groups of people are superior to others. For example, in the United States, the education system has been criticized for promoting the idea that white people are more intelligent than people of color. This has led to a perpetuation of racial inequalities and has contributed to the persistence of racial disparities in education and employment.

Counterterrorism, also, has been used to perpetuate racial stereotypes and to target certain groups of people based on their race. For example, in the United States, the War on Terror has been criticized for targeting Muslims and for perpetuating the idea that Muslims are dangerous and threatening. This has led to a perpetuation of racial tensions and has contributed to the marginalization of certain communities.

In conclusion, the perception and understanding of race are deeply intertwined with the realm of sexuality. The regulation of sexual life at Britain's borders, in colonial India, and through the functioning of the welfare state, marriage laws, education, and counterterrorism has played a significant role in shaping the perception and understanding of race. By examining these various contexts, Balani reveals that sexuality has become fatally intertwined with the making of race. It is important to recognize the ways in which race is perpetuated through sexuality and to work towards creating a more inclusive and equitable society that recognizes the diversity and complexity of human experiences.

Weight: 210g
Dimension: 139 x 209 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781839761027