The Quest for Sexual Health: How an Elusive Ideal Has Transformed Science, Politics, and Everyday Life

The concept of sexual health has evolved since the 1970s, with health professionals, researchers, governments, advocacy groups, and commercial interests investing in programs and initiatives. Steven Epstein's book explores the definition, history, and debates surrounding sexual health, examining its impact on sexuality, health, and social justice.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 400 pages
Publication date: 21 March 2022
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

Since the 1970s, a multifaceted pursuit of sexual health has garnered significant attention from health professionals, researchers, governments, advocacy groups, and commercial interests. This expansive endeavor encompasses a wide range of programs, organizations, initiatives, products, and services aimed at promoting sexual well-being. However, a crucial question remains unanswered: what precisely does it mean to be sexually healthy? When did the concept of sexual health emerge, and how did it evolve to become the gateway to addressing a host of social harms and reimagining private desires and public aspirations?

Conjoining sexual with health fundamentally alters our understanding of both terms. It reshapes our conception of sexuality, expanding our perspectives on what it means to be healthy. This transformation prompts new expectations of what medicine can offer in terms of sexual health. Nevertheless, achieving sexual health remains an elusive and open-ended ideal, with benefits and costs unevenly distributed across genders, races, and sexual identities. Rather than being a separate entity, sexual health is intricately intertwined with nearly every conceivable topical debate, ranging from sexual dysfunction to sexual violence, reproductive freedom to the practicalities of sexual contact during a pandemic.

In this book, sociologist Steven Epstein delves into the rise, proliferation, uptake, and sprawling consequences of sexual health activities. Through comprehensive analysis, he provides critical tools for assessing these consequences, expanding capacities for collective decision-making, and identifying pathways that promote social justice. Epstein's work sheds light on the complex dynamics that shape sexual health, challenging prevailing narratives and offering a nuanced understanding of its multifaceted implications. By exploring the historical roots, current trends, and potential future directions of sexual health, this book serves as a valuable resource for policymakers, healthcare professionals, researchers, and individuals interested in understanding and advancing sexual well-being in society.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226818221