HST 222 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Michel Foucault
Document Summary
Homosexuality - not a term used commonly until 1920s. People like to label things neatly, but traditional labels have fallen apart recently. Sometimes can be more confusing than they need to be. Not necessarily related to who"s doing the acts. It doesn"t become a known fact until it becomes a matter of public record. Day-to-day actions are lesser known, harder to find out. Sex is only one identifier, and it"s debated whether it"s fixed or changeable. We"re thinking more liberally, more open-mindedly - history does not really get more liberal over time in regards to sexuality. Abortion rights - no restrictions up to 5 months pregnant up until end of 19th century. Time periods thought of as repressive towards sex are when sexuality became a core part of our identity. Acts define who we are - this is problematic in his eyes.
