Sex is everywhere in the modern world. But why is it so important to who we are? What shapes our sexuality and how does our sexuality shape us. What impact have feminism, religion, and HIV/AIDS had on our attitudes to sex?

This Very Short Introduction examines these questions and more, exploring how sexual norms have changed throughout history, from self-castrating early Christians to modern-day born-again virgins, from sexual liberationists to lesbian separatists; and tackling the major controversies around sex and sexuality today: ideas on masculinity and feminity, paedophilia, gay politics, sex education, eugenics, and even the future of sex itself.

Veronique Mottier is Fellow and Director of Studies in Social and Political Science at Jesus College, Cambridge, and Professor of Sociology at the University of of Lausanne. Her research interests include the politics of sexuality and gender, theories of the state, feminist political philosophy and discourse analysis, and she has published widely in these areas. Her previous books include Politics of Sexuality: Identity, Gender, Citizenship (co-edited with Terrell Carver, 2006).