Research Catalog

Title

The mismeasure of desire : the science, theory and ethics of sexual orientation / Edward Stein.

Author

Stein, Edward, 1965-

Publication

Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, 1999.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Holdings

Details

Description

xi, 388 p. : ill.; 24 cm.

Summary

"In recent years scientific research and popular opinion have favored the idea that sexual orientations are determined at birth, but philosopher and educator Edward Stein argues that much of what we think we know about the origins of sexual desire is probably wrong. Stein provides a comprehensive overview of such research on sexual orientation and shows that it is deeply flawed. Stein argues that this research assumes a picture of sexual desire that reflects unquestioned cultural stereotypes rather than cross-cultural scientific facts, and that it suffers from serious methodological problems. He considers whether sexual orientation is even amenable to empirical study and asks if it is useful for our understanding of human nature to categorize people based on their sexual desires. Perhaps most importantly, Stein examines some of the ethical issues surrounding such research, including gay and lesbian civil rights and the implications of parents trying to select or change the sexual orientation of their children."--Jacket.

Series Statement

Ideologies of desire

Uniform Title

Ideologies of desire

Subject

• Homosexuality > Moral and ethical aspects
• Homosexuality > Philosophy
• Homosexuality > Research
• Homosexuality [MESH]
• Sex [MESH]
• Sexual orientation > Moral and ethical aspects
• Sexual orientation > Philosophy
• Sexual orientation > Research

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (p. 349-381) and index.

Processing Action (note)

• committed to retain

Contents

Sex, gender, and sexual orientation -- What is sexual orientation? -- Human kinds -- Essentialism and constructionism about sexual orientation -- The emerging scientific program for the study of sexual orientation -- Animal models and evolutionary accounts in the emerging research program -- Critique of the emerging research program -- Experiential theories of sexual orientation -- Sexual orientation and choice -- Lesbian and gay rights and the science of sexual orientation -- Selecting and changing the sexual orientation of children -- Should scientific research on sexual orientation be done?.

ISBN

0195099958

LCCN

^^^98055079^

OCLC

40534991

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library