Political conservatism stifles open sex talk: academic

Media Release, Thursday 18 November 2004

A leading US gender studies expert claims post-election political conservatism in Australia and the US could hinder academic freedom to explore important sex and gender issues, including abortion.

Joan Nestle, archivist for the American lesbian “herstory” archives, will deliver a keynote address at a symposium on “Sex in History” for the History Department at the University of Melbourne.

Ms Nestle is particularly concerned that the current political climate in both Australia and the US will challenge the unfettered ability of academic researchers to explore issues about sex in history, and the way ideas about sexuality influence the present.

“Work on sex and history is one of the most exciting, challenging and revelatory fields of enquiry that is available” she says. “Contrary to some beliefs it is truly a study of the dignity of all human beings”.

But she says recent comments made by Australia’s Cardinal Pell about pornography and abortion being signs of decadent democracy are examples of a growing threat to scholarly freedom and independence. In defence of academic exploration of these and similar topics Ms Nestle says “there are new territories every day being opened up to discussion of how sex matters in all the important functions of our society, including the health and vitality of democracy.”

Sponsored by the Melbourne Historical Journal, a yearly referred publication for new historical research by Australian and New Zealand postgraduate students, the ‘Sex in History Symposium’ comprises 22 presentations exploring sex, ranging in time from ancient Greece to contemporary Australia. Topics covered are as diverse as female juvenile delinquents, sodomy, celibacy, reproduction and control, and randy sixteenth-century monarchs.

A full program is available at:
http://www.history.unimelb.edu.au/mhj/index.html

Contact: mhj@unimelb.edu.au or 8344 4461

What: Sex in History Symposium
When: Friday 19 November, 9am
Where: School of Graduate Studies, University of Melbourne