{"product_id":"ambiguous-pleasures-sexuality-and-middle-class-self-perceptions-in-nairobi-9781782385301","title":"Ambiguous Pleasures: Sexuality and Middle Class","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e \tAmong both male and female young urban professionals in Nairobi, sexuality is a key to achieving a ‘modern’ identity. These young men and women see themselves as the avant garde of a new Africa, while they also express the recurring worry of how to combine an ‘African’ identity with the new lifestyles with which they are experimenting. By focusing on public debates and their preoccupations with issues of African heritage, gerontocratic power relations and conventional morality on the one hand, and personal sexual relationships, intimacy and self-perceptions on the other, this study works out the complexities of sexuality and culture in the context of modernity in an African society. It moves beyond an investigation of a health or development perspective of sexuality and instead examines desire, pleasure and eroticism, revealing new insights into the methodology and theory of the study of sexuality within the social sciences. Sexuality serves as a prism for analysing how social developments generate new notions of self in postcolonial Kenya and is a crucial component towards understanding the way people recognize and deal with modern changes in their personal lives.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e \t“…\u003cem\u003ean interesting and well-written book… a strong contribution to the scholarship of African sexualities and gender, due not least to its clear focus and methodological approach…\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cem\u003eI would recommend it to anyone interested in gender and sexualities in the African context.\u003c\/em\u003e”\u003cb\u003e  ·  \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAfrican Affairs\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \t“\u003cem\u003eThroughout the book, Spronk develops a nuanced analysis of the ways in which sex and relationships are handled as topics of interest within the various forms of media that circulate in Nairobi…[Her] rich ethnographic insights mean that readers interested in sexuality in Africa and in postcolonial subjectivities in Africa more generally will find Spronk’s book a useful and rewarding contribution.\u003c\/em\u003e”\u003cb\u003e  \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e·  \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJournal of the Royal Anthropological Institute\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \t“\u003cem\u003eRachel Spronk has written a well composed, highly interesting and maybe even path-breaking book… It is innovative in its focus on sexuality as bodily experience and implications for ‘the gendered sense of self’ of these young men and women [and] is also innovative in terms of methodology; first and foremost by its focus on a group of young professional men and women\u003c\/em\u003e.”\u003cb\u003e  ·  \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSigne Arnfred, \u003c\/strong\u003eRoskilde University\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \t\u003cem\u003e\"Spronk’s theoretical take on this theme is seminal and challenging. She convincingly shows that a constructivist approach – emphasizing the social and historical construction of people’s practices and views on sex and sexuality – is highly relevant to understanding how people navigate their lives. But she emphasizes also its limitations because her informants’ insistence that the natural, bodily power of sexual feelings has to be brought in as well.”\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cb\u003e  ·  \u003cstrong\u003ePeter Geschiere\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, University of Amsterdam\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e \t\u003cstrong\u003eINTRODUCTION\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tHip and ambitious in Nairobi\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tConceiving sexuality\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tInterfaces of pleasure and anxiety\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tStructure of the book\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003e \t\u003cstrong\u003ePART I: THE STUDY OF SEXUALITY \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \t\u003cstrong\u003eSexuality research in Kenya\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tHealth approaches to sexuality\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tSexuality research in the context of AIDS in Africa\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003e \t\u003cstrong\u003eThe dynamics of sexuality: the focus of this study\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tAnthropology and sexuality\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tThe social construction of sexuality, and its limits\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tSex as embodied experience\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tHistoricising sexuality\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003e \t\u003cstrong\u003eMethodological aspects of sexuality research\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tResearching sex and sexuality: research places and practices\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tResearching sex and sexuality: collection and validity of data\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tAn unmarried with partner, non-Kenyan, white female young professional\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003e \t\u003cstrong\u003ePART II: YOUNG PROFESSIONALS: EMBLEMS OF SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \t\u003cstrong\u003eSexuality and societal transformations\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tGender and sexuality in colonial times\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tGender and sexuality in postcolonial times\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tSocial transformation and moral anxiety\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003e \t\u003cstrong\u003eThe young and ambitious in Nairobi\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tClassifying young professionals\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tHesitations about ethnicity and issues of belonging\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tLiving independently and single\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tNightlife and dating\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003e \t\u003cstrong\u003eYoung urban professionals and the formation of a contemporary identity\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tExplorers of a modern identity\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tYoung professionals’ position towards customary ways of living\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\t‘Westernization’\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tAfricanness\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tConclusion\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003e \t\u003cstrong\u003ePART III: SOCIETY IN FLAMES: SEXUALITY IN THE CONTEXT OF AIDS\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \t\u003cstrong\u003eAIDS as a context of life\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tAfricanist perspectives on AIDS and sexuality\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tPolicies of the government and nongovernmental organizations\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tThe definition of ‘risk groups’\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tThe medicalization of sexuality\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tChristian perceptions of AIDS and sexuality\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tThe remoralization of sexuality\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003e \t\u003cstrong\u003eSexuality and contemporary lifestyles\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tAIDS as the disease of ‘immorality’\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tThe public emergence of the intimate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tIntimacy as part of lifestyle\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tConclusion\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003e \t\u003cstrong\u003ePART IV: AMBIGUOUS PLEASURES: SEXUAL DESIRE, CAREER, AND FEMININITY\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \t\u003cstrong\u003eFemale sexuality in Nairobi, Kenya and beyond\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \t\u003cstrong\u003ePamela, Martha, Njeri, Tayiani and Dorcas\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tThe importance of dating\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\t‘Playing hard to get’\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tTo give and to receive sexual pleasure\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tChastity and the realization of sexual pleasure\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tBoundaries of sexual pleasure\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003e \t\u003cstrong\u003eBetween sexual allure and limited availability\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tAppropriating sexual pleasure\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tSexual pleasure and conventional expectations\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tCommunicating ambiguity\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tEmbodying transformations\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tConclusion\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003e \t\u003cstrong\u003ePART V: AMBIGUOUS PLEASURES: SEX, RICHES AND MASCULINITY\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \t\u003cstrong\u003eMale sexuality in Nairobi society, Kenya and beyond\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \t\u003cstrong\u003eAlex, Eric, Tom, Maurice and Ongeri\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tMen’s sexual début\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tCircumcision as constitutive to masculinity\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tSex as a skill—being a ‘good lover’\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tLove in relation to sexual drive\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tSex and having ‘arrived’\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003e \t\u003cstrong\u003eMoving between sexual prowess and restrained potency\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tSexual desire as a physical craving\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tBalancing too much and too little sex\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tThe waning dominant patriarchal ideology\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tAccommodating change\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tConclusion\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003e \t\u003cstrong\u003ePART VI: SIGN OF THE TIMES: MEDIA AND THE THERAPEUTIC ETHOS OF ROMANTIC LOVE\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \t\u003cstrong\u003eRomantic love and the twin spheres of consumption and mass media\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \t\u003cstrong\u003eRepresenting romantic love: films, television and advertisements\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tTelevision\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tAdvertising\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tThe privileging of the image\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003e \t\u003cstrong\u003eThe manifestations of romantic love: music\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tPracticing romantic love: dating\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tPractices of mediation: magazines\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \t\tThe therapeutic discourse on relationships\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003e \t\u003cstrong\u003eSign of the times: imaginations and practices of romantic love versus ‘westernization’, or the perils of modernity\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003e \t\tConclusion\u003c\/li\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003e \t\u003cstrong\u003eCONCLUSION: SEXUALITY AND ITS AMBIGUOUS PLEASURES\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \t\u003cstrong\u003eResearching sexuality in Africa\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \t\u003cstrong\u003eThe pleasures and anxieties of sexuality\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \t\u003cstrong\u003eMiddle-class lifestyles and self-perceptions\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \t\u003cstrong\u003eSex and sophistication – self and embodiment\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \tBibliography\u003cbr\u003e \tIndex\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Berghahn Books","offers":[{"title":"Default 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