The Transformation of Sexuality: Gender and Identity in Contemporary Youth Culture – By Thomas Johansson

Abstract

Reviews the book, "The transformation of sexuality: Gender and identity in contemporary youth culture" by Thomas Johansson (2007). Based on ‘a major Swedish investigation of how young people do gender, identity and sexuality’ as well as findings from cognate Swedish research, this book 'tie(s) these results to a more international discussion', drawing largely on ‘Anglo-Saxon’ texts. The author concludes that ‘there are more similarities than differences’ between Sweden and Britain. The prosaic, almost sexological, findings in some chapters sit somewhat oddly with the discussions of sexuality in a hyper-real mediatized society with claims that some sexual practices and attitudes have changed while others have not, without moving very far from these generalities, given that the only two variables informing the analysis are gender and ethnic differences. This book would be a useful text in sexuality courses, on the basis of its accessible review of selective but influential theoretical literature. ({PsycINFO} Database Record (c) 2010 {APA}, all rights reserved)