Ontologies of Sex: Philosophy in Sexual Politics

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Ontologies of Sex: Philosophy in Sexual Politics ✍🏼 Zeynep Direk 📖 Long Summary (in one paragraph): Ontologies of Sex: Philosophy in Sexual Politics by Zeynep Direk is an in-depth philosophical investigation into the nature of sex, sexuality, and sexual difference, and their significance in contemporary political and ethical thought. Drawing from a wide range of philosophical traditions—including feminist theory, phenomenology, poststructuralism, and psychoanalysis—Direk critically engages with major thinkers such as Simone de Beauvoir, Michel Foucault, Judith Butler, and Luce Irigaray. She examines how ontological assumptions about sex and sexual difference have informed both the oppression and emancipation of individuals in various social and political contexts. Direk argues that traditional metaphysical notions of identity, substance, and essence are insufficient for addressing the fluid and complex realities of gender and sexuality today. Instead, she advocates for an ontology that recognizes the contingency, relationality, and embodied nature of sexual identity. The book explores themes such as the construction of gender norms, the regulation of bodies, and the possibilities for resistance and subversion within sexual politics. By analyzing the intersections of philosophy and feminist political activism, Direk provides a nuanced and transformative vision for rethinking sexual difference beyond binary frameworks, contributing to a more inclusive and emancipatory sexual politics.