The Program in Sexuality Studies at Duke

The program in the study of sexualities (SXL) is reviving Duke University’s reputation as a leader in sexuality studies and queer theory. It fosters an intellectual community of researchers and students who use the interdisciplinary investigation of sexuality to forge new perspectives on the natural and social world.  Through an undergraduate certificate program, courses, and an active schedule of lectures and events, SXL offers a platform to engage in conversations about Sexuality Studies in and beyond Duke.

The Certificate in the Study of Sexualities provides an in-depth introduction to an emerging interdisciplinary field that takes sexuality as its object of study. To understand the multifaceted dimensions of sexuality, the study of sexuality engages work on politics, relationships, bodies, representations, behaviors, and emotions. Sexuality Studies includes attention to scientific approaches concerning primate evolution, biology, and physiological processes. At Duke, the central emphasis of the SXL Program is the “social construction” of sexuality – that is, how sexuality is shaped by historical, social, and symbolic contexts.

Strengths of the Duke University Program in the Study of Sexualities include:

• theory and analysis, particularly queer, feminist, critical-race, and post-colonial theories of sexual politics;
• an intersectional emphasis on race, ethnicity, and transnational contexts, with clusters of scholars in Latina/o and Latin American sexualities and Asian sexual cultures;
• collaborations with many academic departments and with the Center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Life;
• archival resources in sexual politics and lesbian and gay history in the Duke library collections;
• a dynamic series of lectures, workshops, and events highlighting new directions in sexuality scholarship as well applications of research to social issues;
• Duke University Press’ reputation as a leading publisher in sexuality studies.

Duke’s program in the study of sexualities is an autonomous program housed in the Program in Women’s Studies. The two programs share staff and resources. The SXL Certificate Program reports to the Dean of Academic Affairs of Trinity College, Dean Lee D. Baker.