Sex scholarship has a long history in anthropology, from the studies of voyeuristic Victorian gentlemen ethnographers, to more recent analyses of gay sex, transsexualism, and the newly visible forms of contemporary sexuality in the West.

Synthesizes a century of comparative expertise, knowledge and understanding of diverse sexual forms. A key text for social anthropology students.

"This excellent book brings together cutting edge theory with a wide range of ethnographic evidence. It is a fascinating account of sexuality and all its many facets, raising issues of power, pleasure, taboo and more. An intriguing and engrossing read. - Heather Montgomery, Senior Lecturer in Childhood Studies, The Open University This volume not only brings sex - finally - into the centre of a discipline concerned with the different ways that people deal with the basics of human life, it is also a perfect combination of cross-cultural comparison and fieldwork examples at its best. - Dieter Haller, Chair for Social Anthropology, Ruhr-Universität Bochum"