PhD | ‘A Duty to Desire? On the Politics of Sexual Desire’ – Veerle van Wijngaarden   

PhD | A Duty to Desire? On the Politics of Sexual Desire    
PhD-Candidate: Veerle van Wijngaarden
Institution: Universiteit van Amsterdam
Supervisors: Dr. Daniel Loick en Dr. Jana Cattien

This project analyses how sexuality and sexual desire – interpreted as not only biological or personal, but also already social or cultural – can be understood within the framework of political and social repression and justice. Social critiques of sexuality commonly focus on either 1) problems of consent, or 2) social repression concerning sexual desires. However, recently, in the wake of #MeToo, several feminist theorists have argued that even consensual sex should be scrutinised more thoroughly. They argue that all forms of sexuality and sexual desire are related to intersecting forms of social domination (Angel 2021; Rose 2021; Srinivasan 2021). This research examines what social and political claims can be made concerning sexuality and sexual desire: if sexuality and sexual desire are culturally constituted and intertwined with domination, does that mean that we should change our desires to make them less oppressive? To answer this question this research 1) analyses the social constitution of sexuality and sexual desire; 2) investigates historical attempts of changing desires; 3) conceptualises desire in poststructuralist and psychoanalytical philosophy; and 4) interprets and combines these insights together with political theories on social inclusion and equality. The aim of this research is to examine theories concerning the social constitution of sexuality and sexual desire, while at the same time leaving space for the deeply felt personal experience of desire as inextricably bound to personal feelings and preferences. Doing so, the project offers a theory of sexuality and sexual desire that is adequate to 21st century politics and society.