On Sexualization and Society

IMPORTANT EVENT INFORMATION

• This conversation includes ASL interpretation and will be streamed live online with an interactive Q&A.
• Instructions on how to join will be emailed to registrants shortly before the event.
• This event will be recorded and will be available to watch on our YouTube channel and portions of the audio will be released on our podcast.

ACCESSIBILITY

If you need to request accessibility accommodations, please email publicprograms@ciis.edu at least one week prior to the event. For more information, explore our Accessibility web page.

EVENT DESCRIPTION

Feminists have long challenged the ways in which men tend to sexualize women. But pioneering activist, biologist, and trans woman Julia Serano argues that sexualization is a far more pervasive problem—it’s something that we all do to other people, often without being aware of it. 

Why do we perceive men as sexual predators and women as sexual objects? Why are LGBTQ+ people stereotyped as being sexually indiscriminate and deceptive? Why are people of color still being hypersexualized? 

In her latest book, Sexed Up: How Society Sexualizes Us, and How We Can Fight Back, Julia examines how these stereotypes push minorities farther into the margins, and how even the privileged are policed from transgressing, or they also become targets. Many view sexualization as a mere component of sexism, racism, or queerphobia, but Julia argues that liberation from sexual violence comes through collectively confronting sexualization itself. 

Join Julia for a conversation with writer and editor Abeni Jones that exposes the harmful ways we are all sexualized and learn about ways of seeking a bold path for resistance.

Julia Serano is the author of four books, including the acclaimed modern classic Whipping Girl. Her writing has been published in The New York Times, The Guardian, TIME, Salon, Ms., and B*tch Media. She holds a PhD in biochemistry from Columbia University, and lives in Oakland, California.

Abeni Jones is a writer and editor whose work has appeared in Autostraddle, Fast Company, Travel + Leisure, Travel Weekly, them., the Washington Post, and other online publications. Her work primarily focuses on LGBTQ+ issues, especially literature and travel, and she has a particular interest in exploring the nuances of how trans women show up in and move through the world. She is based in Portland, OR.

We are grateful to our Bookstore Partner:

Marcus Books is the nation’s oldest Black-owned independent bookstore celebrating its 60th year. Marcus Books’ mission is to provide opportunities for Black folks and their allies to celebrate and learn about Black people everywhere.