A Cultural History of Deviation: Modern "Femininity" and "Masculinity"

2019/06/21

Today, in the humanities and social sciences such as literary studies, history, and sociology, it is impossible to ignore a gender perspective. Even if one does not adopt gender theory as a methodology, it is necessary to be aware of its existence. Stimulated by gender studies, which has questioned the situation and representation of women in society and culture, "men's studies" has also developed over the past 20 years. In this way, the historical and ideological nature of the norms of "femininity" and "masculinity" has been clarified.

How were such notions of "femininity" and "masculinity" defined in the France of the past, and how did people resist them? This book, A Cultural History of Deviation, was written starting from that awareness of the problem. Focusing primarily on France from the 19th to the early 20th century, I have considered this issue while deciphering novels, autobiographies, and books on medical sciences. I personally consider it to be both a cultural history and a literary study.

In Part I, I clarified that women of that time lived under norms that were far more binding than those of today. In particular, the norms of "femininity" imposed on young girls suppressed their psychology and constrained their bodies. This is precisely why deviants who defied the norms appeared and sought to affirm their own freedom and desires.

Although perhaps not to the same extent as with women, the mechanisms of norms and deviation can also be observed in men. Therefore, in Part II, while delving into the social and sexual constraints imposed on men, I showed that resistance to them was often branded as "perversion."

In the present day, LGBT is recognized, and people have become more tolerant of diversity in sexual orientation and gender choice. However, this was not the case in France 100 years ago. You will see that in any field, courage and struggle are necessary to win recognition for freedom and diversity.

Thanks in part to the efforts of Ms. Fumi Murakami, an editor at Keio University Press, the publication of this book prompted the Tokyodo Shoten bookstore in Jinbocho to organize a book fair for gender-related books. I was happy that, in addition to the books I selected, the bookstore staff found and displayed other interesting related works.

A Cultural History of Deviation: Modern "Femininity" and "Masculinity"

Kosei Ogura

Keio University Press

244 pages, 2,400 yen (excluding tax)

*Affiliations and job titles are as of the time of publication.