NYT review of Rereading Sex
At the New York Times, Maria Russo reviews Rereading Sex by Helen Lefkowitz Horowitz, an historical study of debates over sexual knowledge in nineteenth century America. Horowitz posits four cultural frameworks through which people thought about sex. "These competing frameworks -- a vernacular tradition rooted in oral culture; an evangelical Christianity suspicious of sex; a 'reform physiology' committed to spreading accurate information about sexual functioning, including birth control; and a view that 'placed sex at the center of life,' and whose proponents ranged from Mormons to women's rights leaders -- became the basis of furious debates, scandals, witch hunts and crusades."
