Exploring sexuality

The UVSC department of history will host Elizabeth Clement as part of their monthly lecture series "Turning Points in History," on Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. in LA 101. Clement’s lecture, entitled "Straights, Gays, and Everybody Else: Does Sexuality Have a History?," will be free and open to the public.

"Sexuality does have a history," stated Clement, according to a UVSC press release. "A lot of people think sexuality is somehow biological and somehow it hasn’t changed over time, and that just isn’t true. So it will be nice to introduce new ideas to people and to discuss the power, identity and purpose of sexuality."

Clement, currently an associate professor of American history at the University of Utah, earned a BA in history at Columbia College, which was  eventually supplemented with a master’s and Ph.D. in history from the University of Pennsylvania. She also received a graduate certificate in women’s studies while attending the University of Pennsylvania.

Clement has authored numerous articles and reviews concentrating on issues of gender, sexuality and prostitution.

Her latest book, published in June 2006 by the University of North Carolina Press, is titled Love for Sale:  Courting Couples, Charity Girls, Prostitutes, And the Making of Modern Heterosexuality in New York City, 1900-1945.
This book "examines the relationship among courtship, prostitution and a new working-class practice called treating to uncover changes in sexual behavior and sexual morality in New York City from 1900 through 1945," according to the University of Utah Web page.

"It’s always fun to give a lecture on a very broad topic. I research much more specific things, so it’s great to have an audience where I get to summarize and focus on highlights," stated Clement, according to the press release.