Symbolic interactionism and the study of sexuality

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Abstract
In this article I examine the symbolic interactionist approach to the study of sexuality. The philosophical roots of symbolic interactionism are examined beginning with a review of the themes emphasized by the social philosophy of the Scottish Enlightenment as well as American pragmatism. The situational, structural, and biographical‐historical approaches to contemporary symbolic interactionism are compared in terms of methodological orientations, assumptions, and concepts. Key symbolic interactionist concepts, including the definition of the situation, scripting, identities, self, self‐concept, and socialization, are examined within the context of sex research. I conclude with a critique and an evaluation of the use of symbolic interactionism in the study of sexuality.