Introduction

This is the first special edition of Sociology to be published on the theme of sexuality; an occurrence that is all the more remarkable when one considers that since the latter part of the 20th century, the discipline of sociology has proved to be a central arena through which to explore the social construction and organization of sexuality. Sociology has critically engaged with biological, medical and psychological understandings, which traditionally formed the major theoretical frameworks for understanding sexuality. The continued centrality of sociology and its historical role within the study of sexuality is clearly shown in the popularity of the call for this special edition, with over 60 papers submitted for consideration. The importance of sociological understandings of sexuality can be seen, for instance, in the traditions of interactionism and labelling theory, explored in the opening article of this volume, which continue to act as the backdrop to the explosion of interdisciplinary studies of sexuality that have emerged over the last decade. In turn, sexuality is a strategic site through which to examine some of the overarching issues of sociology – power, structure, subjectivity and agency. Further, issues of sexuality map on to a range of sociological concerns and areas of study – gender, class, intimacy, the family, the body, race, ethnicity and nation, geographical location and space, travel, disability, age and generation – which, in turn, link to a growing spectrum of sub-disciplines and theoretical perspectives.