Activist, relational, and embodied: rethinking sexual citizenship in neoliberal capitalism

Abstract

Considering the neoliberal commercialization of sexual politics, this article argues for a reconfiguration of sexual citizenship as activist, relational, and embodied. By doing so it aims to challenge the contemporary de-politicization, individualization, and hegemonic normalization of sexual citizenship. While the activist and relational dimension consider how the dominant manifestation of sexual politics may be disrupted, the notion of embodied sexual citizenship draws attention to the ways in which the ability of doing so is materially conditioned. This article proposes a framework through which sexual citizenship can be re-politicized as a collective and accountable project, moving beyond the need of self-production through consumption.