ABSTRACT
The Victorian era is a crucial period in the history of sexuality. Indeed, the word “sexuality” emerged early in the nineteenth century. Sexology, or the science of sexuality and desire, came into its own in the final decades of the nineteenth century, and aimed to uncover and analyze the mysteries of the human condition through the laws of erotic life. More broadly, our sense of gender and sexuality has been shaped by Victorian science, writing, religion, and law. This chapter is divided into four sections. The key purpose of the first section is to briefly introduce readers to theories of sexuality from the nineteenth century to the advent of queer theory. The second section looks at academic studies of Victorian masculinities and homosociality, while the third section focuses on work devoted to women’s same-sex relationships. The conclusion reflects on the future of Victorian gender and sexuality studies.
