ABSTRACT
IN THIS PAPER, I will try to draw out some of the ways in which the economic sphere – especially the division of labor between the sexes – has contributed to the construction of sexuality during the past century and a half in the United States. I will show how economic forces have helped create both heterosexual and homosexual relationships – with emphasis on the latter, which have received very little attention from economists. I will also argue that the late twentieth century emergence of a lesbian and gay political movement – and of a feminist movement in which lesbians have played key roles – constitutes a direct challenge to the sexual division of labor and gender. Since I cover a broad sweep of history, this analysis will be, of necessity sketchy. In particular, I will not be able to address adequately the class and racial-ethnic variations in sexuality. Nor can I integrate the many noneconomic factors that have contributed to the changing construction of sexuality. However, I hope to be able to show that the economy has played an important part in shaping and transforming sexuality. 1
