ABSTRACT
This chapter acknowledges that 21st century politics, particularly the evolution and shifts in popular perceptions of what is considered socially and culturally progressive or retrograde, impact how gender and sexuality are framed in the public domain and, in turn, how the category of sexiness is constructed. Far from being a frivolous concern, the meanings of sexy and how they are communicated and circulated across culture reveal a great deal about attitudes towards gender, sexuality and identity.
