A "totalizing social fact," sexuality stands at the intersection of several kinds of historical approaches: social, anthropological, cultural, linguistic. It is impossible to speak of sexuality today without using the tools forged in studying the history of gender. More than ever, sexuality has become an essential field of history.
Sylvie Steinberg is the Director of Studies at EHESS, specializing in the modern era. She is a member of the journal Clio: Women, Gender, History.