Ethnicity And Sexuality

In her text titled “Thinking Sex: Notes for a Radical Theory of the Politics of Sexuality.” , Gayle Rubin writes that ”sex negativity, according to Rubin is the idea that sex is “dangerous, destructive, negative force.” (Rubin,“Thinking Sex: Notes for a Radical Theory of the Politics of Sexuality.” The Lesbian and Gay Studies Reader, P. 7) The anti-white slavery activists who wanted to promote purity, used the idea that some sex was dangerous and negative. These activists had ideas on sex that affected people of different ethnicity as well. In addition to being exclusionary, this movement allowed for sexual practices of people from different ethnicity to be deemed as dangerous. In her text titled “Ethnicity and Sexuality.”, Joanne Nagel writes that “ ethnicity and sexuality are strained, but not strange bedfellows. Ethnic boundaries are also sexual boundaries-erotic intersections where people make intimate connections across ethnic, racial, or national borders.” (
This movement allowed for Jack Jackson to be prosecuted twice under the Mann act. Images produced by activists against “white slavery” showed ignorance as the main reason for this phenomenon. Along with ignorance was the lack of modesty in dressing, narcotic drugs, the first drink , misplaced confidence, and professional slavers as causes of this phenomena.( sexual Politics Slide 24)The way that the activists envisioned stamping “out white slavery” was knowledge, helping to make better laws, close up public dance halls, and the punishment of white traders. ( Sexual Politics Slide 24) The activists saw “white slavers” as enemies and therefore produced images and a narrative that led to the negative image of someone who was accused of being a “white slaver”. The Mann act also allowed for stereotypes that were present to influence the way people saw a guilty party and the innocent party. According to the Washington post,