The sexual revolution: an evocative term, but what meaning can be given to it today? How does sexuality come into being and what connections does it have with the changes that have affected personal life on a more general plane? This book answers such questions and disputes many of the interpretations of the role of sexuality in modern culture.

Preface. Introduction. 1. Everyday Experiments, Relationships, Sexuality. 2. Foucault on Sexuality. 3. Romantic Love and Other Attachments. 4. Love, Commitment and the Pure Relationship. 5. Love, Sex and Other Addictions. 6. The Sociological Meaning of Codependence. 7. Personal Turbulence, Sexual Troubles. 8. Contradictions of the Pure Relationship. 9. Sexuality, Repression, Civilisation. 10. Intimacy as Democracy. Index.

a It is difficult to imagine social--scientific thought and practice in Britain and much of Continental Europe without the distinctive contribution of Anthony Giddens. His prolific work has the unique merit of tying together the rich tradition of modern social thought with the challenges of whatever is new and unprecedented in what he has called the a late moderna or a post--traditionala world.a Times Literary Supplement a The major achievement of Professor Giddens is to have written a book which is both politically correct and interesting ... an immensely enjoyable book.a Political Studies a Interesting and informative, thoughtful and thought provoking, concise and to the point.a Contemporary Sociology a A powerful, and often brilliantly provocative, theory of how sexuality and gender are reproduced and transformed ... a model of theoretically informed, empirically based sociological analysis that will be of great interest to all those concerned with the trajectory of sexuality, gender, and identity in modern social processes.a The Times Higher Education Supplement