The Pornographic Sociological Imagination: Building Theory by Writing Dirty Stories

• In Event: 219 - Section on Sociology of Sexualities Paper Session. Sexuality Studies and the Boundaries of “Acceptable” Sociology

Abstract

In this paper I discuss my uses of, what I'm calling, polyqueer methodologies. In my most recent book, I combined auto-ethnography about being polyamorous and fictional, erotic narrative to explore the feminist and queer potential of poly sexualities (relationships and/or sexual interactions that includes more than two people). In this paper, I discuss why traditional sociological methods fall short given my theoretical agenda and the pitfalls and benefits of building theory by writing erotic fictional narratives.

Author

• Mimi Schippers, Tulane University