Anti-humanism, affects and the sexuality-assemblage Nick Fox, University of Sheffield, UK Pam Alldred, Brunel University, UK

Introduction Rationale for the paper. Anthropocentrism and sexuality. Anti-humanism and sexuality. Study of young men’s sexuality. The hetero-masculinity assemblage.

Rationale for the paper Two theoretical moves are required to resist ‘humanist enticements’ (e.g. individualism, free will, identity) associated with sexuality. 1.Post-structuralism has shown how sexual knowledgeabilities are culturally-specific. 2.Anti-humanist turn sees sexual bodies and desires as products of an impersonal and nomadic sexuality that flows between bodies, things, ideas and social formations.

Anthropocentrism Gives priority to human bodies, human subjects and human experience. Reflected in: Humanism Romanticism Individualism Identity politics

Sexuality and anthropocentrism Anthropocentric accounts : ‘... classify sexual desires according to a very limited number of formulaic syntheses of genders and sexes: there is the norm (heterosexuality), then an inversion of the norm turned into an exclusive disjunction from the norm (homosexuality), then a perversion of the norm in a whole range of in-betweens (bisexuality and, to a much lesser degree, transsexuality).’ (Lambevski 2004: 306).

Anti-humanist approaches Human bodies and subjects are no longer privileged as agents. Focuses instead on assemblages of bodies, things, ideas, social institutions. Elements within assemblages affect and are affected by each other. These flows of affect produce capacities in bodies, collectivities and things.

Anti-humanism and sexuality Sexuality is an impersonal, nomadic flow of affect within assemblages of bodies, things, ideas and social institutions and formations. This flow produces sexual (and other) capacities to desire in bodies, and hence manifestations of sexuality. Sexuality is consequently both infinitely variable and typically highly constrained (by capitalism, patriarchy, heteronormativity, genitality,etc. ).

From ontology to methodology Use social methods that: Explore the flows of affect in sexuality- assemblages. Identify the forces that produce conventional sexualities. Assess how to resist these forces.

The sexuality of young men Alldred & David’s study (2007) of young people’s views of sex education and teenage pregnancy. Focus group with eight white, working-class young men in ‘alternative education’ provision; history of multiple exclusions and tales of victimisation by teachers. Context: English town in industrial decline; viewed as teenage pregnancy ‘hotspot’.

Data analysis methodology Noisy and riotous engagement, with constant overlapping and interrupting. Approach the focus groups as ethnography (‘writing culture’) rather than interviews. No attempt to make claims of ‘authenticity’ or ‘identity’ by recourse to quotations from the transcript.

1. Sexuality produced relationally Boastful heterosexualised masculinities (initially understood as flirtation) is the product of status hierarchical affects. This reflects location within a broader assemblage of hetero-patriarchal, economic and educational affects. These produce both ‘manual workers’ and a hetero-masculinist sexuality.

2. Sexuality as capacity The analysis sees the hetero-masculinity of these young men not as a fixed attribute, but as fleeting opportunities that produce actions and desires in different contexts. These multiple capacities to affect and be affected emerge from the assemblage of bodies, things and social formations. Contrasts with Bourdieu ‘s ‘cultural capital‘, in which capital is owned (or lacked) by bodies.

3.Sexuality as contingent and variable capacities The physical aggression in this group is a reflection of the competitive affects within the assemblage (e.g. competition for jobs or particular girlfriends,). Capacities can variously produce hetero- sexuality; male-male aggression; homosocial or homosexual intimacies (and potential for other actions and desires).

The hetero-masculinity assemblage boys - school exclusion - education system - alternative education – jobless men - local community norms – teenage pregnancy – benefits - mechanic’s apprenticeship – cars – driving – adult status – cigarettes – take-away food – bodily maturation – height – sexual desire – virginity –’girls’ – ‘being up-for-it ’ – erections – peer discourse on heterosex

Some conclusions Sexuality is a flow of affect within an assemblage of human and non-human. There are myriad possible sexualities. Capitalism, patriarchy, commodification and genitalism produce narrow sexualities. There is potential to resist, and explore nomadic sexuality.

Anti-humanism, affects and the sexuality-assemblage Nick Fox, University of Sheffield Pam Alldred, Brunel University