Sex, Gender and Sexuality in Biocultural Context

In the past decade, (bio)archaeology has seen a revitalisation and interest in issues surrounding gender, sex, and sexuality. Theoretical critiques from posthumanist and feminist scholars have fundamentally challenged longstanding assumptions about binary sex/gender categories, the nature of identities in past societies, and the interpretative frameworks through which we construct narratives of the human past. For example, studies across biological anthropology and (bio)archaeology have sought to de-centre heteronormative assumptions around sexualities, as well as deconstruct our understanding of gender in the past Alongside this, major methodological advances, particularly in the field of ancient DNA (aDNA) and peptide analysis, are generating empirical data of a kind and scale previously unimaginable. The inclusion of biomolecular approaches to sex/gender have added empirical data to challenge long held assumptions about gendered divisions of labour, social roles, and the structure of kinship in past societies. Interestingly, and counterintuitively, such datasets are increasingly used to reinforce binary worldviews, irrespective of theoretical engagement. As is evident, theory and methods have not always worked in tandem with one another. Therefore, this special issue seeks to bring them into productive conversation. We invite contributions that are both theoretically grounded and data-rich to challenge how we understand sex, gender and sexuality in the past. We welcome contributions from any geographic region, time period and as well as involving any methodological approach. Topics may include but are not limited to: - Skeletal sex estimation via aDNA, peptide analyses, osteology, or combined approaches, and their implications for understanding gender identity and social roles - Isotopic, skeletal, or biomolecular analyses that bring new insights into gendered labour, diet and mobility, stress, health or morality. - Burial evidence for gender identity, diverse gender expression, and social personhood - Empirically grounded discussions of gender as a component of social experience. - Reproductive health, maternal and infant mortality, and the archaeology of birth and childcare. We seek contributions where interpretative frameworks across all theoretical orientations and new data are in dialogue. We welcome contributions outside of the field of (bio)archaeology, so long as they are oriented towards understanding the past. Topic editors: Julie K. Wesp, Marianne Moen, Taylor Peacock Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/81782/sex-gender-and-sexuality-in-biocultural-context