Discourse of Sexuality as a Way of Signifying Practices and Identities

Abstract

The study analyses the current state of sexuality research in post-classical science. The social dimension of sexuality as a socio-cultural transformation is considered, in which the postmodern polyphony of social practices and the phenomenon of sexual identity are analysed. It is emphasised that with the transition of sexuality from the private to the public sphere, research in psychology, sociology, and philosophy became relevant; the liberalisation of sexual behaviour has intensified discussions related to identity and gender. The purpose of the study is to analyse the discourse of sexuality as a way of defining the semantic polyphony of discursive practices of partnership and sexual identity. Discursive representation of sexuality in the studied practices was carried out based on the results of qualitative analysis of text fragments of narrative interviews and cases from the Internet. The strategy of empirical research is based on the use of a discursive approach, the basis of which provides a socioconstructivist view of social reality. It is substantiated that in the process of constructing practices the discourse of sexuality activates the mechanism of semiotisation of sexuality, which is interpreted as free, open self-disclosure of sexuality. Semiotisation of sexuality enables an individual to objectify his or her experience of constructing discursive practices and to define his or her sexual identity in them. It follows that the discourse of sexuality affects the construction of partnership practices and the constitution of sexual identity. A set of signs of sexuality that objectify the categories: value; functionality; sexuality; relationships; meaning/motive; identity. It is concluded that the discourse of sexuality is formed by a combination of social and personal meanings that denote discursive practices and identities. The practical significance of the study is that the results obtained can be used in further research on the role of sexual discourse in the disclosure of female/male sexuality in partnership practices