Recontextualizing Gender and Sexuality Through Ancient and Modern Perspectives

https://kent-islandora.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/ugresearch/2016/2016all/82/thumbnail.jpgAncient Greece provides the basis for modern conceptions of gender and sexuality and is therefore an ideal source for understanding contemporary LGBT and gender issues, both politically and socially. By returning to the wellspring of ideas on gender and sexuality through Ancient Greek texts, we can begin to understand how and why gender and sexuality are framed in society today. This research project included an initial phase of literary and historical research into famous Greek masterpieces literature to understand the origins of western thought on the topic. From Hesiod’s creation of Pandora through Aristophanes’ Lysistrata, this project tracks cultural perceptions of gender and its relation to sexuality. I then analyzed contemporary sources on the issues -- news outlets, contemporary literature and lectures -- to create a comprehensive analysis of how the ancient impacts the modern. The project will culminate in a trip to Athens, Greece where the ancient and modern will come together in the form of historical tours juxtaposed with academic visits to LGBT groups in Athens. By mapping and presenting gender and sexuality through the lens of Greece, this project shows the span of history to link past and present. By doing so, I hope to recontextualize the local gender and sexuality conversation to be more global and consider diverse solutions.