SSM 11: Natasha Erlank, "Missionary views on sexuality in Xhosaland in the nineteenth Century" (original) (raw)

The paper examines missionary attitudes towards African sexuality in Xhosaland during the nineteenth century, challenging existing literature that oversimplifies these attitudes as static and repressive. It situates missionary perspectives within the broader context of European cultural developments, revealing how shifts in the understanding of sexuality influenced representations of African practices. By conceptualizing sexuality as socially constructed, the paper highlights the complexities of gender relations and the evolving meaning of sexual behaviors in colonial discourse, ultimately illustrating the missionaries' multifaceted preoccupations beyond mere sexual repression.