Sex on the Beach: Exploring Gender and Sexuality at British Seaside Resorts 1919-1939
| dc.contributor.author | Pedersen, Kaja | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2024-03-16T17:22:13Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2024-03-16T17:22:13Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2024 | |
| dc.description.abstract | This project examines how social boundaries governing gendered and sexual expression were maintained and challenged at seaside resorts during the United Kingdom’s interwar period. Seaside resort towns were in constant flux, creating a unique liminal space in which the usual authorities that governed social conduct were slackened. The marginal nature of the seaside resort allowed visitors to enjoy hedonistic vacations, in which they could experience momentary liberation from their usual constraints, including those policing gender roles and sexuality. This project locates three major factors which allowed this relaxed social framework to occur. First, the beach itself provided opportunities for visitors to display their bodies and view others through tanning and revealing swimwear. Second, the arrival of the working class to the seaside brought raucous throngs, which prioritized the pursuit of pleasure and allowed non-conforming behaviours to occur with less risk of social repercussions. Finally, the many side shows that appeared as seaside entertainment provided opportunities for performers to showcase sex and gender ambiguity to the public. This project argues that the seaside allowed visitors to experiment and bring dominant perspectives of acceptable gendered and sexual behaviours under scrutiny. | |
| dc.description.reviewstatus | Reviewed | |
| dc.description.scholarlevel | Undergraduate | |
| dc.description.sponsorship | Jamie Cassels Undergraduate Research Awards (JCURA) | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/1828/16156 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | University of Victoria | |
| dc.subject | seaside | |
| dc.subject | resort | |
| dc.subject | beach | |
| dc.subject | sexuality | |
| dc.subject | gender | |
| dc.subject | England | |
| dc.title | Sex on the Beach: Exploring Gender and Sexuality at British Seaside Resorts 1919-1939 | |
| dc.type | Poster |