Routledge handbook of sexuality, health and rights /

Aggleton (Univ. of Sussex, UK) and Parker (Columbia Univ.) have organized their handbook into nine sections of contributions conveying diverse perspectives on sexuality, sexual health, and rights from international academics and practitioners. Although certain topics are predictable in a reference work that claims to address the "main issues" of contemporary sexuality (e.g., historical foundations, the impact of HIV, and the language and discourses of sexuality), the best sections of the book address gaps in people's understanding of the emerging interrelationships among sexuality, health, and rights around the world. For example, the articles in the section "From Sexual Health to Sexual Rights" examine key issues in the evolving idea that sexual rights are a basic human right, and the articles in the section "Struggles for Erotic Justice" illuminate the principles at the heart of the battles for social justice that are taking place internationally. Although the section "The Choreography of Sex" is thought-provoking, perhaps the scholars and researchers for whom this volume was written would find sections on broader or more generic topics such as life-span sexuality or the politicization of sexuality more useful. Nevertheless, this handbook is sure to be a helpful reference. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-level undergraduates through professionals/practitioners. P. Lefler Bluegrass Community & Technical College