Sex in Public

“A fascinating and grounded exploration of the subversive sex lives of ‘erotic rule breakers’…The book comes alive when Jones details, with remarkable openness and vulnerability, their own experiences and experiments in sexual subcultures…Readers will appreciate this sharp reconsideration of how to approach eroticism with more agency, consent, and intention.”–Publishers Weekly“Sex in Public dares to explore sexual sociology without defanging the erotic. Angela Jones writes fearlessly about their own sexual subcultures while remaining curious about the lives and identities of others. Rigorously deep, gleefully vulgar, accessibly welcoming. A new classic!”–Tina Horn, author of Why Are People Into That?“Angela Jones has offered a timely Black feminist primer on erotic empowerment. Jones rightly insists that empowerment isn’t just about individual autonomy, it’s about actively crafting a social world that prioritizes sex education, sexual literacy, joy, and a fierce commitment to dismantling intersecting structures of domination. Fearless, candid, and bold, Sex in Public is necessary reading for anyone interested in imagining a different kind of world, one that approaches eroticism and freedom as fundamentally linked.”–Jennifer C. Nash, author of Black Feminism Reimagined“Sex in Public cogently dispels the myth that certain expressions of sexuality are ‘correct’ and ‘normal, ’ while others are ‘incorrect’ or ‘abnormal.’ Drawing from the sociological literature, interviews with people across diverse sexual identities and communities, and their own personal experiences, Angela Jones makes a powerful case that sex is multidimensional, ever-shifting, and deeply social.”–Julia Serano, author of Whipping Girl“An exquisite blend of research-based insights and real-world examples about the unpredictable realm of sexual behavior, Sex in Public is a juicy read! Never coy, Angela Jones confronts what is both deliciously creative and stiflingly constrained about sex. They show us that it is precisely the act of trying to understand those repressive forces that frees our sexual imaginations, making sex a vital pathway toward a better collective future.”–Jane Ward, author of The Tragedy of Heterosexuality“I can’t wait to see what sociologist Dr. Angela Jones has to say about how we can take the private shame and taboo away from sexuality and transform it into an empowering foundation for societal change.”–Ms. Magazine, The Most Anticipated Feminist Books of 2026

Angela Jones is a professor of women, gender, and sexuality studies at Stony Brook University. Their work focuses on gender, sexuality, feminist theory, sex work, and African American political thought and protest. Jones has written or edited ten books, including Black Lives Matter: A Reference Book and Camming. They live in Suffolk County, New York.

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