Das wahre Ich. Sexualität und Imperativ der Identität

This article sheds light on the interweaving of sexuality and the question of the true self. Individuals discover and reveal themselves to others through their own sexuality. Drawing on the works of Michel Foucault it is shown that this questioning of one’s own sexuality is not merely an epistemic endeavor. It is embedded in a greater structure of power and knowledge. At the heart of sexuality lies an imperative of identity that demands the subject to identify itself within the limits of given discourses and to adhere and conform to given norms produced by predominant structures of power. Lastly, two paths of resistance against this imperative of identity will be paved. One emphasizing the possibility of pushing the boundaries of discourses by finding new ways of speaking about oneself. The other opening a different route of viewing sexuality, giving us the possibility to shape new relations to ourselves and others.