Lynn Chancer
Related: SM - everyday life
Sadomasochism in Everyday Life: The Dynamics of Power and Powerlessness () - Lynn S. Chancer
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Profile
Her research interests include sociological theory, criminology and deviance; gender and feminist theory; social psychology; social movements involving gender, race, and class; sociology of culture; stratification and inequality. --http://www.fordham.edu/general/Undergraduate/Chancer9321.html [Jul 2004]Fordham
The Department of Sociology and Anthropology prepares students for careers in teaching, research and administration in several fields of sociology (including demography, racial/ethnic studies, and the sociology of religion) and anthropology. The department offers undergraduate training leading to bachelor's degrees in Sociology and Anthropology. In addition, we offer graduate training leading to the MA and PhD degrees in sociology, providing the student with a balanced curriculum of theory, methods, and research in addition to specialized areas of study. A combination of applied and theoretical training is provided on both the master's and the doctoral level. --http://www.fordham.edu/gsas/soci/sociindex.html [Jul 2004]Craig Palmer and Lynn Chancer Discuss "A Natural History of Rape"
Craig Palmer, co-author of “A Natural History of Rape” and Lynn Chancer answer questions about Palmer’s controversial book, sharing both sides of the argument about the validity of taking a scientific approach to the study of rape.NetLibrary is pleased to welcome you to an interactive discussion with Craig Palmer, co-author of "A Natural History of Rape," and Lynn Chancer, professor, for a discussion on the controversial book. Over the next hour, both authors will be answering questions posed by the on-line audience. This evening's chat is the latest in netLibrary's Freedom of Expression online discussion series, which began during the American Library Association's Banned Books Week in October 1999. The Freedom of Expression series is a yearlong effort to promote freedom of speech and uncensored access to information. Again, please welcome Craig Palmer and Lynn Chancer. --NetLibrary.com , March 28, 2000 [Jul 2004]
Feb 2004 News
When the serial rapist who killed Kitty Genovese on March 13, 1964 was asked how he dared to continue attacking her in front of 38 witnesses, he coldly replied "I knew they wouldn't do anything. People never do." Indeed many of those 38 inactive witnesses in 1964 later told police simply "I didn't want to get involved."
Why do Ms. Genovese' unanswered cries still resound 40 years later? How different is urban society today, in part because of her tragedy? These questions are addressed by 10 experts in this public forum. Each presentation is just five minutes, to allow time for questions and audience dialog.
Posted by Matt at February 10, 2004 04:46 PM --http://www.aboutmattlaw.com/scaryny/archives/001292.html [Jul 2004]
Kitty Genovese
Catherine Genovese (1935 - March 13, 1964), commonly known as Kitty Genovese, was a New York woman who was stabbed to death near her home in the Kew Gardens section of Queens, New York. The circumstances of her murder -- most notably, the fact that none of over three dozen witnesses to the attack took action to save her -- prompted investigation into the psychological phenomenon of the bystander effect. --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitty_Genovese [Jul 2004]Sadomasochism in Everyday Life: The Dynamics of Power and Powerlessness () - Lynn S. Chancer
Lynn Chancer puts her finger on dynamics that operate in all of our lives, usually at an unconscious level. She carefully analyzes the elements that constitute a sadomasochistic relationship, then sorts through our cultural arrangements. She finds sadomasochism is embedded in the fabric of our way of life; specifcally in the world of work and gender relationships. Surprisingly, at least to me, she points out that the sexual sadomasochism of the S&M sort is more civilzed than is the sadomasochism of everday life. The difference is that the S&M scene contains the dynamics, and also provides limits to those dynamics, as it is consensual, and personal limits are respected. As such, it is more like a parody of everday life. In everday life, where sadomasochism is unrecognized, its inherent destructiveness is also unrecognized. The limits which would make it social are missing. Those missing, necessary, limits have to do with our ongoing dependency on one another, with our vulnerability, with our very humanity. It is the absence of limits that makes the authority of the manager, the bureaucrat, the policeman, etc., into an oppressor and persecutor rather than a benefit to humankind. If sadomasochism is a perversion then, inescapably, we are a perverse society.Consider the dynamics of sadomaochism: 1.There must exist binding inequality. (The haves and the have-nots for example. One without the other couldn't recognize itself.) 2.There is no mutuality. One dictates the other obeys. 3.The dialectic of the relationship creates flux. Internally the neverending search for fulfillment moves the relationship to exhaustion. Externally, people can switch positions. The sadist is a masochist striving to meet the demands of, and be recognized by, a more powerful sadist. 4.There are severe consequences for resistance.
This book was written 1992. The subsequent history of the World Trade Organization and its sponsorhip of capitalism without limits, the triumph of the ideology of the free market economy, and the increasing gap between the rich and the poor world-wide with no end in sight, is proof this book needs to be read and studied. Without it, I am afraid, we just don't know what we are dealing with.
One criticism I have of the book is I could not tell if Ms Chancer sees masochism as a position in which people have choice-a popular psychological interpretation-or whether she believes there are some caught in the position of the masochist through no fault of their own and are powerless to change it. I believe that the latter is too often is the case. Our failure to recognize it is our failure to acknowledge tragedy as a necessary companion to living and learning.--Terrence T. Downes for amazon.com
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