SOCIOLOGY, GENDER & SEXUALITY STUDIES
July - September 2026
Ebooks
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COLLECTIONS
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COLLECTIONS
UK September 2026 US September 2026
192 Pages
PB 9798216277262
£14 99 / $19 95
ePDF 9798216277279 • £13 49 / $17 95
ePub 9798216277286 £13 49 / $17 95
Audio 9798216462385 • £22 00 / $27 00
Bloomsbury Academic
The Perfect Birth Myth
Pushing Back Against a Broken Industry
Avital Norman Nathman & Deborah Wage
In a nation where more than 3 5 million births occur each year, the experience of giving birth reveals who is valued, who is heard, and who is left behind
The Perfect Birth Myth offers a sweeping, deeply human exploration of childbirth in the United States, the country with the most highly resourced and costliest maternal healthcare in the world, yet the highest rate of maternal mortality among developed countries Drawing on decades of experience in maternal health, midwifery, and journalism, Avital Norman Nathman and Deborah Wage weave historical analysis, policy insight, personal narratives, and data from approximately 3,000 people who’ve given birth to examine the forces shaping American birth culture From the pursuit of the “perfect birth” and the commercialization of care to the racial and psychological inequities embedded in the system, they reveal how medicalization, racism, and profit-driven policies have eroded autonomy, safety, and dignity in childbirth
Both exposé and call to action, The Perfect Birth Myth reframes birth as an act of justice, community, and self-determination Readers will emerge with an understanding that instead of pushing for perfection, we should be pushing for equity, respect, and shared humanity
COLLECTIONS 6TH EDITION
UK May 2026 • US May 2026
408 Pages
HB 9781350605169
• £110 00 / $150 00
PB 9781350604797 • £34 99 / $47 95
ePDF 9781350605176
• £31 49 / $43 15
ePub 9781350605183 £31 49 / $43 15
Bloomsbury Academic
Introducing Gender and Women's Studies
Edited by Diane Richardson, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne & Victoria Robinson, University of York, UK
The sixth edition of this leading textbook provides a comprehensive and insightful overview of key issues and debates in gender and women's studies. With fully revised chapters written by specialists across a range of core topics including sexuality, race, bodies, family, masculinity, methodologies and migration, this is a student-friendly yet rigorous survey of the key concepts and contemporary debates in the field It provides helpful examples to illustrate how gender theories relate to current societal issues, thoughtful questions to guide revision, and further reading to help students explore the topics in greater depth Furthermore, the book continues to reflect the shift from women's studies to gender studies It incorporates coverage of masculinities, as well as engaging with live debates such as trans rights, global activism, and the environment This is an essential textbook for students, academics and anyone interested in this lively field
New to this Edition:
- Expanded coverage of gender-based violence, masculinities, migration, and the impact of the climate crisis
- New coverage of division overs trans rights, the rise of opposition to gender and sexual equalities around the globe, and digital and social media issues
- Greater attention to intersectional approaches and international reach - New pedagogy to help students apply gender theories in practice, and a new glossary to help students get to grips with new concepts and terminology
UK June 2026 • US June 2026
248 Pages
HB 9781350429680 • £20 00 / $27 00
PB 9781350631632 £13 99 / $18 95
ePDF 9781350429703 • £18 00 / $24 30
ePub 9781350429697 • £18 00 / $24 30
Audio 9781350564893 • £14 00 / $18 00
Bloomsbury Academic
Rainbow Trap
Queer Lives, Classifications and the Dangers of Inclusion
Kevin Guyan, University of Edinburgh, UK
Rainbow Trap reveals how the fight for LGBTQ equalities in the UK is shaped – and constrained – by the classifications we encounter every day
Looking across six systems – the police and the recording of hate crimes; dating apps and digital desire; outness in the film and television industry; borders and LGBTQ asylum seekers; health and fitness activities; and DEI initiatives in the workplace – Rainbow Trap documents how inclusive interventions – such as new legislation, revamped diversity policies and tech fixes – have attempted to bring historically marginalized communities out of the shadows
Yet, as part of the bargain, LGBTQ people need to locate themselves in an ever-growing list of classifications, categories and labels to ‘make sense’ to the very systems they are seeking to access This requirement to be classified catches LGBTQ communities in a rainbow trap Because when we look beyond the welcoming veneer of inclusive interventions, we uncover sorting processes that determine what LGBTQ lives are valued and what queer futures are possible
COLLECTIONS
UK August 2026 US August 2026
328 Pages
PB 9781786996749 £28 99 / $39 95
HB 9781786996732 • £85 00 / $115 00
ePDF 9781786996756 £76 50 / $103 50
ePub 9781786996763 • £76 50 / $103 50 Bloomsbury Academic
COLLECTIONS
UK January 2027 • US September 2026
272 Pages
PB 9798216399681 • £28 99 / $39 95
HB 9798216399643 • £90 00 / $120 00
ePDF 9798216399667 • £81 00 / $108 00
ePub 9798216399650 £81 00 / $108 00
Bloomsbury Academic
COLLECTIONS
UK July 2026 • US July 2026
216 Pages
PB 9798216460725 • £28 99 / $39 95
HB 9781666981117 £80 00 / $110 00
ePDF 9798216253808 • £72 00 / $99 00
ePub 9781978768994 • £72 00 / $99 00
Bloomsbury Academic
The Law of War and Peace
A Gender Analysis: Volume 2
Gina Heathcote, Newcastle University, UK, Sheri A Labenski, London School of Economics and Political Science, UK, Emily Jones, University of Essex, UK & Sidonia Lucia Kula
The Law of War and Peace: Volume Two offers a cutting-edge analysis of the relationship between law, armed conflict, gender and peace This second volume focuses on peace and the law after war and during the post-conflict period, examining the post-conflict legal structures that regulate peacekeeping, peacebuilding, and peace agreements It also offers a gender analysis of environmental security and explores food security and transitional justice
Across the book the authors examine the laws that are situated and developed to promote the shift from armed conflict to peace, as well as the role of militarism and military masculinities in the production of ‘the everyday’ of so-called peacetime states They reflect on the possibility for feminist change in the law on war and peace, as understood through a gender analysis, and encourage dialogue beyond the confines of these pages, in a slow and considered commitment to queer feminist peace
Gender, Violence and Public Policies
When Women Act for Peace
Anelise Gregis Estivalet
This book is the first publication that comprehensively addresses the Mulheres da Paz Project, implemented throughout Brazil by the federal government, and examines the execution of the program in two different territories in Rio de Janeiro: one dominated by criminal drug trafficking organizations and the other by the presence of militias
Through rich ethnographic study and interviews, Estivalet shows how women living in the urban peripheries of Rio de Janeiro organized to imagine and create better lives for themselves and their communities in ways far beyond the expectations of the program's founders Bringing their strengths to the surface and taking advantage of the networks established through participation in the project, the women studied in this book occupied public space and representative positions in institutional politics, such as women's rights councils and women's groups in political parties They developed activities to generate collective income, train and educate themselves and other citizens and young people, and promoted improvements in the living conditions of their communities
Privacy and Property
Rethinking Rights, Dignity, and Liberty in an Age of Technology
Martin J Adamian
Martin J Adamian reimagines privacy exposing how centuries of legal doctrine have tethered it to property and calls for a more inclusive, dignity-based understanding fit for the digital age
Drawing on thinkers such as Immanuel Kant, Hannah Arendt, and Jürgen Habermas, Adamian develops a more relational and dynamic account of privacy one rooted in autonomy, dignity, and democratic participation This framework helps unify disparate areas of privacy law, including tort, Substantive Due Process, and Fourth Amendment jurisprudence, by revealing the underlying assumptions that connect them Through this lens, contemporary issues such as data privacy, reproductive rights, and surveillance are not understood as isolated legal challenges but as interconnected struggles over personal integrity and political freedom Ultimately, the book calls for a new approach to privacy one capable of responding to technological change while resisting the commodification of the private sphere
COLLECTIONS NEW IN PB
The Frankfurt School in New Times
UK March 2026 • US March 2026
462 Pages • 33 BW Illustrations, 3 Tables
HB 9781666933086 • £120 00 / $150 00
PB 9781666933109 • £28 99 / $39 95
ePub 9781666933093 • £26 09 / $35 95 Lexington Books
COLLECTIONS
UK July 2026 • US July 2026
288 Pages
PB 9781350525054 • £28 99 / $39 95
HB 9781350525061 • £85 00 / $115 00
ePDF 9781350525085 • £0 00 / $0 00
ePub 9781350525078 £0 00 / $0 00
Bloomsbury Academic
Conspiracy Theories and Extremism in New Times
Edited by Christopher T Conner, Matthew N Hannah & Nicholas J MacMurray
Conspiracy Theories and Extremism in New Times outlines a cadre of alt-right groups, conspiracy theories, and other forms of stigmatized knowledge threatening our society In an era dominated by the pervasive influence of social media, the scholarly gaze has often overlooked the ways far-right factions leverage these platforms to propagate anti-democratic ideologies From the denial of the moon landing to the enigmatic labyrinth of QAnon, and a myriad of other alt-right groups in between, this anthology presents a compelling case for the continued relevancy of the Frankfurt School of Critical Social Theory Uncover the intricate web connecting these ideologies to everyday life, and arm yourself with the critical insights needed to navigate the turbulent currents of our modern socio-political landscape
COLLECTIONS
Contemporary World Issues
UK September 2026 • US September 2026
248 Pages • 8 bw illus
HB 9781440879319 • £60 00 / $80 00
PB 9798765123638 • £21 99 / $29 95
ePDF 9781440879326 • £54 00 / $72 00
ePub 9798216171447 • £54 00 / $72 00
Bloomsbury Academic
Gang Lives
OPEN ACCESS
Global Portraits from the Streets and Beyond
Edited by Dennis Rodgers
Through biographical investigations of gang members' life histories, this open access book illustrates the range of causes, motivations, and consequences associated with being a gang member Gangs are one of a small number of truly global social phenomena, present across time and space all over the world Partly as a result of this ubiquity, gangs are inherently revealing social institutions, and can be connected to a range of fundamental human activities, such as the exercise of power, capital accumulation, socialization, identity formation, territorialization, or the articulation of gender relations, amongst others At the same time, however, gangs are also frequently associated with an almost pathological form of violence, generally represented as engaging in senseless forms of brutality, and gangsters are popular global scapegoats Such representations make it all the more urgent to understand what it is that truly motivates individuals to become gang members, why they undergo particular trajectories, and what the long-term consequences of gang membership might be
Through a comparison of thirteen life histories of gang members from twelve different countries around the world, this book offers a nuanced and sensitive overview of the global gang experience
The ebook editions of this book are available open access under a CC BY-NC-ND 4 0 licence on bloomsburycollections com Open access was funded by the European Research Council grant (no 787935)
Extremism in the Police A Reference Handbook
Carla Lewandowski, Rowan University, USA & Jeff Bumgarner
A one-stop resource for understanding historical and contemporary perspectives on ideological extremism in law enforcement, as well as its wider impacts on American society The work blends narrative overview, biographies, essay perspectives, and a helpful guide to other resources to facilitate understanding of the contemporary problem of extremism in American law enforcement Written by experts in the criminal justice field, the book focuses on the extent, motivations, causes, and dangers of ideological extremism in the ranks of America's police, from the smallest towns to the biggest cities In addition, it discusses reforms that have been proposed and in some cases implemented to combat the problem, including measures introduced in other countries
COLLECTIONS
Ecocritical Theory and Practice
UK July 2026 • US July 2026
196 Pages
HB 9781666919004 • £81 00 / $105 00
PB 9781666919028 • £22 99 / $29 95
ePDF 9781978781245 • £72 90 / $94 50
ePub 9781666919011 • £72 90 / $94 50 Lexington Books
Environmental Justice in Ethnic American Literature
Edited by Petr Kopecký & Jan Beneš
Environmental Justice in Ethnic American Literature focuses on a wide range of conceptions, depictions, and issues of environmental (in)justice found in African American, Latinx, Asian American, and American Indian literature to provide a panorama of ethnic peoples, regions, and cultures affected by disproportionate exposure to environmental hazards and racial discrimination, now exacerbated by the effects of climate change Specifically, the volume highlights the capacity of literature and literary criticism to help uncover the causes and consequences of instances of environmental injustice and their impact The chapters analyze a diverse selection of voices and texts, which underscore how the literary imagination of ethnic American writers captures, in contrast with official statistics, impersonal data and the reports compiled from them, the tangible and often inescapable problems of communities struggling against environmental racism The issues addressed in the volume range from slow violence, transcorporeality, food and reproductive justice, to agrarianism, while utilizing theoretical lenses such as ecofeminist paradigms or innovative applications of ecolinguistic methods to poetry Overall, the monograph brings to the fore a diversity of literary responses to environmental racism and calls for environmental justice
COLLECTIONS
UK July 2026 • US July 2026
248 Pages
PB 9798216382003 • £28 99 / $39 95
HB 9798216381969 • £90 00 / $120 00
ePDF 9798216381990 • £81 00 / $108 00
ePub 9798216381976 • £81 00 / $108 00
Bloomsbury Academic
Structures of Consciousness and Civilizational Processes
A Critical Reconstruction of Benjamin Nelson’s Sociology of Civilizations Donald A Nielsen
As societies around the globe undergo rapid change, Benjamin Nelson’s theories help explain how and why civilizations evolve
This book offers a full-length, comprehensive analysis of Benjamin Nelson’s ideas and historical studies, exploring his civilization-analytic perspective, its intricate ties to Max Weber ’s theories, and Nelson’s arguments about the major historical phases shaping Western European civilization Donald A Nielsen argues that Nelson’s work centers on religious and cultural universalism, reconstructing Nelson’s thesis that 12th-century Europe experienced an axial shift in consciousness toward more rationalized, universalistic cultural orientations Rather than focusing on the origins of modernity, Nelson examined revolutionary changes in structures of consciousness and civilizations, including six ongoing “revolutions” he identified Nielsen unpacks Nelson’s view of civilizational crises and demonstrates that his theories are rooted in a vision of human life that values lived experience and expression within changing historical contexts By highlighting how Nelson’s theories illuminate the dynamics of cultural universalism and structural transformations across historical contexts, this book provides readers a conceptual framework for analyzing civilizational change
