Trent University :: Sociology

Momin Rahman

Associate Professor, Sociology, Trent University

I have made a number of significant research contributions in the two broad areas of sexuality and citizenship, and celebrity culture. The areas of these contributions are as follows and feed directly into my teaching areas of gender, social theory, celebrity culture, and the relationship between Muslim cultures and gender/sexuality politics in an advanced gender class.

1. Major text-book: Gender and Sexuality: Sociological Approaches

My current empirical and theoretical work has culminated in a major text book for Polity Press, with Professor Stevi Jackson (University of York, UK). This was published in 2010(a) and has been reviewed positively “The authors are at the cutting edge of their subject and so is the book.” (Professor Jeffrey Weeks) and “Finally, a book that bridges feminism and critical sex studies…One of the few ‘must-use’ classroom texts I’ve read in a long time.” (Professor Steven Seidman).

2. Sexuality and Muslim Cultures: Theorizing Gay Muslims using Intersectionality Theory.

The broad area of study of sexuality and rights remains an urgent contemporary concern, particularly because of the internationalization of LGBT rights discourses and the resistance that this has provoked, leading to a specific focus in my work on gay Muslim identities and what they can tell us about the ways western LGBT politics needs to change, as well as how far Muslim cultures can accommodate sexual diversity. I am currently working on a book on these issues for Palgrave Macmillan’s monograph series on The Politics of Identity and Citizenship.

3. Theorizing Intersectionality.

The bulk of my theoretical work has focused on the problems around understanding difference and translating that understanding into effective political strategies, with publications on the ‘material’ and ‘cultural’ in feminist thought (2003) and more recently, the book chapter “Theorizing Intersectionality: Identities, Equality and Ontology” (2009).

4. Queer Analysis of the Politics of Representations of Sexuality and Race

The focus on the politics of sexuality has informed the development of work around contemporary celebrity culture with empirical studies on David Beckham, Jade Goody, and Sidney Crosby. I have developed new theoretical ideas around the queering of culture suggesting that a precise and nuanced reading of popular culture allows an understanding of some key strategies of representation as dialectical.

Recent publications (2008-2011)

2011a - Rahman, M. and Lockwood, S. “How to ‘Use Your Olympian’: the Paradox of Athletic Authenticity and Commercialization in the Contemporary Olympic Games.” Special issue of the British Sociological Association’s journal Sociology on the Olympics, 45 (5): 815-829. Co-authored with Sean Lockwood, Ancient History and Classics, Trent University, Canada

2011b - Rahman, M. “The Burdens of the Flesh: Star Power and the Queer Dialectic in Sports Celebrity.”Celebrity Studies, 2 (2): 150-163.

2011c -Rahman, M. “Research on Queer Muslims: Identities, Politics and Communities.” Chapter submitted in August 2010 for an edited collection on sexual migrants, published in Dutch in May 2011, editor, Wim Peumans, Seks en Stigma: Over Grenzen Heen. Homoseksuele en Lesbische Migranten in Vlaanderen en Brussel. Acco Press: Leuven, pp125-144.

2011d -Rahman, M. “Jade's confession: racism and thedialectics of celebrity.” Chapter in book, edited by Sean Redmond, The Star and Celebrity Confessional. New York: Routledge. This is a reprint in book form of the article listed below under 2008a.

2011e -Rahman, M and Hussain, A. “Muslims and Sexual Diversity in North America.” Chapter 15 in Rayside, D. and Wilcox, C. (eds.) Faith, Politics and Sexual Diversity in Canada and the United States, Vancouver: UBC Press, pp255-274.Primary author.

2010a - Rahman, M. and S. Jackson, A Sociological Introduction to Gender and Sexuality, Oxford: Polity Press. November, 2010. Full joint authorship.

2010b -Rahman, M. “Queer as Intersectionality: Theorising Gay Muslim Identities.” Special issue on theorizing sexuality, Sociology, 44 (5): 1-18. October, 2010.

2009 - Rahman, M. “Theorising Intersectionality: Identities, Equality and Ontology.” Chapter 14 in Grabham, E., Cooper, D, Krishnadas, J. and Herman, D. (eds.), Intersectionality and Beyond: Law, Power and the Politics of Location, 2009. London and New York: Routledge, pp352-373.

2009b - Rahman, M. “Beckham as an historical moment in the representation of masculinity.” Chp 115 in Rojek, C. (ed), Celebrity: Critical Concepts in Sociology. This is a four-volume collection of key works on celebrity and is a reprint of this article, originally published in Labour History Review, 69 (2): 219-234, August 2004.

2008a - Rahman, M. “Jade's confession: racism and thedialectics of celebrity.” Social Semiotics, 18 (2): 133 — 148. Special issue on “The Star and Celebrity Confessional.”

2008b - Rahman, M. “In Search of My Mother’s Garden: Reflections on Migration, Sexuality and Muslim Identity.” Nebula 5.4: 1-25, December 2008.

Academic Appointments and Education

2008-2011: Appointed as Fellow to the Mark S. Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies, University College, University of Toronto.

2005: Appointed as visiting Libra Professor for spring semester, Women's Studies, University of Maine at Farmington, USA.

1998-2007: Lecturer in Sociology, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK.

1999: PhD in Department of Government, University of Strathclyde. ' Sexuality and Democracy'. External Examiner, Professor David Morgon.

1993: BA (Hons), Politics (First Class), University of Strathclyde.