Disease Control as (Gendered) Warfare: The Case of Syphilis in Nineteenth-Century France Seminar

In a context where the language of toxic masculinity demands that we ‘face down’ the threat of COVID-19, this talk traces the linguistic associations between disease and warfare back to the nineteenth century, with the development of cell and germ theory. Focusing on the rhetoric of invasion, infiltration and penetration in literary, scientific and public health texts representing syphilis in nineteenth-century France, the talk will analyse the gendered markers of citizenship in a ‘healthy’ nation that ‘defends’ itself against ‘attack’, and consider how the ideological weaponization of disease continues to operate today.

 

This seminar will take place via Microsoft Teams. Please ensure you book a place to receive the meeting link. The deadline for bookings is 1pm on the day of the seminar (03/03/21).