Vital forces, selves, and consent: responding to a philosophical love letter

In this response to Helga Varden’s Sex, Love, and Gender: A Kantian Theory, I challenge Varden’s characterization ofpostmodern approaches to sexual orientation and identity, arguing that it is mistaken to assume an opposition between socialconstructionism and reality, or social constructionism and an experience of deep-seated identity. I also question whether, onceone takes into account the effects of hegemonic heterosexuality, consent can function effectively in the legal realm to identifyacts of sexual assault and hold perpetrators responsible. Throughout my discussion, I applaud Varden’s loving approach toward Kant’s theories.