Until now, sexuality has been treated as a specialist topic or area of specialist social work practice. This book cuts across all areas of the discipline. It examines the relationship between sexuality, sexual identities and intimacies and the life course, and showcases a range of issues pertinent to social work through these lenses. It opens up new possibilities for better understanding sexuality in social work, and contains empirical work and theorising about sexuality, intimacy and gender not currently found in a traditional course on life course theory and practice.

The chapters position new areas of scholarship in sexuality including trans perspectives, masculinities, bisexuality and the voices of other gender and sexual minority populations within a life course trajectory. Empirical research picks up on the broader public health and well-being agenda with a strong focus on challenging normative theories to promote human rights and justice for marginalised individuals and groups.

Sexuality, Sexual and Gender Identities and Intimacy Research in Social Work and Social Care will significantly enhance any core texts on life course theory and practice, anti-oppression and anti-discriminatory theories for professionals. It should be considered essential reading for academics, practitioners and undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Priscilla Dunk-West is Senior Lecturer in social work at Flinders University, Australia. Her practice background was in London where she worked in child protection with families, children and young people before specialising in sexual health in Australia. Her research focuses on social work and sexuality, everyday sexuality and intimacy, long-term relationships and positive post separation parenting.

Trish Hafford-Letchfield is a qualified nurse, social worker and educator who has been working in higher education since 2003. Trish is Professor of Social Care at Middlesex University and Social Work Research Fellow at the University of Stellenbosch, in South Africa. Her research interests are diverse including sexualities and sexual identities, older people from marginalised communities, equality issues in health and social care and the use of the arts in education and practice to promote community engagement.