Whitney Strub

Whitney Strub is an Associate Professor in the Federated Department of History at Rutgers University–Newark, with affiliations in American Studies and Women’s and Gender Studies. His research and teaching focus on modern U.S. history, particularly the intersections of sexuality, film, law, and cultural politics.

• Rutgers University–Newark – Associate Professor, Federated Department of History
• Affiliated Faculty – American Studies, Women’s and Gender Studies, LGBT Studies

Strub’s research explores the history of sexuality, obscenity, pornography, and censorship, with a particular emphasis on 20th-century America. His work critically examines the political use of antipornography campaigns, the legal construction of obscenity, and the cultural significance of sexual expression in film and media. He is especially interested in LGBTQ+ history, queer archives, and urban social justice movements.

His recent publications span both academic and public platforms, including Journal of the History of Sexuality, TSQ, The Washington Post, Slate, and Vice. The themes of his articles reflect a consistent engagement with sexual politics, historical memory, media representation, and social justice. He frequently analyzes how moral panics, legal doctrines, and cultural narratives shape public understanding of sexuality and citizenship.

• Books: Perversion for Profit, Obscenity Rules, Porno Chic and the Sex Wars
• Public Scholarship: Regular contributor to The Nation, Star-Ledger, Washington Post

Strub is actively involved in public history initiatives, notably as co-director of the Queer Newark Oral History Project, which documents LGBTQ+ life and activism in Newark. He teaches a range of courses on gender, sexuality, film, law, and urban history, emphasizing interdisciplinary and community-engaged approaches. There is no indication of part-time status or retirement, and he remains an active scholar and educator.