Chapter 1: Perspectives on Sexuality

Question 1

Sexual intelligence

Answer 1

Self-understanding, interpersonal sexual skills, scientific knowledge, and consideration of the cultural context of sexuality.

Question 2

Psychosocial

Answer 2

A combination of psychological and social factors.

Question 3

Between vs within group differences

Answer 3

There is usually more variation within a group than between any two groups. For instance, while Hispanic culture as a whole might place a high value on chastity before marriage for women, the attitudes of individual Hispanic people vary dramatically on this issue.

Question 4

Acculturation

Answer 4

Replacing traditional beliefs and behavior patterns with those of the dominant culture.

Question 5

Slut shaming

Answer 5

Humiliating, intimidating, or degrading a person (typically a woman) because of their sexual behavior.

Question 6

Celibacy

Answer 6

Historically defined as the state of being unmarried; currently defined as abstention from sexual behavior.

Question 7

Madonna-whore dichotomy

Answer 7

The Virgin Mary (Madonna) represents feminine purity and compassion, while Eve (whore) represents the sinful and seductive/sexual. These dichotomous images were formed in the Middle Ages and influenced peoples’ perception of women and their sexuality. Hundreds of thousands of women were hunted, persecuted and killed during the “witch hunts” for almost 200 years.

Question 8

Self-understanding about sexuality

Answer 8

Learning more about yourself as a sexual being; one of the four components of sexual intelligence.

Question 9

Interpersonal sexual skills

Answer 9

Ability to talk openly about sexuality and sexual health, does not require being sexually active; one of the four components of sexual intelligence.

Question 10

Accurate scientific knowledge about sexuality

Answer 10

Learning and educating yourself about the science of sexual arousal, intercourse and pleasure; one of the four components of sexual intelligence.

Question 11

Consideration of the cultural and political contexts

Answer 11

Being considerate of the way that the environment, culture and politics of an area impact sexual issues; one of the four components of sexual intelligence.

Question 12

Sex for procreation

Answer 12

Historically in North America, the idea that procreation was the only legitimate reason for sexual activity was prevalent. Sexual behaviors that provide pleasure without the possibility for procreation have been viewed at various times as immoral, sinful, perverted, or illegal. Today, most North Americans do not believe that sexual activity is primarily for procreation, and people vary widely in their beliefs about which sexual activities constitute “having sex”.

Question 13

Male and female gender roles in sexuality

Answer 13

Gender socialization limits, shapes, and exaggerates our biological tendencies. Across most cultures, women face more restrictions on, and experience greater sanctions against, their sexuality than do men. Many women experience slut-shaming (as well as some gay men). It appears that when overall gender equality is greater, individuals of both sexes perceive male and female sexuality more similarly.

Question 14

Judaic and Christian traditions

Answer 14

Judaic tradition celebrates sex as more than just a reproductive necessity, while the Christian tradition came later and overshadowed this view of sexuality. Paul of Tarsus influenced the church through his view of flesh = evil and spirit = godly, promoted celibacy (not getting married and thus not having sex).

Question 15

Sex as sinful

Answer 15

Bishop Augustine asserted lust was Eve and Adam’s original sin, believed females were inherently subordinate to men. Belief that sex was sinful persisted throughout the middle ages.

Question 16

A sex-positive shift

Answer 16

Protestant reformers in 16th century helped change the view of non-reproductive sex as sinful. Martin Luther and John Calvin recognized the value of sex in marriage.
18th century Enlightenment allowed for new scientific breakthroughs, which helped determine fact from fiction and provided women with more respect from society. Mary Wollstonecraft wrote “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman” in 1792, which argued against limited gender roles for females and supported sex for pleasure.

Question 17

The Victorian era

Answer 17

Progressive views of 16th-18th century reverse during the Victorian era (1837-1901). Madonna-whore dichotomy comes back into play, women wore tight corsets, and women with proper manner were valued. Women worked to fulfill the family’s spiritual needs and maintain a comfortable home for her husband to return to. Women developed close friendships between each other due to the separate spheres that men and women occupied. Prostitution flourished as men sought out sexual companionships. Marriages were borne out of convenience rather than romance.

Question 18

Slavery’s assault on sexuality and gender roles

Answer 18

Stereotypes of Black sexuality provided a justification for the institution of slavery and White power. Dehumanizing Blacks as animalistic, oversexed “heathens” gave many White slave owners a rationale for exploitation and domination. Madonna-whore dichotomy morphed into Mammy-jezebel dichotomy. Mammy was supposed to be the loyal, asexual slave who cared for White children and families. Jezebel was perceived as a seductress of insatiable sexual appetite (male version was highly sexual and violent). Black female slaves were raped and abused, and male slaves were beaten and lynched. This continued even post-emancipation as a form of social control.

Question 19

The beginning of the 20th century

Answer 19

Freud believed sexuality was innate in women and men and wrote The Interpretation of Dreams (1900).