Chapter 1 - Sexuality in perspective Flashcards
What is Gender
Gender is a social construct that helps us identify ourselves
What is sex?
Sex is biological. It is composed of;
chromosomes: does the person have x,y or x,x or x,x,y…
anatomy: what kind of genetalia do they have? female? male? both or neither (intersex)?
Behaviour.
What is androgen insensitivity syndrome?
This is when someone has female anatomy but x,y chromosomes indicating that they are male on the chromosome level but female on the anatomical level. This occurs when the foetus does not respond to the androgens (the stuff that makes them male). This is usually discovered when the woman tries to have a baby
What are the influences on sexuality?
There are 4 influences on sexuality:
1. Religion
Religion offers guidance on what is right and what is wrong and is different between cultures.
2. Science
Sex research only started in the 19th century because of strict opinions on sex as a topic in the west. Even at that it was halted in the 1930s during the 2nd world war because the Nazis views sexual expression as an act of freedom (especially as Belgium had a large lgbtq+ community which they were not a fan of)
3. Popular media
We tend to imitate what we see and as television has become more graphic our perspectives on sexuality have increased
4. Internet
Basically same (with increased access we have increased exposure to it)
Cross-cultural perspectives on sexuality.
Indigenous peoples tend not to have very many taboos regarding sexual practices (and with whom they are) as they frequently see themselves as remnants of the past and have a large variety of gender identities (ex. two spirit)
Being mad about sex is a very white man thing
also sexual practices are very different from place to place… ex. kissing is very westernized expression of sexual desire
Ethnocentrism
The tendency to view your culture as the best one and to use that as a baseline for comparison of other cultures
Incest Taboo
A nearly universal cultural moral that blood relatives should not have sexual relations together
Why are cross-cultural studies of sexuality important?
They help us understand what is universal and what is not universal.
(if we hadn’t done these maybe we would have assumed that every culture in the world feels wrong about LGBTQ+ or that kissing is normal for everyone to do)
What are some of the varieties of sexual techniques? (cultures)
ex. Kama Sutra
A popular Indian transcript describing a variety of sexual positions
what are some varieties in masturbation? (culture)
Ex. Colonialist victorian England viewed masturbation as a sin, even going so far as to produce products to prevent erections (for men metal contraption with a tube that would prevent an erect penis)
ex. African Azande: A woman can masturbate but if caught by her husband she could be beat (in case her excitement can not be contained and there is no man to aid her)
*Most societies show some kind of disapproval ranging from light to heavy punishments.
what are some varieties in premarital and extramarital sex? (culture)
Some societies encourage many partners before marriage and some will go so far as to remove clit so they won’t get “horny”.
Extramarital sex is the second most strictly prohibited sexual act, second only to incest.
What are some varieties in same-gender sex? (culture)
Homosexual behaviour is found universally.
Some people don’t like it at all
Some people are okay with it but only in children
Some people are good with it all the way around.
What are some varieties in standards of attractiveness?
Some cultures judge attractiveness on:
- shape & colour of eyes
- shape of ears
- Appearance of genitals
- Most cultures like plump women (western its thin)
- the only one than seems to be universal is nice skin
What are the influences of social class on sexual behaviours?
Higher social class: more likely to take contraceptives and have more sex
What are 3 core Asian-American values that persist is the United States?
Collectivism:
Others needs should be above your own & open expression of some sexual behaviours threaten the highly inter-dependant social structures as well as family
Conformity to norms:
if they do not comply to societal norms they may bring shame upon themselves and the fam
Emotional control: Emotions such as love and passion should be muted/controlled
