Chapter 6 Sexuality and Society Flashcards
Can you describe how sexuality is both a biological and cultural issue? Can you explain changes in sexual attitudes in Canada? Can you analyze factors that shape sexual orientation? Can you discuss several current controversies involving sexuality? Can you apply sociology's major theories to the topic of sexuality?
What is Sex?
the biological distinction between females and males
What are Primary Sex Characteristics?
the genitals, which are the organs used for reproduction
What are Secondary Sex Characteristics?
bodily development, apart from the genitals, that distinguishes biologically mature male and females
Who are Intersex People?
people whose bodies (including genitals) have both female and male characteristics
Who are Transsexuals?
people who feel they are one sex even though biologically they are the other
What is Gender?
it is cultural, referring to behv, power, and privileges a society attaches to being female or male
What is Incest Taboo?
a norm forbidding sexual relations or marriage between certain relations
What is the Sexual Revolution and when did it peak?
peaked in 1960’s-70’s; greater openness about sexuality
What is the Sexual Counterrevolution and when was it evident?
evident by 1980’s; aimed criticism at “permissiveness” and urged a return to more traditional “family values”
What are some conclusions about Sexual Behaviour drawn by researchers (beginning with Alfred Kinsey)? Can you state 2 of them?
- premarital sexual intercourse became more common in 20th century
- majority of young men &women (in canada) have intercourse after age 17
- Canadians have sex slightly more than once a week (rates vary across age groups and geographical regions)
- Extramarital sex is widely condemned by 76% of Canadians (married men/women having an affair is morally unacceptable)
What is Sexual Orientation?
a person’s romantic and emotional attraction to another person
What is Heterosexuality?
sexual attraction to someone of the other sex
What is Homosexuality?
sexual attraction to someone of the same sex
What is Bisexuality?
sexual attraction to people of both sexes
What is Asexuality?
a lack of sexual attraction to people of either sex
What is Homophobia?
discomfort over close personal interaction with people thought to be gay, lesbian, or bisexual
How many Canadian adults claim that Homosexuality is morally unacceptable?
20%
What is Transgender?
appearing or behaving in ways that challenge the conventional cultural norms concerning how females and males should look and act
What are the 4 Controversies involving Sexuality?
- teen pregnancy
- pornography
- prostitution
- sexual violence
Can you define Pornography?
sexually explicit material intended to cause sexual arousal
Can you define Pornography?
sexually explicit material intended to cause sexual arousal
Can you define Prostitution?
the selling of sexual services
How does Structural-functional Theory apply to the topic of Sexuality?
highlight’s societies need to regulate sexual activity and especially reproduction
How does Symbolic-Interaction Theory apply to the topic of Sexuality?
emphasizes the various meanings people attach to sexuality and leads to the social construction of sexuality (which can be seen in sexual differences between societies and in changing sexual patterns over time)
How does Social-Conflict Theory apply to the topic of Sexuality?
links sexuality to social inequality
What does Feminist Theory claim?
men dominate women by devaluating them to the level of sexual objects
What does Queer Theory claim?
our society has a heterosexual bias and queer theory challenges this bias
What is Heterosexism?
prejudice or discrimination against non-heterosexuals
Can you define Abortion?
the deliberate termination of a pregnancy
