intersection of sexuality & race Flashcards
what is sexuality
A broad range of behaviors, feelings, and identities, all of which have a gendered dimension
what is sexual orientation
the type of sexual, romantic, emotional/spiritual attraction one has the capacity to feel for others - generally labeled based on the gender relationship between the person and the people they are attracted to
what is heteronormativity
The assumption that everyone is heterosexual
what is the history of sexual behaviour
- Proper sexual desire was constructed around procreation (having children) - non-procreative sexual activity comes to be labeled as problematic; sexual pleasure
what are sexual scripts
The learned guidelines for sexual expression for that particular culture
- based on a social constructionist understanding of sexuality - they are derived from cultural values and beliefs and interact with other social categories like age, class, and race
what is the sexual double standard
A belief about what women should not do and what men should do in the context of sexual behavior - The practice of applying stricter moral or legal controls to women’s sexual behavior than to men’s
Men perspective on sexual double standard
- Are expected to desire and pursue sexual opportunities regardless of context
- Are celebrated for engaging in heterosexual sexual activity
Women perspective on sexual double standard
- Are expected to avoid casual sex and only engage in sexual opportunities in the context of relationships
- Are chastised for engaging in sexual activity outside the context of a committed relationship
how has women’s sexual double standard changed
expectations to avoid casual sex has become less universal - shown by use of the birth control pill and other hormonal contraceptives among unmarried women
how do Mens perspective on sexual double standard reflect on society
- When single people do have sex, they expect the man to make the first sexual move + men’s sexual fulfillment usually comes first
- means that parents have traditionally tried harder to police their daughters’ sexual behavior than their sons’
dating in 1900’s
became more common - decreasing number of sexually active individuals in recent times
what is hooking up
A sexual encounter that happens between individuals not in a committed relationship
- There are norms, social rules/sexual scripts for this : Men gain social status; women lose status - women pay a bigger emotional price than men
what is race
a socially defined category based on perceived biological differences between groups of people
- Meanings we attach to racial categories have consequences – even though race is socially constructed
- Racial categories never have firm boundaries
what is ethnic groups
members share the same cultural heritage: like language, nation of origin, and religion
what is inequality a result of
the expectations that individuals have of different races e.g. the beliefs that individuals of different races are suited to perform different tasks/roles; have different emotions, etc
