Lecture 4

Question 1

What is objectification and how does it affect individuals?

Answer 1

Objectification is when someone is seen or treated like an object rather than a person. This can lead to self-objectification, where individuals start judging themselves based on appearance and society’s beauty standards, often leading to body disatisfaction

Question 2

What are racialized beauty norms?

Answer 2

Racialized beauty norms favor Eurocentric features like lighter skin, straight hair, and certain facial traits

Question 3

What are the three main sources of body dissatisfaction according to the tripartite model?

Answer 3

1. Parents/Family: Body image comments and teasing, especially from mothers.
2. Peers: “Fat talk” and teasing about weight among friends.
3. Media: Unrealistic beauty standards from photoshopping and thinness culture.

Question 4

What is cultivation theory?

Answer 4

Argues greater exposure to media makes images seem more realistic/believable.

Question 5

What is face-ism and how does it manifest in media portrayals?

Answer 5

The tendency for media to focus on men’s faces, associated with intelligence, while focusing on women’s bodies, associated with appearance and sexuality.

Question 6

Who are some of the groups rendered invisible in media?

Answer 6

Larger women, women of color, older women, and women with disabilities.

Question 7

What is internalization in relation to body image?

Answer 7

Internalization is adopting society’s beauty standards and trying to meet them.

Question 8

What is sexual socialization?

Answer 8

The process of learning about sex and sexuality.

Question 9

What are sexual scripts and how do they reflect societal views on sexual behavior?

Answer 9

They are culturally behaviors that define what is considered “normal” in sexual encounters, often supporting traditional gender roles and inequalities.

Question 10

What is the sexual double standard, and how does it affect men and women differently?

Answer 10

The sexual double standard allows men to pursue sex without judgment, while women are often shamed for engaging in similar behaviors, reinforcing gender inequalities.

Question 11

What role does media play in sexual socialization?

Answer 11

Media is a primary source of sexual information, reinforcing heteronormative ideals, risky sexual behaviors, and often ignoring women’s sexual desires and agency.

Question 12

What are the key differences between abstinence-only, abstinence-plus, and comprehensive sex education?
.

Answer 12

1. Abstinence-Only: Teaches abstaining until marriage as the only way, using fear.
2. Abstinence-Plus: Focuses on abstinence but includes contraception and safe sex.
3. Comprehensive: Covers abstinence as one option, plus communication, skills, and sex positivity

Question 13

What is sexual agency?

Answer 13

Sexual agency is the comfort and control over one’s own sexuality,

Question 14

What is a major critique of abstinence-only programs?

Answer 14

1. Lack evidence of effectiveness
2. Often funded by religious groups
3. Withholding sexual health information is unethical
4. Considered a violation of human rights

Question 15

What are key ingredients for an effective sex education program?

Answer 15

1. Focus on reducing risky behavior
2. Use social learning theories
3. Involve experiential learning
4. Regulate media influence
5. Emphasize appropriate values

Question 16

What is “compulsory heterosexuality”?

Answer 16

Compulsory heterosexuality sees heterosexuality as the norm, marginalizing other identities.

Question 17

What is Rich’s notion of compulsory heterosexuality?

Answer 17

Rich argues that patriarchy teaches girls and women to focus on gaining male attention instead of attending to their own needs and desires.

Question 18

What is “token resistance” in sexual interactions?

Answer 18

Women are expected to say no, even when they mean yes, to avoid being judged as “too easy.” This discourages open communication and supports harmful stereotypes.

Question 19

What are key findings on sexual satisfaction and the pleasure gap?

Answer 19

Studies show women report less satisfaction during their first sexual experience than men. Patriarchal views on virginity also affect women’s sexual satisfaction.

Question 20

How does the traditional sexual script portray men’s and women’s roles?

Answer 20

Men are seen as always wanting sex and initiating it, while women act as “gatekeepers,” focused on pleasing men. This creates a double standard and leads to slut shaming.

Question 21

How has hookup/casual sex culture evolved for women?

Answer 21

Women’s involvement in casual sex has grown, partly because they think everyone else is doing it. However, cultural norms still shape how they experience casual sex.

Question 22

How do body concerns, like cognitive distraction and spectatoring, affect sexual experiences?

Answer 22

Worrying about body image during sex (cognitive distraction) or viewing themselves as objects (spectatoring) reduces women’s sexual satisfaction and relationship quality.

Question 23

What is “intimate justice” in young women’s sexual experiences?

Answer 23

“Intimate justice” asks who benefits from sex and defines “good” sex. Young women often report bad sexual experiences, using words like “degrading” or “humiliating.”