Sexual identities Flashcards
What did homosexuality used to be considered as?
- A perversion
- Mental illness
- Criminal offence
What do feminists argue about the media portrayal of women?
- Women are portrayed as ‘sexual objects’
- Something for men to fantasise over
- Mulvey- ‘the male gaze’
What does Weeks say about the signifiance of sexual identity?
Still significant (for some)
- Sexual identity is less significant for those of a heterosexual orientation than those of a homosexual orientation, as they are not part of a minority (most would not include heterosexuality as part of their identity)
What is sexuality?
Refers to an individual’s sexual orientation
What does Weeks say about sexual identification?
No longer significant, changing
- ‘Sexual identification is a strange thing’
- There are people who identity as gay and are active in the community, BUT do not participate in same-sex sexual encounters
- There are others who do not identify as gay, BUT have same-sex sexual encounters
What does Reiss say about sexual identity?
No longer significant, changing
- ‘Rent boys’ (young male prostitues) identify as heterosexual, despite having sex with men for money
- Actively despise the men they have sex with to counter the act
What does Quinn say about sexual identity
Cross-cultural studies
- Studied same-sex relationships in tribal people
- Native Americans: gay couples= feminine man takes on the role of ‘wife’, lesbian couples= masculine woman takes on the ‘husband’ role
- Sub-Saharan Africans: man-boy marriages, in which young boys are ‘boy-wives’ (12-20), and treated as a female wife. Later on, they have a boy-wife of their own
What do the Kinsey Reports tell us about sexual identity?
Cross-cultural studies
- In 1940s/50s, US homosexual encounters were more common than thought= 37% of men had a same-sex sexual encounter, but only 4% were openly out
What do cross-cultural studies tell us about sexual identity?
- Sexual identity is socially constructed, and is influenced by the norms and values of each culture
- Reflect Plummer’s cultural relativity concept- sexuality is relative from culture to culture, time to time, place to place
What does McIntosh say about sexual identity?
Still significant, not changing
- ‘The homosexual role’
- In Western culture, the role of homosexual males is linked to expectations: effeminate mannerisms, higher voice, attention to appearance
- ‘Out’ males fulfill expectations of the homosexual male
- Married straight men, who admit to having sexual relations with males, do not exhibit signs of homosexuality
How can Becker’s labelling theory be applied to sexual identity?
Still signficant
- Homosexual male (comes out)
- Society sees them as homosexual (society LABELS them as homosexual)
- Individual sees themselves as homosexual (Cooley- ‘looking-glass self)
- Master status= homosexual
- Self fulfilling prophecy
- Homosexual careers (Plummer)
What does Plummer say about sexual identity?
Still signficant, not changing
- ‘Homosexual career’= males who have accepted the homosexual label seek others and join a subculture, in which hmosexual characteristics are the norm
- Acceptance and internalisation create the homosexual identity, NOT sexual attraction
What do the ‘Gay Left Collective’ say homosexual identity is associated with?
- ‘Becoming the other’
- ‘Becoming what one has learned to despise’
What does Rich say about sexual identity?
Still significant, not changing
- Women’s sexuality is oppressed by men in a patriarchial society, through marriage
- ‘Compulsory heterosexuality’= women are socialised into a suborinate and heterosexual role (through Oakley’s gender role socialisation)
- Heterosexual identity is forced upon women, and lesbian identity is constructed as ‘abnormal’
Why are sexual identities changing?
- Changes in the law
- Changes in the media
- Changes in social attitudes
What laws have been established that result in changing sexual identities?
- Equality Act 2010 (no discrimination against people due to sexuality)
- Same sex marriage act 2014
- Age of consent act 2000
What are some examples of events showing changing sexual identities?
- Gay pride
- LGBTQ+
- Leisure industry= gay bars, gay pubs, gay events
What is ‘The Pink Pound’?
Changing
- Spending of homosexuals
- Exploitation of gay people, by capitalism, through leisure and consumerism
How do changes in the media mean sexual identity is changing?
- Wider acceptance of homosexuality
- Celebrities coming out, and sharing their stories, such as: Nigel Owen, Tom Allen
- Media exposure to homosexuality
Why are sexual identities NOT changing?
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Homophobic attacks, cyberhate and bullying
- Still illegal in many countries (Uganda, Nigeria)
What are the current laws surrounding same sex marriages?
Changing views
- March 2014= same sex marriage legalised
- Surveys suggest 1/5 of people would refuse an invite to a same-sex wedding, and some religious groups remain deeply opposed
What happened at the 2014 Commonwealth games?
Changing views
- Opening ceremony presented by John Barrowman and Karen Dunbar- both openly gay
- Barrowman kissed his male ‘bride’ in a mock-up marriage ceremony
- Seen by some as a deliberate statement aimed at the 42 countries in which homosexuality is still illegal
