Sexual identity Flashcards
1
Q
What is heteronormativity?
A
- What is classified as normal sexual behaviour is socially constructed.
- In Britain, the dominant view of sexuality is heterosexuality as it has links to reproduction.
- This is known as heteronormativity.
2
Q
What are the differences in sexuality between women and men?
A
- Sexuality has always been a part of femininity with women being defined, very often, by their physical attractiveness.
- There is also a sexual double standard applied to men and women with sexually promiscuous females likely to be condemned by both sexes.
3
Q
What are the changing sexual identities in men?
A
- Physical appearance has begun to become a part of masculinity –> this links with metrosexuality and subordinate masculinity.
- Men’s bodies have become more sexualised, especially in the media.
- More importance attached to men’s body image than there used to be.
- In 2005, the Sun published a Hall of Shame of celebrity males with ‘male boobs’. Women have now taken up the position of active viewers.
4
Q
What is stigmatised sexual identities?
A
- Individuals whose sexual identity is regarded as not the norm are likely to be seen as deviant.
- This can result in hostility in public places, bullying, mockery in the media and discrimination.
5
Q
What is hostility towards homosexuality in Britain doing and why?
A
- Hostility towards homosexuality is reducing.
- For example, in the media, TV soaps and dramas feature gay and lesbian relationships.
6
Q
Why has the experiences of gay and lesbian people changed? (Reference to the pink pound)
A
- Much of the gay subcultures that has emerged from the 1970s and onwards has focused on leisure and consumption e.g. gay bars, clubs and restaurants.
- This has resulted in more positive portrayals in the media as advertisers want to attract gay consumers to their products.
- This is known as the pink pound.
7
Q
Why has the experiences of gay and lesbian people changed? (Reference to law)
A
- Much of the changes are vary recent, many due to changes in the law.
- It was in 1968 that it became legal in England and Wales for men over the age of 21 to have sexual relations, and not until 1980 in Scotland.
- The age of consent for gay men only became the same as for heterosexual adults in 2000.
8
Q
Why has the experiences of gay and lesbian people changed? (Reference to movements)
A
- Gay pride marches have increased visibility and social acceptance of gay people.
- More recently, campaigns for equal rights have been extended in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender movement (LGBT).
- As a result of the gay movement, gay people now have a wide range of sexual identities open to them.
9
Q
What has newer types of masculinity overcame?
A
- Newer types of masculinity have overcome much of the stigma attached to male homosexuality, as well as weakening the differences between gay and straight masculinities.
10
Q
What are the negative experiences of homosexual people?
A
- The extent of the changes in the ideas of homosexual people cannot be exaggerated as homosexuality is still regarded as deviant by many people.
- Homophobia is still prominent, and intolerance and the fear of homosexual and bisexual people is still very common.
11
Q
How does the media represents homosexuality?
A
- Homosexuality, particularly representations of gay men, are sanitised in the media.
- They are rarely represented in a sexualised way.
- Homosexuality is symbolically annihilated in the media: severely underrepresented and represented in one dimensional ways.
12
Q
What did a 2013 Stonewall report find?
A
- 55% of lesbian, gay and bisexual young people experience homophobic bullying at school and hear homophobic language on a frequent basis.
- 1 in 5 employees have experienced verbal bullying from colleagues or customers whilst the majority of LGB people expect to be discriminated against if they stand for political office, want to foster a child, or consider becoming a magistrate or school governor.
13
Q
What does Dorais argue about homophobia?
A
- Dorais argues that many young men who attempted suicide did so because they struggled with their own sexual identity in a homophobic society.
- Most of the men in the study were gay or regarded as effeminate by others and did not conform to the hegemonic ideals of masculinity.
14
Q
What is the changes in definitions of ‘attractiveness’?
A
- Heterosexuality to some degree also seems to be the product of culture, rather than biology.
- Illustrated by examining the way the definitions of sexual attractiveness have changed over the course of the last 100 years in Western Societies.
- Studies of the 18th and 19th century paintings suggest the ideal feminine beauty was plump women
- In 1950’s female sex icons such as Marilyn Monroe were much bigger women than the supermodels and celebrities favoured by the fashion industry in the early 21st century.
15
Q
What have feminist sociologists suggested the media representation of heterosexuals is responsible for?
A
- Responsible for eating disorders.
- Argues the media continues the idea that slimness equals success, health, happiness and popularity.
