Sexual Identity Flashcards
what is sexuality?
Refers to a person’s sexual orientation- the gender they are attracted to
what are four examples of sexuality?
being lesbian
being homosexual
being bisexual
being pansexual- attracted to people regardless of sex or gender
How are sexual identities created and reinforced?:
explain agent- Religion
The Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam have traditionally forbidden sodomy, believing and teaching that such behaviour is sinful.
This stems from values of celibacy, monogamy and heterosexuality
This means religions define normal sex as heterosexual, married, monogamous and intended for reproduction
How are sexual identities created and reinforced?:
Agent- media
Explain heteronormativity- Gerbner
•Heteronormativity is the idea that heterosexuality is the most normal and desirable form of sexuality
•George Gerbner (2002) argues the media participate in symbolic annihilation of gays and lesbians by negatively stereotyping them.
How are sexual identities created and reinforced?:
Explain stereotyping- Craig
*Craig (1992) suggests when homosexual characters are portrayed in the media, They’re often stereotyped for particular characters such as:
*Campness~ Refers to ways in which gay men are seen as to be more feminine
*Macho~ When gay men in the media are characterised by exaggerated masculinity
*Deviant~ Gay people are stereotyped as deviants, as evil or as devious in tv drama, as sexual predators or people who feel guilt about their sexuality
How are sexual identities changing?
Explain softening of masculinity in English Sixth forms- McCormak and Anderson
•This study is helpful in understanding both gender and sexual identities
•Research’s spent 7 months “hanging out” and observing behaviours with 16-18 year old boys in a Co-educational sixth form in South of England
They found:
•All boys demonstrated pro gay attitudes
•they could be physically tactile with Escher e.g sit on each others laps with it being deemed as gay
•boys can take care of their appearance without it being seen as gay or feminine
How are sexual identities changing?:
Explain Gaunlett- Changing media representations
*Gaunlett argues lesbians, gay and bisexual people are still under represented in mainstream media and suggests tolerance of sexual diversity is slowly growing in society e.g Piper and Alex from orange is the new
*British Olympic diver Tom Daley who’s gay said in a speech he’ll make it his missions to stop countries where homosexuality is punishable by death for competing in the olympics (in 10 other countries being gay leads to death and 60 countries where same sex marriages are criminalised)
How are sexual identities changing?:
Explain changes in law- same sex marriage
*In march 2014, a change in law meant same sex couples in UK could legally marry
*Politicians of all parties welcomed this change however some surgery’s suggest 1/5 of people would refuse invitations to a same sec wedding and some religious groups remained opposed
How are sexual identities changing?:
Explain changing social attitudes-LGB identities as de-medicalised
*Gay, lesbian and bisexual identities were previously seen as medical disorders and in 1977, the international classification disease (ICD) listed homosexuality as a mental illness
*Research evidence demonstrates same sex sexual romantic attractions, feelings and behaviours are normal
*same sex relationships were removed from ICD on 17th May 1990
