Topic 4- Sexuality And Identity

Question 1

Dominant in contemporary Britain of normal sexuality

Answer 1

• is that of heterosexuality, which is a central aspect of the hegemonic masculine and feminine identity, as women have been defined in British by their physical attractiveness and sexual appeal to men

Question 2

The male gaze

Answer 2

Is where men look at women as sexual objects

Question 3

Homosexuality

Answer 3

Involves a sexual orientation towards people of the same sex with lesbian women attracted to other women, and gay men attracted to other gay men

Question 4

Changing sexual identities

Answer 4

• rise of the gay movement

- growing crisis of the masculinity>opening up new identities

Question 5

Change in men and the media

Answer 5

• Mens bodies have become more sexualised with more naked men’s bodies appearing in the media and advertising on a greater scale than ever before
• Men are beginning to face almost the same physical scrutiny, by both women and other men

Question 6

Stigmatised or spoiled sexual identities

• homosexuality why it is seen to be a stigmatised or spoiled identity
• consequences of having this spoiled/stigmatised identity

Answer 6

• the hegemonic gender identities are likely to regard sexuality outside ‘normal sex’ e.g homosexuality as deviant activities>those who are homosexual are seen to have stigmatised or spoiled identity
• hostility in pubs and clubs and in the street, bullying at school, mockery in the mass media(e.g anti gay jokes) and discrimination in employment

Question 7

Other forms of sexuality

What is the result in these sexualities being more stigmatised

Answer 7

-Peadophilia,
-sado-masochism
-transvestism
-necrophilia
More stigmatised so therefore many forms of sexuality which don’t conform with normal sex are concealed & use the “impression management” (Goffman) to conceal

Question 8

How has stigmatisation of homosexual identities changed

Answer 8

• Is reducing and is much dismissed compared to what it once was
• there is more fluidity about sexual identity&new identities are emerging
• more tv soaps and dramas featuring gay and lesbian relationships

Question 9

Year it became legal in UK for sexual relations between men
Age of consent for gay men in what year
Year they were allowed to get marries

Answer 9

• changes are recent
• 1968
• 2000 age of consent became the same as for heterosexual adults to 16
• 2005