SEXUALITY
Attaching Meaning to Sex: Why?
• Humans attach meaning to everything
– Think about purpose of sex
– Encourage some forms of sex and outlaw others
– Research sexuality
• Sexuality is a theme found
society
I love Mr.
throughout
Schmidt, but
don’t tell anyone!
– Although almost all engage in sex, it’s a taboo
to discuss
• What comes to mind when you look at the
pictures? Why can’t you talk about it?
SEX AND THE BODY
• SEX
– THE BIOLOGICAL DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN
FEMALES AND MALES
– IF MALE PRODUCE TESTOSTERONE, WHICH
TRIGGERS DEVELOPMENT OF MALE GENITALS
• PRIMARY SEXUAL TRAITS
– GENITALS
– ORGANS USED FOR REPRODUCTION
• SECONDARY SEXUAL TRAITS
– MUSCLE MASS FOR MEN/FATTY TISSUE FOR
WOMEN
– AMOUNT OF BODY HAIR GREATER FOR MEN
– TONALITY OF VOICE DEEPER FOR MEN
NOT SO CLEAR-CUT
• HERMAPHRODITES
– POSSESSING SOME COMBINATION OF FEMALE
AND MALE GENITALIA
• Navajo in awe of hermaphrodites, because see in them the full
potential of both the female and male
• TRANSSEXUALS
– PEOPLE WHO FEEL EMOTIONALLY LINKED TO
ONE SEX, BUT ARE BIOLOGICALLY TIED TO THE
OTHER
– FEELING OFTEN EXPRESSED IS THAT SUCH A
PERSON IS “TRAPPED IN THE WRONG BODY”
• SHE-MALES
– MEN WHO DRESS AND LIVE THEIR LIVES AS FEMALES, BUT
WHO DO NOT UNDERGO SEX REASSIGNMENT
• SEX REASSIGNMENT
– SURGICAL PROCEDURE THAT CHANGES THE SEX OF A
PERSON
CULTURAL ISSUES
• BECAUSE HUMAN BIOLOGY DOES NOT DICTATE
ANY SPECIFIC WAYS OF BEING SEXUAL
– SEXUAL PRACTICES ARE LINKED TO CULTURAL
TRADITIONS
• APPROACHES AND POSITIONS
– People in South Sea laugh when missionaries told them couples in
US have sex face to face (missionary position)
• NOTIONS OF MODESTY FOR WOMEN CAUGHT OFF
GUARD
– Islamic woman covers her face/Samoan woman covers navel
• RESTRICTIONS PLACED UPON OPENNESS
– Americans kiss in public and Chinese only kiss in private
• THE INCEST TABOO
– FOUND IN EVERY SOCIETY
– THE NORM FOBIDDING SEXUAL RELATIONS
BETWEEN CERTAIN RELATIVES
– ONLY HUMANS OBSERVE THE INCEST TABOO
• LAWS
– SEXUAL MORALITY DICTATED BY STATE
GOVERNMENT BODIES
• STATE ANTI-SODOMY LAWS
• LAWS BAN HOMOSEXUALITY (North Dakota)
Sexual Revolution Begins
• The Roaring Twenties
– Men/Women live apart
from families and meet in
the workplace
• Alfred Kinsey published
first study of sexuality in
US (1948 and 1953)
– Revealed people in US
less conventional about
sexual matters than
thought
CLOSING THE DOUBLE STANDARD
Alfred Kinsey
• Started, what became known as, the
sexual revolution.
– Published the first study of sexuality in the
U.S. in 1948 (two books 1948 and 1953).
– It wasn’t the content that really shocked
people; it was the fact that scientists were
studying sex.
• The books created a new openness
toward sexuality.
– Yes, they were best sellers!
THE REVOLUTION
• THE LATE 1960’S
– THE REVOLUTION HAD COME OF AGE
• GENERAL ATTITUDES CHANGED WITH THE BABY
BOOMERS
– MARRIED OR NOT, SEX IS A PART OF EVERYONE’S LIFE
• THE PILL IN 1960 = CONVENIENCE AND MORE SEX
• IT CHANGED THE BEHAVIORS OF THE SEXES
– PREMARITAL SEX
• MEN AND WOMEN ARE ALMOST EQUAL IN THE PERCENT
REPORTING ENGAGING IN PREMARITAL SEX
• PREMARITAL SEX IS BROADLY ACCEPTED AMONG
AMERICA’S YOUNG
• 76% OF MEN & 66% OF WOMEN HAD PREMARITAL SEX
BY THEIR SENIOR YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL (THOSE BORN
IN THE 1970’s)
HOW WE VIEW PREMARITAL
AND EXTRAMARITAL SEX
80
70
Always Wrong
60
Almost Always Wrong
50
40
Wrong Only
Sometimes
Not Wrong At All
30
20
Don't Know/No Anwer
10
0
Premarital Sex
Extramarital Sex
THE REVOLUTION
– SEX AMONG ADULTS
• 1/3RD HAVE SEX A FEW TIMES A YEAR OR NOT AT ALL
• 1/3RD HAVE SEX ONCE TO A FEW TIMES A MONTH
• 1/3RD HAVE SEX WITH A PARTNER TWO OR MORE TIMES A
WEEK
• MARRIED PEOPLE REPORT THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF
EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL SATISFACTION WITH THEIR
PARTNERS
– EXTRAMARITAL/ADULTERY SEX
• 75% OF MEN AND 90% OF WOMEN REMAIN FAITHFUL
DURING THE MARRIAGES
• THE COUNTERREVOLUTION
– THE CONSERVATIVE MOVEMENT THAT IS OFTEN
TIED TO “TRADITIONAL FAMILY VALUES”
– CONSERVATIVE CALL FOR A RETURN TO FAMILY
VALUES (SEXUAL RESPONSIBILTY)
• DID NOT CHANGE THE IDEA TO DECIDE WHEN AND WITH
WHOM TO HAVE SEX
• Based on the data, it appears abstinence only is not
working for the majority.
– Does the data mean sex before marriage is acceptable?
– Does it appear that teaching abstinence only is pointless?
• It’s time to review the statistical ramifications of
having a child while in high school.
– The following info logically demonstrates the importance
of not putting your future at risk by having sex too soon
in life.
• The only full-proof plan is abstinence only!
• ROOTS OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION
– MOUNTING BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION
• SEXUAL ORIENTATION MAY NOT BE A “CHOICE”
– CANNOT DISCOUNT SOCIAL INFLUENCES
• IF LEARNED, THEN CAN IT BE UNLEARNED?
•
HETEROSEXUALITY-the norm in all societies
– “HETERO:” THE OTHER OF TWO
• HOMOSEXUALITY-exists in every society
– “HOMO:” THE SAME
– HOMOPHOBIA: AN IRRATIONAL FEAR
• BISEXUALITY
– STRONG ATTRACTION TO BOTH SEXES
• ASEXUALITY
– NO SEXUAL ATTRACTION TO PEOPLE OF
EITHER SEX
SEXUAL ORIENTATION
CONTINUUM
Most people actually
have some degree
of sexual
attraction to both
sexes!!
If you don’t think this is
true, then why do you
get upset if your
significant other is
talking to an individual
of the opposite sex? Are
you jealous? If so, why?
Is it based on their
looks? You’re judging!!
SEXUAL ATTRACTION DIFFERS
FROM SEXUAL BEHAVIOR
• MANY EXPERIENCE
ATTRACTION TO THOSE OF
SAME SEX
– FEW ACTUALLY EXPERIENCE
SAME-SEX BEHAVIOR
• CULTURAL CONSTRAINTS
ENCOURAGE INACTION
• ANCIENT GREEK UPPER-CLASS
MEN CONSIDERED
HOMOSEXUALITY THE
HIGHEST FORM OF
RELATIONSHIPS
– WOMEN CONSIDERED INFERIOR
– “REAL” MEN PREFERRED
HOMOSEXUALITY
SEXUAL ORIENTATION:
A PRODUCT OF SOCIETY
• People construct a set of meanings that
allows them to make sense of sexuality
– No distinct category of people called
“homosexuals”
– Simply started labeling people (created a
standard)
• Is sexuality of product of “NURTURE”?
– Is sexual preference learned?
– Can an individual learn to be gay?
SEXUAL ORIENTATION:
A PRODUCT OF BIOLOGY
• Simon LeVay (1993) linked sexual orientation to the
structure of the human brain
– Hypothalamus different in homo/heterosexuals, which
regulates hormones
• Genetics also plays a part in sexuality
– 33 out of 44 pairs of brothers had unique genetic patterns
on the X chromosome
– Gay brothers had unusually high number of gay male
relatives-only on mother’s side, the source of the X
chromosome
– Is there a “gay gene” and/or a gay brain?
• Is sexuality a product of “NATURE”?
MEASURING SEXUAL ORIENTATION:
HOW MANY ARE GAY?
Ages 18-59 by percent
9.1
Reporting any Homosexual Activity
4.3
7.1
Homosexual Activity Prior to Puberty
3.8
2.8
Claiming a Homosexual Identity
1.4
0
Men
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
Women
Laumann et al., (1994) in Macionis "Sociology," 6th edition. 1997
ATTITUDES TOWARD
HOMOSEXUAL RELATIONS
• Less than 1% of
adults describe
themselves as
bisexual
– Bisexual
experiences
common among
young people
– Especially those
on college
campuses
CONTROVERSIES
• TEEN PREGNANCY
– HIGHEST RATES OF ALL INDUSTRIALIZED
POWERS
– INCREASED RATES OF SEX EDUCATION
COURSES IN SCHOOLS
• PORNOGRAPHY
– ANY MATERIAL THAT CAUSES SEXUAL
AROUSAL
– DIFFICULTIES WITH DEFINING WHAT IS AND
WHAT IS NOT MORAL IN COMMUNITIES
– LINKED TO VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
(OBJECTS NOT PEOPLE)?
• MORE BARK THAN BITE
– 60% OF ADULTS BELIEVE SEXUAL MATERIAL
CAUSES MORAL BREAKDOWNS
– 50% OF ADULTS BELIEVE PORNOGRAPHY
ENCOURAGES RAPE
– IF WE ARE SO AGAINST, WHY IS IT A $10
BILLION INDUSTRY?
BIRTHS TO TEENAGE WOMEN
•1,000,000 TEEN PREGNANCYS IN U.S.
•M0ST PREGRANT TEENAGERS ARE NOT MARRIED (½ GET AN ABORTION)
22% 15%
TEENAGE PREGNANCY RATES
ACROSS THE US
Controversy and Debate: When should the Law
Allow a Women to Choose Abortion?
OYEZ - Roe v. Wade.url
PROSTITUTION
• THE SELLING OF SEXUAL
SERVICES, OFTEN TABBED AS
THE “WORLD’S OLDEST
PROFESSION”
– SOCIAL AND CULTURAL TIES
• STRONGEST IN COUNTRIES WHERE
– WOMEN’S STATUS IS LOW
– WOMEN’S ROLES ARE DEVALUED
– OPPORTUNITIES ARE RESTRICTED
– A “VICTIMLESS CRIME?”
• TYPES OF PROSTITUTION
– “CALL GIRLS”
– WORKERS IN CONTROLLED
PALORS
– “STREET WALKERS”
Prostitution in Global Perspective
• A CULTURE OF RAPE
– SOME WOMEN BELIEVE THAT A “RAPE CULTURE” EXISTS
IN AMERICA AND IN MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD:
• RAPE
• DATE RAPE (OR ACQUAINTANCE RAPE)
– A VIOLENT ACT THAT USES SEX TO HURT, HUMILIATE, OR
CONTROL ANOTHER PERSON
– FORCIBLE SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN BY MEN THEY
KNOW
• MARITAL RAPE
– RAPE THAT TAKES PLACE BETWEEN MARRIED PARTNERS
• MYTHS ABOUT RAPE
– RAPE INVOLVES STRANGERS
– WOMEN PROVOKE THEIR ATTACKERS
– RAPE IS SIMPLY SEX
• WHAT DO YOU THINK A MAN THINKS ABOUT
WHEN HE IS STARING AT A WOMAN?
WOMEN WERE CONSIDERED PROPERTY, SO THEY
CAN NOT BE RAPED BY THEIR HUSBAND
• WOMEN ARE MORE
• MARY KAY LETOURNEAU
LIKELY TO BE INJURED BY
– TEACHER CHARGED WITH
SECOND-DEGREE RAPE OF
AN EX-PARTNER OR
HER 6th GRADER
CURRENT FAMILY
– SHE HAD BOTH OF THE
MEMBER THAN TO BE
BOY’S CHILDREN
MUGGED OR RAPED BY A
STRANGER OR HURT IN AN
AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT
• MONTANA AND
CINCINNATI USE
CHEMICAL CASTRATION
– INJECT DEPO-PROVERA TO
REDUCE SEX DRIVE
SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
STRUCTURAL-FUNCTIONALISM
• NEED TO REGULATE SEXUAL BEHAVIOR TO KEEP
SOCIETY ORGANIZED
– Sexual freedom would threaten family life (raising kids)
– No society is willing to permit complete sexual free choice in sexual
partners (destroy kinship and relationships)
– Controlling birth allowed for sex to become a form of intimacy and
recreation
• LATENT FUNCTION: THE CASE OF PROSTITUTION
– Why is prostitution widespread despite efforts to control it
• Trouble forming relationships, people who are unattractive, & limited
access to sex
• Stabilize loveless marriages
• CRITICAL EVALUATION
– Does not take in to effect that sexual ideas and practices differ
greatly
– Sexual patterns change over time
SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
SYMBOLIC-INTERACTION
• THE SOCIAL CONSTURCTION OF SEXUALITY
– Process of reality construction is highly variable (sexuality
viewed differently)
• VIRGINITY BEFORE MARRIAGE CHANGED
(BIRTH CONTROL)
– No effective birth control, so virginity was the only way to
ensure women not caring a child
– Those born between 1963-1974
• 16.3% men and 20.1% women virgins when first married
– Don’t want kids to have sex, but must educate them about
sex
• CRITICAL EVALUATION
– Men more likely to see women in sexual terms than vise
versa
SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
SOCIAL-CONFLICT
• REFLECTION OF HOW SEXUALITY REFLECTS
PATTERNS OF SOCIAL INEQUALITY AND HELPS
CREATE INEQUALTY
– Police likely to arrest:
• Less powerful female prostitutes than client
• Street walkers-least income & more likely to be a minority-higher rate of
arrests
– Would fewer women be involved in prostitution if they had same
economic opportunities as men?
• SEXUALITY IS AT THE ROOT OF INEQUALITY
BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN
– Women devalued as objects
• Greek word “porne” = a man’s sexual slave
• Most people watching porne are men
– Supports the idea that women seek to please men
– Sexuality depicted in terms of sport (men “scoring” and running the
“bases”)
• Terms for sex and violence used interchangeably
– Slamming, banging, hitting on, nailing, hammering
SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
Social-Conflict Continued
• FEMINIST THEORY
– SEXUALITY MAY ULTIMATELY LEAD TO THE DEGRADATION
OF WOMEN IN SOCIETY
• QUEER THEORY
– CHALLENGING THE HETEROSEXUAL BIAS IN SOCIOLOGY
AND SOCIETY
• Adding a voice for gays
• HETEROSEXISM
– A view stigmatizing anyone who is not heterosexual as “queer”
– Heterosexuals domination over homosexuals
• It is widely tolerated and somewhat supported by law
• Military can not discharge a woman for “acting like a woman”, but if she is a
sexually active lesbian she can be discharged
– When something is defined as “sexy” it is from a heterosexual point of
view
• CRITICL EVALUATION
– Sex is not a power issue for everyone (brings people closer)
– Sexual inequality has decreased
• At least in public men do not usually describe women as objects
“THE RULE OF FATHERS”
A FORM OF SOCIAL ORGANIZATION IN
WHICH MALES DOMINATE FEMALES
• MATRIARCHY
– SOCIAL DOMINANCE BY WOMEN
• SEXISM
– BELIEF THAT ONE SEX OR THE OTHER IS
INNATELY INFERIOR OR SUPERIOR
– UNTOLD LOSSES WHEN CONSIDERING HOW MUCH
TALENT HAS BEEN LOCKED OUT
• INEVITABILITY OF PATRIARCHY
– IS BIOLOGY DESTINY? SHOULD WOMEN RULE?