1. Chapter 8 Sexuality

2. What is Sex? Sex – biological distinction between males and females –Biological issue – males and females have different organs for reproduction and also different physical traits –Cultural issue – sexual attitudes and practices vary from one place to another and over time

3. Sexual Attitudes in the United States Sex viewed rigidly in terms of reproduction Sexual Revolution in the 1960’s encouraged people to be freer and more open about sexuality Sexual Counterrevolution in the 1980’s arose from the country’s more conservative politics and fear of STD’s Sexual attitudes today more a matter of intimacy and/or personal pleasure

4. Sexual Orientation Sexual Orientation – person’s attraction to another person –Heterosexuality – attraction to opposite sex –Homosexuality – attraction to same sex –Bisexuality – attraction to both sexes –Asexuality – the absence of sexual attraction to either sex

5. Social Problems Related to Sexuality Pornography Sexual Harassment Teenage Pregnancy Prostitution Abortion Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD’s)

6. Theoretical Analysis Structural-Functional – controlling sexuality, functions of deviant sexual patterns Social-Conflict – heterosexism, feminist theory, etc Symbolic-Interaction – socially construct sexuality (ideas of sex, virginity, sexual roles, etc)