Social Construction of Race/Ethnicity and Sexuality

Creating Systems of Organization  1) The creation of Race/Ethnicity and Sexuality are Historical Creations.  What historical period created race?  What historical period created sexuality?  What material realities prompted such creations?

Evidence of its social creation  Race/Ethnicity  Lack of biological meaning One drop rule in US, Australia One drop rule in US, Australia Genetic testing cannot determine race Genetic testing cannot determine race Different meanings culturally: Brazil vs US Different meanings culturally: Brazil vs US Different meanings historically: Irish, Jews Different meanings historically: Irish, Jews

Evidence of its social creation  Sexuality  Changes in Definition Procreative sex versus erotic sex Procreative sex versus erotic sex “true women” “true women” Research that shows continuum, yet we define sexuality categorically. Research that shows continuum, yet we define sexuality categorically. Creation of the terms, “heterosexual” and “homosexual.” Creation of the terms, “heterosexual” and “homosexual.”

Three Steps Towards Creating Oppression  Homogenization and Categorization  Essentialization – De-contextualizing the social and cultural  De-humanization

Heterosexuality and Race as Social Institutions  Even though the above are social creations, they become systems of organizing society. How do we organize race and sexuality such that the “norm” has power/opportunity and the “deviant” are vilified?