Sexuality and Society Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Why Study Sexuality from the Sociological Perspective? Many people do not understand sexuality very well.  It was a forbidden subject until the mid twentieth century. Sexuality plays a part in many areas of social life.  At school, at work and in the media. Sexuality is both important and controversial.  We continue to debate on many sexual topics: gay rights, teen pregnancy, prostitution, date rape, abortion, etc. Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Sex: a Biological Issue Sex - The biological distinctions between females and males. Ovum + Sperm = Embryo Mother contributes the X chromosome Father either contributes X or Y XX = female XY = male Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Sex and the Body Primary sexual traits  Genitals  Organs used for reproduction Secondary sexual traits  Bodily development that distinguishes mature males and females  Females - Wider hips, fatty tissue, etc.  Males – Upper body muscle, body hair, deeper voices. Gender (not biological)  Refers to the personal traits and patterns of behavior that a culture attaches to being a male or female. Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Sex and the Body Hermaphrodites/Intersexuals  Possessing some combination of female and male genitalia  How does our society feel about intersexuals?  The Navajo look at intersexuals in awe. Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Sex and the Body Transsexuals  People who feel emotionally linked to one sex, but are biologically the other.  Often expressed feeling is “trapped in the body of the wrong sex”.  Transgendered - disregard conventional ideas about how males and females look and behave.  Many undergo gender reassignment. Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Sex: a Cultural Issue Biology does not dictate how to be sexual. Cultural variation  Showing affection and sexual position  When is it appropriate to kiss?  Notions of modesty  Covering body parts  Restrictions placed upon openness  Sex before marriage varies from place to place. Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Sex: A Cultural Issue The incest taboo  The norm forbidding sexual relations or marriage between certain relatives.  Found in every society.  Restrictions vary from place to place.  24/50 states outlaw marriage between first cousins. Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Sexual Attitudes in the United States Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Sexual Attitudes As late as the 1960s some states banned the sale of condoms. Until 2003, 13 states banned sexual acts between same sex people. Fornication laws that prohibit sex between hetero couples prior to marriage still exist in 11 states. Alfred Kinsey studied sexuality and published his first findings in His work shocked the world and set the stage for the sexual revolution. Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Sex, Drugs and Rock ’n’ Roll Sexual Revolution: Began in 1920s and quickly grew in the 1960s. 1960’s: fostered a new openness toward sexuality  Baby boomers - Attitude of sex was part of everyone’s life, married or not  The pill  spontaneous sex  Double standard challenged  Women’s lives changed more than men’s. Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Sexual Attitudes in the U.S. The sexual counterrevolution  Response to the sexual revolution.  Began in the 1980s.  The return to sexual responsibility and family values.  Limited partners or abstinence  STDs Sociology, Eleventh Edition

The Sexual Revolution Premarital sex  Men and women are almost equal in the percent reporting they engage in premarital sex.  Premarital sex is broadly accepted among America's young. Extramarital sex  75% of men and 90% of women remain faithful during the marriages.  90% of people say that extramarital sex is wrong.  Why would some people feel that extramarital sex is okay? Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Sexual Orientation Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Sexual Orientation A person’s romantic and emotional attraction to another person Heterosexuality  attraction to the other sex Homosexuality  attraction to the same sex Bisexuality  Strong attraction to both sexes Asexuality  No sexual attraction Sexual attraction ≠ Sexual behavior Homophobia – Discomfort over close interaction with gay, lesbian or bisexual people Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Figure 8-2 (p. 203) Four Sexual Orientations A person’s level of same-sex attraction and opposite-sex attraction are two distinct dimensions that combine in various ways to produce four major sexual orientations. Source: Adapted from Storms (1980). Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Sexual Attraction Ancient Greeks preferred homosexuality.  Women were intellectually inferior.  Heterosexuality only necessary for reproduction. Eskimos in Siberia that practice homosexuality have one male dress as a female and perform a woman’s work. In New Guinea, homosexual rituals exist to enhance the boys’ masculinity. Roots of sexual orientation  Sexual orientation may not be a “choice”  Mounting biological evidence for genetics  Cannot discount social influences Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Figure 8-3a (p. 204) Sexual Orientation in the United States: Survey Data A: How Many Gay People The percentage of people who are classified as having a homosexual orientation depends on how this concept is operationalized. Research suggests that 2.8 percent of adult men and 1.4 percent of adult women claim a homosexual identity. Source: Adapted from Laumann et al. (1994). Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Figure 8-3b (p. 204) Sexual Orientation in the United States: Survey Data B: Attitudes toward Homosexual Relations, Since 1990, the percentage of U.S. adults who disapprove of homosexual relations has been going down and now stands at about 57 percent. Source: NORC (2003). Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Figure 8-4 (p. 206) Opposition to Homosexual Relationships: Attitudes of First- Year College Students, Despite a recent increase in opposition to homosexual relationships, the historical trend among college students is toward greater tolerance, a view held by a large majority. Sources: Astin et al. (2002) and Sax et al. (2004). Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Sexual Issues and Controversies Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Sexual Controversies Teen pregnancy  Are you biologically and emotionally mature enough to have a baby?  More likely among weak and low income families  Endless cycle  Teen pregnancy rate higher in 1950s than today.  Why?  57% - keep; 29% - abort; 14% - miscarry  Sex education in schools: solution or problem? Sociology, Eleventh Edition

National Map 8-2 (p. 207) Teenage Pregnancy Rates across the United States The map shows pregnancy rates for 2000 for women aged fifteen to nineteen. In what regions of the country are rates high? Where are they low? What explanation can you offer for these patterns? Source: Alan Guttmacher Institute (2004). Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Prostitution The selling of sexual services, often tabbed as the “world’s oldest profession”. 1/5 men admit to paying for sex. Social and cultural ties  Strongest in low-income countries where  Patriarchy is strong  Opportunities to earn a living are restricted Types of prostitution  “Call girls” – elite, attractive, young, educated  Workers in controlled parlors  “Street walkers” A “victimless crime”? Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Sexual Violence and Abuse A culture of rape  Sexual violence ranges from verbal abuse to rape to assault. Rape  A violent act that uses sex to hurt, humiliate, or control another person.  Motivated by desire for sex and expression of power  93,000 women raped per year. Date rape (or acquaintance rape)  Forcible sexual violence against women by men they know Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Rape The government definition of rape is “the carnal knowledge of female forcibly and against her will”.  Official statistics only include females Most men who rape men are not homosexual.  They are motivated by the desire to dominate someone. Many rapes are not reported to the police. Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Myths about rape  Rape involves strangers  67% are by people the victim knows  Women provoke their attackers  Rape is simply sex  Psychological scars Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Theoretical Analysis of Sexuality Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Theoretical Analysis Structural-functionalism  Need to regulate sexual behavior Symbolic-interactionism  The social construction of sexuality Social-conflict  Creating social inequality Sociology, Eleventh Edition

The Abortion Controversy The deliberate termination of a pregnancy 1973 Roe v.Wade U.S. Supreme court  Established a woman’s legal access to abortion Pro-choice  Support a woman’s right to choose abortion Pro-life  Abortion is morally wrong Circumstances of the pregnancy makes a big difference in how people see this issue. Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Page 217 When Should the Law Allow a Woman to Choose Abortion? The extent of public support for legal abortion depends on exactly how the issue is presented. Source: NORC (2003). Sociology, Eleventh Edition