Hannah St. Lifer
Sexuality as a Social Construct
Heternormativity is the idea that there exist two distinctive classifications of the genders, males and females, with customary roles in society. The idea asserts that heterosexuality is the only normal sexual orientation of people and that all sexual and marital relations must abide by this norm. Society has adopted this belief and constructed it into a standard of life. It is normal for people to automatically presume that most other people are heterosexual and that heterosexuality is the default sexual preference. Thus, all other sexualities that are nonheterosexual are a deviation of the default. Heterosexuality is the most appreciative and is the most acceptable sexuality for a man and
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Monogamous, reproductive heterosexuality is also valued socially above all other forms of sexuality. Society has constructed the belief that heterosexuality is the ideal sexual identity, and society subsequently critiques non-heterosexual identities, such as gays, bisexuals, and trans, which all fall outside this custom.
As a consequence of society deeming heterosexuality as the ideal sexuality, sexualities that are biologically infertile are less socially acceptable in society. Nonheterosexuals are seen as deviants and consequently mocked and ridiculed by society. Gayle proposes that same sex relationships are inferiors, but, “stable, long-term lesbian and gay couples are verging on respectability, but bar dykes and promiscuous gay men are hovering just above the groups at the very bottom of the pyramid.” For instance, society already considers gay males to be lower on the hierarchy, but those males, which are less masculine, are even lower on the pyramid. Society has constructed these “less masculine” gays to be “more gay”. However, homosexual males that still obtain monogamous relationships are more appreciated in respect to gays who are not in relationships. For example, famous gay couples such as Ellen DeGeneres’s relationship, and the gay marriage portrayed on Modern Family, are valued in society. These are higher up on the pyramid because both gay couples are in stable relationships that
“Despite evidence that men and women’s sexual roles are becoming more egalitarian over time, empirical evidence suggests that the traditional sexual roles continue to dominate heterosexual relations” (Sanchez 2012). I personally do not feel like being part of a dominant group becuase of my sexuallity is good thing. The reason being that I am all for equality and support heterosexualls. But being part of a dominant makes me feel like I can be accepted by society. “The dominant group is seen as the norm of society” (Adams, 2013, p. 9). Being heterosexual is powerful because you can be more accepted by the community. Individuals are more acceptant of heterosexuals proposals, mariages, divorces, deaths, and family. Some agents who speak up for the heterosexual group are christians, catholics, elderly people because they are against homosexuals due to the bible. Many catholic or christians schools and churches influence individuals that heterosexuality is normal.”Sometimes laws, codes, or policies actually enforce such discrimination” (Adams, 2013, p. 381). I identify myself as an individual who is heterosexual I do not level myself with a group. The reason for this is because I support the LGBT+ community. Although being a heterosexua does come with some privileges such as being able to get married
According to some radical feminists, the heterosexual relationship, and the presumption of this as a 'norm' is a patriarchal system in itself. Adrienne Rich (1980) claimed that the assumption of a mystical/biological heterosexual inclination, a 'preference' or 'choice' which draws women towards men, obscures the covert socialisations and the overt forces which have channeled women into marriage and heterosexual romance (cf. Krieken et al, 2000). She claimed that this social arrangement emerges to enforce women's total emotional, erotic loyalty and subservience to men.
Wilton refers to Monique Wittig, a French author and feminist theorist, who states “our survival demands that we contribute all our strength to the destruction of the class of women within which men appropriate women.” Thus, Wittig expresses that “heterosexuality is a social system” (Wilton 165). Why heterosexuality is forced upon the majority, however, is still unclear. Emily Martin, in her article, “The Egg and the Sperm: How Science has Constructed a Romance Based on Stereotypical Male-Female Roles,” explains why this is so. Procreation can only occur upon the union of sperm and egg and their behaviors have created stereotypes which “imply not only that female biological processes are less worthy than their male counterparts but also that women
Heterosexism, according to Warren J. Blumenfeld, is the system of advantages given to heterosexuals based on the social construct of gender roles and heterosexual norms, while marginalizing and oppressing homosexuals and others who do not fit into the heterosexual culture (373). The enforcement of this system is known as heteronormality. This is seen in the binary system, which is a social construct that divides people into different strictly bordered categories organized by “social roles, values, stereotypes, and behavioral and attitudinal imperatives, expressions, and expectations” (Blumenfeld 373). Those who stick to the binary system, maintain power and privilege. People who may live in the binary system, but also intentionally
In Stephen Mays’ essay “What about Gender Roles in Same-sex Relationships?” published in They Say I Say, the author discusses how people often assign gender roles automatically, even with gay and lesbian couples. Mays stresses the concept of femininity and masculinity, and also shows the difference in their roles, supports them with vivid imagery, and gives a rare example of gay male preferences, all while using the correct diction when referring to personal experiences. Although the author reiterates gender roles and their effect on same-sex relationships, he gives clear examples that support the idea of masculine or feminine qualities.
A culture that views heterosexuality as natural and superior reproduces inequality by prioritizing the rights and voices of heterosexual individuals. Ingraham views this as a product of heteronormativity, where ideas of heterosexuality are deeply embedded in all aspects of society, thus becoming the norm and the standard to which all individuals and sexualities are measured (2994:204). In a heteronormative society, gender and sexuality are understood as biologically acquired—men are naturally attracted to women and vice versa. Heteronormativity is embedded in institutions such as religion, family, government and the workplace (Bakehorn, 9/13/16). Because of an investment in heterosexuality, inequality is reproduced when homosexual
There are various perceptions of gay and lesbian couples that they represent a more egalitarian relationship. (Civettini 2015:1) However, when same-sex couples are observed there is still a tendency to believe that the relationship contains a masculine and feminine figure following the heterosexual model. So, it is necessary to address both how these couples deviate from society’s norms as gay individuals but might still be reproducing the same behaviors as heterosexual couples because the ideologies are so deeply rooted in social institutions. The stereotypical connotations of masculinity and femininity influence all aspects of American society and gender display relies heavily on meeting those given expectations. So, in the case of this article, the author Civettini views a connection between sex, gender, and sexual orientation when it comes to displaying
Human sexuality is a common phrase for all, and anything, pertaining to the feelings and behaviors of sex for the human race. Sexuality has been a topic that has been discussed and studied for as far back as 1000 years B.C. and is still being studied today. As the discussion of sexuality has progressed through history, theories have been created based on research and experiments that scholars have implemented, based on their own perceptions of human behavior. Out of the many theories that pose to explain sexual behavior, Sexuality Now explained ten that are seemed to be the most overlapped, and built off of theories. Of these theories, two that were discussed in the text were the behavioral and sociological theory. These two theories cover some of the basic ideas of what could possibly influence a person’s sexuality.
There seems to be a prevalent belief among queer theorists that there exists an archetype of the “ideal queer.” This person is subversive in everything that they do, and disrupts norms in all ways. Obviously, this ideal is different from dominant society’s view of the ideal queer - a person who keeps their identity to themself, is not “outwardly queer,” holds some type of stable corporate job, is “just like the rest of us” in all other aspects of being, and is decidedly non-radical. Of course, neither of these ideals are representative of the reality of LGBT individuals. Gender and sexual expression is infinitely varied, and cannot be boxed into categories which are palatable to one group or another. LGBT individuals who chose to marry or
In her essay titled “Compulsive Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence,” Adrienne Rich claims that any alternative to heterosexual outcome is discouraged by society. The essay claims that Western tradition has used the heterosexual family model as the basic social
Human sexuality is defined as the capability of individuals to experience their sexuality and be able to express themselves as sexual beings (Hyde & DeLameck, 2006). Our interest in this topic is because with time, there has been a change in rules that control human sexual behaviour. The status quo in our contemporary society is much different as compared to an earlier state of conditions, and the change has, as a result, brought the evolvement in human sexuality. People 's view on virginity has changed greatly with a decrease of importance in regards to its preservation. Sexuality is essential to the economic, cultural, social and political organization of society or country. Our sexuality plays a fundamental role in all our lives regardless of age, sex or race. It forms a basic part of our personality and the decisions we make in what we do. One’s sexuality also consumes much of their time through behaviour or thoughts; at times every aspect of our lives seems to revolve around our sexuality. Studying sexuality is very important since human sexuality majorly contributes to social as well as personal problems. A lingering question concerning this topic is to what extent is virginity determined by the status quo and the rules that control human behaviour?
In today’s society things are being expressed and experienced at younger ages, than ever before in our time. Children and teenagers are discovering their sexuality at very early ages. Sexuality is the discovering of who you are and what makes you different from everybody else.
A young boy is expected to play with Hot Wheels while dolls are to be played with by a girl. In the same sense a guy is expected to ask a girl on a date, not another guy; and vice versa. Our parents, similar to a majority of couples, consist of one female and one male. The bible states that marriage is an institution among a man a woman. A majority of the relationships in movies and TV shows include two individuals of the opposite sex. There are many songs that are about the relationship between a man and a woman. These are some of many examples of heteronormativity, or a situation where the culture and institutions send a message that everybody is heterosexual, or that it is the only normal way to
even though sexuality can be considered universal, the sexual behaviors affiliated with it offer different attitudes in various communities. Sexuality is aligned to sexual attraction where individuals can identify themselves with a broad range of sexuality that is bisexual, gay or being lesbian. Sexuality can change over time in a person depending on the circumstances surrounding him or her. It may be affected by the social circle and emotional imbalances that may occur in an individual. Interestingly there exists sexual inequality among many societies in the world. As observed, many societies encourage men to have multiple sex partners but forbid it in women. Moreover, pre-marital sex is promoted in men, but women are flaunted if they participate in pre-marital sex. Across the globe, Western Europe has embraced certain norms in sexuality such as homosexuality whereas African society embraces a negative attitude towards the same.
Homosexuality is defined as a predominant sexual attraction to persons of the same gender. For example, men being sexually attracted to other men and women being sexually attracted to other women (Exodus Global Alliance, 2017). Heterosexuality however, is the opposite of homosexuality. A heterosexual person has a sexual attraction to a person of the opposite sex, as opposed to an individual of the same sex. In Western society, heterosexuality has been constructed to be viewed as the norm, this however was not always the case. Sociologist Michel Foucault coined the term ‘homosexuality’ arguing that homosexuality was not discovered but produced. “Homosexuality appeared as one of the forms of sexuality when it was transposed from the practice of sodomy onto a kind of interior androgyny, a hermaphrodism of the soul.” Following on from the invention of the term known as homosexuality, medical doctors invented a counter-position, heterosexuality. Although same-sex relationships existed prior to the invention of this terminology, it encouraged people to identify themselves and others differently (Angel Daniel Matos, 2013). As a result, the judgment of gender and