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SOC.287 Lecture on Sexual Orientation

SOC.287 Lecture on Sexual Orientation. Sexual Orientation has been an important area of research. Two main questions One- What makes someone desire someone of the same or opposite sex?. People are gay because :. 1 They were born that way 2. They had a significant experience

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SOC.287 Lecture on Sexual Orientation

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  1. SOC.287 Lecture on Sexual Orientation

  2. Sexual Orientation has been an important area of research Two main questions • One- What makes someone desire someone of the same or opposite sex?

  3. People are gay because : 1 They were born that way 2. They had a significant experience 3. Both biological and experiential

  4. Two • Is it immutable? • Is it changeable? • ( Is this answer different for men and women?)

  5. What makes someone desire someone of the same sex? Biological Theories A. The universality of homosexual desire B. Cross culturally similar behaviors C. Research on biological factors: Genetic ( Dean Hamer, NCI ) Hormonal ( in Utero)

  6. Neural action from the brain • Part of an endocrine system- dopamine, • testosterone/estrogen and oxytocin • Keyed in most women to their reproductive cycle ( most interest during ovulation)

  7. GENETIC RESEARCH • Bailey and Pillard on gay men( 1991) • Twin studies: followed siblings of gay or bisexual men • 56 gay men with identical twin- 52% of twin brothers also gay • 54 with non identical twin: 22% gay • 11% of adopted brothers…

  8. Genetic research on women • Bailey and Pillard on 70 Lesbians and siblings • 71 with identical twin- 48% also lesbian • 37 non identical twin- 16% lesbian • Of adoptive sisters 6% lesbian • But note: not 100% for twins…

  9. Psychological Theories: Freud: Incomplete resolution of the Oedipal Complex ( or Electra Complex) Later – Biology plus Cognitive Processes interacting with Environment and Personal History

  10. Learning Theory • Rewards and Punishments develop one set of instincts more than another • Early experiences/fantasies are formative • However, research shows few if any orientation effects from having gay parents..

  11. Interactionist Theory • Bem: The exotic becomes erotic • Biology and Temperament interacts with child’s “atypical behaviors”, a feeling of being “ different”, general arousal gets channeled to “difference” ( either gender or other aspects of person) • *critiques: explains males more than females—types children early on..

  12. A social-Psychological Approach Kinsey and others.. • Assigned people a sexual label based on: • Salience of Desire • Persistence of Desire • Degree of Love or emotional attachment • Trauma or Family Dysfunction

  13. Kinsey combined biology ( sexual instinct) with Natural variation • The Kinsey Scale- 0-6 • Kinsey believed in the variation of bisexuality and different “degrees “ of homosexuality over the life cycle.. • 37% of men- once • 25% more than once • 8% three years or more • 4% lifetime…

  14. Lesbians- • 14% if married women –once • 5% of married women -more than once • 8-10% of previously married • 1% exclusively same sex • Which of these women retained a gay identity?

  15. Other theories have added more on the sociology of sexuality Ideology and values The Importance ofgender conformity Religious/ other values about sexuality Cultural understandings Is Sexual Orientation Dichotomized? Seen as a behavior or a Category of Person

  16. Labeling theory • Atypical characteristics may have someone be defined by others and then self-define.

  17. Foucault : French sociologist/historian--1978 • Felt that categories of sexuality were developed by societies as a form of social control… People are confined into “ cubbie holes” rather than complex and inconsistent desires.

  18. Our culture equates behavior with identity and/or labeling • Male quote-- • “ I had sex with hundreds of women, but when I touched one penis I was labeled as gay”

  19. Other cultures: behavior does not necessarily create an identity • Male hand holding hands in many countries. • Male sexual initiation in New Guinea ( Gil Herdt research) • It depends on which behaviors ( Greece, etc)

  20. But we do know that people do not like sexual ambiguity in themselves or others! • Ambisexuality generally thought of as threatening except “ girl on girl” sexually explicit material

  21. Bisexuality • Ability to sexually relate to both sexes— • Kinsey 1 to 5- depending on how intense attraction and feelings are..

  22. Most people don’t label themselves bisexual. • No Tolerance of Ambiguity • Usually a preference • Stigmatized label by both heterosexuals and homosexuals..

  23. Sterotypes: • Non Monogamous • Unstable identity- liable to change • Not in touch with “real” sexuality

  24. Study: women self- labeled as lesbian, or bisexual, or no label. • Over ten years duration: • Ages 18-25 • 22% RETAINED THEIR BISEXUAL OR UNLABELED SEXUAL IDENTITY • OF THE WOMEN WHO LABELED THEMSELVES AS LESBIAN—who switched to BISEXUAL- • 2/3 had relationship experiences with a man • (Diamond, 2008)

  25. Stats: claiming a bisexual identity • 1.8 of all American men • 2.8 of all American women

  26. Do you believe people can be truly bisexual...? • Yes, but only for for women • Yes for both sexes • No

  27. Why do Bisexuals have to struggle to convince people of their reality?

  28. Heterosexuality • Often it’s achievement is taken for granted because it’s the statistical majority • But interestingly – it must not be so easy because there are so many ways to “violate it” and be seen as potentially not heterosexual.:

  29. 1-Exaggerated and Demanding Body Characteristics • The James Bonds, “lone Wolfs”, Bruce Willis • Buff, “six packs” • The Sexy Babes in Music Videos • Female Romantic leads - tall, slim, leggy – usually a lot of breast

  30. Androgyny is upsetting • No “Pats”- ( Saturday Night Live) • People HATE Ambiguity in Gender and Sexual Orientation… Rarely like Androgyny

  31. 2. Attraction is singularly directed to the opposite sex • Any hint of flexibility is labeling..( unlike some Native American Cultures) • But there are a few exceptions • Men in Prisons • Using Men Sexually in Violence or as a • “Convenience”. • Rock Star

  32. And women can have sex with another woman.. If it’s for male arousal.. • If women do not take on a Lesbian identity, some same sex behavior is exciting to men who see it as a performancefor themselves • ( its in most pornographic films– but seen as temporary before he joins in)

  33. 3.Heterosexual arousal is supposed to be strong and unambiguous • Arousal Is often ambiguous- there when you don’t want it, absent when you do.. But it’s taken as a “ sign:”. • Not having an erection when a heterosexual opportunity is offered can be seen as “disqualifying” and cause anxiety.

  34. Lack of arousal in women is not so obvious This is less difficult because women are not “supposed to be “ easy to arouse– and are not “required “ to have spontaneous arousal.. Female sexuality is supposed to be so Relational –that lack of arousal means the wrong person or not in love enough- men usually don’t get that escape clause…

  35. 4. The Opposite Sex is supposed to be attracted to you. • Every heterosexual that has not been desired in high school has doubts about themselves..

  36. 5. You are supposed to have appropriate gender characteristics • Movie Straw Dogs- a young Dustin Hoffman is vacationing with his beautiful wife– and laborers ( standing in for virility) challenge him for his wife –and go after her. • Her protects her with smarts– and huge violence- at the end of the movie he has “become a man”…

  37. For a woman its claiming her loveliness • Sandra Bullock in Miss Personality • From tough cop to Beauty Queen- a kind of Cinderella transformation..

  38. 6. OUR SEXUALITY IS SUPPOSED TO BE SIMPLE AND UNCONFLICTED • Heterosexuality if supposed to be a ROCK But an example: , women get attracted to other women at various times– and female-female fantasy is the number one fantasy women have.. • Shocking-- because heterosexuality is supposed to be continuous and forever.

  39. The truth of the body • Essentialists believe that the body’s reactions are “natural” and cannot change. • There is a core- heterosexual and homosexual and nothing of consequence in between.. ‘There is a REAL YOU—change is seen as superficial..

  40. So essentialism would find.. Even a minimal homosexual act is coded maximally– that person must be gay..

  41. However, the fact is there is a lot of facts that we ignore • The standards of Heterosexuality are so strict that most of us fail at them

  42. We really aren't so secure about our heterosexuality- or we wouldn’t be so frightened of homosexuality or bisexuality( otherwise how could it threaten us?)

  43. Heteronormity has costs • A fantasy or experience can cause an internal panic.. • Failing to meet the standards means self doubt and • Bisexuality and Homosexuality are denigrated

  44. The truth is that sexual orientation is usually fixed– but notalways • And the suspicion is that, as it is in some countries, behavior would be more varied, if it weren’t so personally costly because of cultural taboos..

  45. Of COURSE THIS IS JUST WHAT SOME PEOPLE ARE AFRAID OF –THAT SEXUALITY IS LESS CATEGORICAL AND LESS STABLE THAN WE SAY IT IS..

  46. ONE CHALLENGE TO THIS IS THE IDEA OF QUEER SEXUALITY.. • THE IDEA THAT SEX IS NOT CATEGORICAL, NOT GENDERED AND THAT GENDER ITSELF IS FLEXIBLE AND “DISORDERLY • THE IDEA OF AN “ORIENTATION” IS DISPUTED..

  47. The Queer :”Umbrella” covers all sexual and gender permutations– past, present and future..

  48. Why does sexual desire define us? • Does being a vegetarian become the first comment people make about someone? • WHY DO people define someone by a personal life that may never enter the workplace, or any public or non-private situation.?

  49. But they do and it has had huge consequences_ • In civil rights ( jobs, military participation) • In personal safety • In social conventions ( such as marriage) • In family reactions, even inclusion

  50. Causes of Homophobia Fear of “contagion” • Fear of one’s own sexual desires • Fear of other people thinking you are gay • Mob action and peer pressure Fear from religious dictates • General hostility , anger and aggression looking for an excuse

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