Human Sexuality Chapter 1: Perspectives on Human Sexuality

Essentialism vs. Social Constructionism Essentialism: belief that phenomena are natural, inevitable, and biologically determined (distinct categories) Social Constructionism: reality is the product of a culture and its institutions; language is used to interpret experience (continuum)

Lev Vygotsky: Socio-cultural Theory Humans develop through social interaction Social context: interactions with adults, neighborhood context, cultural and historical contexts, etc. Role of cultural learning

Sex and the Media “Not only is sexuality not hidden from view; it often seems to surround us” (p. 2)

Sex and the Media Discussion Question: How is sexuality portrayed in the media? Which perspectives on sexuality are privileged and which are silenced?

Media Influences Teenagers are exposed to media during half of their waking hours (Roberts, 2005) Teenagers devote more time to media than any other activity (Roberts, 2005) By the time they finish high school, teenagers will have spent more time watching television than going to school

Media Influences Increase in sexual references on television 70% of shows watched by teenagers have sexual content; 14% discuss risk and responsibility (Kunkel, 2005)

Media and Psychological Health: Research Findings Reproduction of stereotypical gender roles, which may be internalized (Croteau, 2003) Discrepancies in depictions of men and women Female nudity is more common Differences in power?

Media and Psychological Health: Research Findings Link between television viewing and body dissatisfaction in girls (Harrison, 1997; Hofschire, 2002) Limited information on risk behavior and sexual health

Media and the “Sexualization of Society” Music industry Television/movies Video games Books/magazines Tabloids

Sexuality in Advertising Persuasive communication To provoke sexual interests, emotional reactions, etc. Ads are often tied to our “ideal” selves Who we would like to be Appealing lifestyles

Media Study (Brown, 2002) Media: Keeps sexual behavior visible Reinforces sexual norms Rarely includes sexually responsible models

Media and Social Context The media models: What, when, and with whom sexual behavior is appropriate and desirable

GLBT Individuals in T.V. and Film Television portrayals of GLBT individuals are often stereotypical Recent increase in GLBT representations in the media; more complex characters

Cultural Variations in Sexuality Culture shapes our behavior and attitudes toward sexuality Cultural diversity- what is normal, acceptable, moral, etc.

The Mangaia Cook Island: South Pacific Adolescence is constructed as an acutely sexual period in development Boys engage in encounters with experienced women

The Mangaia Girls receive detailed instruction concerning sexual intercourse Many sexual encounters are expected prior to marriage Men are expected to stray during marriage, women are not

The Dani Dani of New Guinea Little interest in sexuality Ritualized encounters; for procreation

The Dani Quick, impersonal sexual interactions Sex is only permissible in the context of marriage; intercourse- during the second year of the marriage

The Dani Abstain from sex for 4-6 years after childbirth occurs Lack of desire- cultural, not biological

Victorian Americans 19 th century: White, middle class Americans Beliefs: Women have little sexual desire Women with sexual desire are “diseased” and abnormal

Victorian Americans Men: strong sexual desires; driven by lust Shaped our cultural archetypes: “angelic” women and “demonic” men

Ancient Greece Homosexuality between men and adolescent boys: “highest form of love” Marriage was still expected

The Sambians New Guinea Ritualized homosexual encounters between young boys

Sex and Gender Sex: refers to the biological component (chromosomes) Gender: a socially constructed category; male/female Gender roles

Transgendered Individuals Genitals and identity are discordant (i.e. biologically male, identifies as female) Are often gender non-conforming

Intersex Individuals Ambiguous genitalia Chromosomal abnormalities

Cultural Perspectives on Transgendered Persons Pathologized in many cultures “two-spirit”: revered; high status, special privileges Some cultures consider this a third “gender category”

What is “normal”? Socially/Culturally/Historically constructed What is normal, and who decides? Various influences: the importance of context

Different discourses on sexuality Moral/religious/ideological Cultural/historical Linguistic expressions of sexuality change as a function of audiences Family, peers, same and differently gendered groups, etc.

Sexual Variations Tremendous diversity in human sexuality: Desires, orientation, fantasizes, attitudes, beliefs

Determinations of Normality/Abnormality Statistical: a deviation from the norm? Subjective: one’s own beliefs Idealistic: compared to a revered standard Cultural: cultural norms and standards Clinical: based on data regarding health and illness