1. Sexuality & Society
Unit 6

2. Research in Sexuality Not researched until after WWII
Major Researcher: Kingsley Davis
Sexuality is learned
Generally conforms
Based on drives
Guided by norms
Norms are social in origin

3. Cultural Universals Cultural Universals in Sexuality Incest Taboo
Adultery rules
2/3 of societies taboo!
Conformity to heterosexuality
1/3 of societies taboo!

4. Degrees of Sexuality Degrees of restriction
Sexual restrictiveness
Sexual permissiveness
Most societies are more permissive than restrictive

5. Sex in America Alfred Kinsley – launched sexuality research
Gap between norms and reported behaviors
Triggered drastic changes in 1960’s-1970’s sexuality revolution

6. Sexuality Ratings
Increases in pornography, but link to promiscuity very inconclusive
Increases in premarital and extramarital sex
Decrease in average age for first encounters
Increase in STI rates
Double-standard for genders

7. Rape Crime of violence Power ritual Only 1/10th reported
“Date Rape” on the rise
Cultural elements involved
Inequality of genders
Men’s view of women as objects

8. Sexual Orientation Sexual Orientation Early childhood experiences
Family environment
Social learning
Self-labeling
Biological predisposition

9. Homosexuality Homosexuality vs homophilia Male Homosexuality
Pederasty
Male Homosexuality
Female Homosexuality aka Lesbianism
Bisexuality

10. Transgenderism Transgendered Sociological conformity
Male to Female transgender
Female to Male transgender
Sociological conformity
Biological conformity

11. Prostitution Cultural universal Four Forms:
Women -> Men
Men -> Women
Men -> Men
Women -> Women
Typically criminalized in Western society
Not criminal in all societies!
Geisha of Japan
Hetaerae of Greece