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Sexualities ch 6

  1. Sexual Identites:a set of sexual practices and attitudes leading to the formation in a person's mind of an identity as heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual; helps us to define who we are
    HISTORY:
    Sexual acts vs. Sexual Identities:
    -only socially approved and socially disapproved activities
    -socially approved sex w/in marriage to procreate
    -socially disapproved (all other acts)
    -Sexual acts existed, sexual identities did not
    -Concept of sexual identity needs: self- conciousness and self examination
    • Emergence of "Heterosexuality and Homosexuality":
    • -homosexuals were labeled mentally ill until 1973
    • -Opposite sex attraction is normal
    • -beginning in late 19th century homosexual person was thought to be mentally ill
  2. Determinants of Sexual Identity:
    -Social constructionist perspective:belief that human sexuality is entirely socially constructed
    -Kinsey Report-1048 bestseller containing 1000's of interviews w/ men and women
    -1/2 of all men in his sample reported erotic feelings towards men, 1/3 had at least one sexual experience w/ another man
    -Kinsey concluded that 10% of males were more or less exclusively homosexual for at least 3 yrs Between 16-55
    -Integrative Perspective:Belief that sexuality is determined by both social and biological factors
    -some studies of twins link genetics to sexual orientation
    -Points of agreement/disagreement:
    *Main disagreement is whether society completley determine sexual identities
    • QUEER THEORY:the view that sexual life is artificially organized into categories that reflect the power of heterosexual norms
    • --reflects the view that there are many biological influences on organization of sexuality
    • -using the queer theory restricts our ability to understand important aspect of society
  3. -women reported more frequent sex before marriage
    -men's report did not appear to change much
    Changes in sexual behavior:
    --modest decline occurred in 1990's
    -particularly w/ boys, condom use increased
    -Adolescent sexual activity more common than mid 20th century
    -for males and females-little difference today
    -Greatest increase occurred in the 1970's and 1980's
    • Adolescent Sexuality and Pregnancy:
    • -Adolescents are more sexually active and are marrying later
    • -this increases the stage of life when young adults can have a child outside marriage
    • Teen Pregnancy Problem:marriage has decreased faster then birthrates
    • -5 of 6 adolescents that get pregnant are not married
    • Consequences of teen moms:
    • -complete fewer years of edu
    • -have jobs that pay less
    • -depend on public assistance
    • -are less likely to have stable marriages
    • -Selection Effect:principal that whenever individuals sort or select themselves into groups, some of the differences among the groups reflect preexisting differences among individuals
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Anonymous
ID
7998
Card Set
Sexualities ch 6
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sexualities ch 6
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