Abstract This paper examines the question of what forms gender and sexuality take in America, based on four articles. The paper discusses female circumcision and castration in the late nineteenth century, the impact of language around impotence and erectile dysfunction on male sexuality. The paper looks at gender construction, male sexuality in general and also examines gay rights under Bush Sr.'s administration.
From the Paper "It is very clear from various readings that gender and gendered sexuality have a lot more to do with the medical and political agenda than one might initially think. According to various sources, these constructs are often created by the medical profession, which is rooted in the conservative aspect of American culture. This is reflected in articles about the Bush Sr. administration's attitude towards gay rights and AIDS activism, the quest for a perfect penis and the alleged importance of a perfectly hard man as well as the literature regarding 19th century sexual surgery on women. Evidence from these articles, and others, suggests that wealthy white men have manipulated ideas of gender and sexuality for their own interests by using the medical and political arenas."
Abstract This paper discusses how traditional assumptions about sexuality are rooted in the rigid concept of the gender binary. This gender binary generates and sustains an iniquitous power imbalance between the two genders. The paper explains how the gender binary, sexuality and power are so interwoven that it is hard to imagine one without the other - contrary to the general assumption that sexuality is assigned by biology. However, the paper notes that it is not a chicken-and-egg situation, for it is possible to ascertain which came first.
Abstract This paper examines how, in the introduction to the "History of Sexuality", Foucault argues that in the 17th century the role of sex and sexual activity in the discourse of western society made a fundamental and radical change. It also looks at how, in "Discipline and Punish", Foucault argues that obsessions over sexuality and society's approval or disapproval of specific actions occurs because of the infinite diffusion of power which is found as the basis of western society. In comparison, it looks at how two decades later, Butler employed themes from Foucault's philosophy in order to argue her case for the arbitrariness of anatomical sex, gender identity and gender performance. It shows that through the arguments in her work, "Gender Trouble", Butler concludes that there is no essential relationship between a person's anatomical sex, her self-identified gender and the gender performance she enacts to fulfill society's expectations of the norm.
From the Paper "Foucault's analysis of discourses on sex comes as a reaction to the more commonly-held belief that there was a society-wide discourse of repression in regards to sex. Foucault argues against this; he questions whether or not "sexual repression is truly an established historical fact"; whether "prohibition, censorship, and denial truly the forms through which power is exercised in a general way, if not in every society, most certainly in our own"; and whether "there really was a historical rupture between the age of repression and the critical analysis of repression". Foucault argues that through the evolution of Christian pastoral practices, specifically that of confessions regarding sexual sins, society was compelled to begin an elaborate and never-ceasing discourse on sex. "
Abstract In this article, the writer discusses that the study of human sexuality and gender roles is a discipline complicated by a vast range of biases and prejudices. The writer notes that it may be arguable, with some justification, that it is impossible to approach this study from an unbiased perspective given our common humanity that the degree to which each of us is implicated in social relationships and influenced by our hormonal and physiological conditions. Within this context, this essay explores the questions of how sexuality and gender roles are constructed and the issues associated with medical interventions with regard to determining sexuality and gender roles. This essay argues the thesis that while sex is generally biologically determined, sexual orientation and gender roles are often - though not necessarily exclusively - socially constructed. Given this perspective, it is argued that medical interventions in these areas become highly problematic given the likelihood that they will be based upon not necessarily the patient's best interests, but the social preoccupations and biases of the medical intervenor.
From the Paper "Thus, the numbers of truly inter-sexed infants may be assumed to be so small as to be statistically insignificant. While Kessler argues convincingly that physicians' socially constructed biases with respect to sexual orientation influence their interventions in inter-sexed infants, the fact remains that the numbers of such cases are so small as to not affect the overall conclusion that humanity is - in the vast majority - determined biologically by sex into male and female."
"Beyond this, however, evidence suggests that sexual orientation and gender roles may be significantly influenced by social construction to the point that the latter may often be the dominant factor in determining these roles."
Abstract This ten page paper examines Andrew Greeley's contention that American society has become increasingly permissive and saturated with sexuality. The writer maintains that his contention can be confirmed by anyone who watches television for ten minutes or walks down a city street, for positive concepts of gender roles and attitudes about family are being undermined by pervasive sexual content in the mass media and by a prevailing unwillingness to acknowledge the implications of sexual permissiveness.
From the Paper "Andrew Greeley's contention that American society has become increasingly permissive and saturated with sexuality can be confirmed by anyone who watches television for ten minutes or walks down a city street. Positive concepts of gender roles and attitudes about family are being undermined by pervasive sexual content in the mass media and by a prevailing unwillingness to acknowledge the implications of sexual permissiveness. The writer agrees with Greeley about the pervasiveness of sexuality and shares his perspective that society has become increasingly permissive. The writer also agrees with Gudorf, for ... "
Abstract This paper discusses sexual harassment. The paper provides a working definition of sexual harassment, as well as discusses the literature around the subject. The paper focuses on women in male gender specific positions versus women in female gender specific positions, and whether or not one type of job is more likely to produce issues with sexual harassment.
From the Paper "Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Sexual harassment is any unwanted sexual behavior, and it affects millions of women throughout every industry. Dr. Kimberly Schneider (1998) suggests that sexual harassment is so common in the workplace that many women believe that it is just part of the job that they have to contend with. Dr. Schneider (1998) further stipulates that although this fact may lead many to think that mild forms of sexual harassment do not deserve to be considered as crimes, when women are subjected to sexual harassment they will eventually begin to develop employment problems due to the impact that the behavior has on their self-esteem (Schneider, 1998). While sexual harassment was once only experienced by women in gender specific positions throughout the world, the inclusion of women in male gender targeted jobs adds a new complexity to the issue."
This paper addresses the issue of sexual diversity through the use of various gay and lesbian writings especially Radclyffe Hall's "Well of Loneliness".
Abstract This paper argues that people should change their thinking regarding gender distribution and create a third gender called homosexual. The author suggests that lesbianism is more than sexuality, that it is the emotional and psychological identification of women with other women and that women have enjoyed this kind of essential bonding throughout history, regardless of the gender of their sexual partners.
From the Paper "Shame has an imperative affect on the lives of many gays and lesbians. It originates as early as childhood or the first experience of ones homosexuality. At first it distorts their ideology, self-esteem and dignity. It also negatively affects their intimate life, adult life and identity as whole. The aim of the authors is to break this wall of silence surrounding the gays and helping them come out of this cave of shame they live in."
Tags:gender, distribution, third, homosexual, identification, women
Abstract This paper critically examines some of the works published concerning the creation of one's sexual identity as well as the various agents of sexual socialization at work on modern-day youth. The chosen texts are: "In the Same Boat? The Gendered (in)experience of first heterosex?, ""Was it Good For You Too"?: Gender Differences in First Sexual Intercourse Experiences?, ?Sexual Messages on Television: Comparing Findings from Three Studies" and "Effects of Neighborhood and School Environments on Transitions to First Sexual Intercourse".
From the Paper "The first of these works, "In The Same Boat" (...)? was primarily interested with illustrating first sexual experiences from a feminist stance. It states that "first sex" is more of a rite of passage for men than for women, using the idea that a male becomes a symbolic "man" upon the act of first coitus, while a female becomes a symbolic "woman" upon reaching puberty, and the onset of menstruation."
Abstract The writer of this paper explores how one's sexual identity begins to develop at an early age but may differ greatly depending on gender and culture. This paper also explores the role the social environment plays in the development of a sexual identity. This paper also discusses the term sexual orientation which presumes a person aligns themselves with certain categorical labels such as heterosexual, homosexual or lesbian.
From the Paper "Sexual identity varies so greatly from person to person and depends on so many factors and circumstances. Some people may not know their sexual identity for man years, largely due to social pressures and fears. It is important for people to understand that sexual identity does not have to remain aligned to any sexual preference for all their lives."
Abstract The paper deals with the question of whether environment or nature defines sex and explains that it is impossible to know. The paper discusses that certainly there is compelling evidence against either of these factors being totally responsible for gender. Gender is something that a person feels--it is not defined by how a person appears. The paper emphasizes how even then, a person only ascribed themselves an emotional gender based on traditional assumptions about the binary gender. The paper concludes that with the abolition of these traditional assumptions, gender, in a way, has become obsolete.
Abstract The paper briefly describes the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV-TR) criteria for definitive diagnosis of gender identity disorder. The paper also discusses the psychoanalytic perspective of the disorder as well as possible biological correlations related to sexual orientation.
From the Paper "Sexual and gender identity disorder, also known as transsexualism, is a disorder in which the individual strongly identifies with the opposite sex. It is a disorder primarily because of the significant physical (actual) and psychological (perceived) disparity existing within the individual, leading to psychosocial distress. The disorder can manifest during childhood or adolescence. Subjectively, this may be described as a "man (or boy) being trapped in a woman's (or girl's) body" or vice versa. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV-TR) diagnostic criteria requires four or more conditions to be met."
Abstract This paper presents an in-depth study of a Bildungsroman (coming-of-age) theme and Freud's theories of sexuality and gender as they apply to the Henry James novel "What Maisie Knew." The paper discusses the basis of Sigmund Freud's theories on the development of infantile/childhood sexuality and relates this to the novel. The paper presents examples from the story to support the discussion.
From the Paper "What Maisie Knew is a complex tale with a central coming-of-age theme, indicating the presence of both Freudian theories on sexuality and gender, and various components of a Bildungsroman novel. These classifications can be directly correlated with the detailed development of Henry James' title character, whom author Thomas Jeffers describes in his book Apprenticeships: The Bildungsroman from Goethe to Santayana, as "a sort of Alice who, if she were totally luckless, could become a sort of Lolita" (Jeffers 106)."
Abstract This paper discusses gender identity and the way that the need to classify, label and categorize gender identity has polarized the push toward civil rights for all genderqueers. It discusses the impact of the pressure to conform to gender roles and expectations that come from early childhood. It concludes by discussing society's view of those that it attempts to categorize into specific gender identities and the need for more flexible ways to consider gender and sexuality.
From the Paper "One of the most salient points that Wilchins raises in Queer Theory, Gender Theory is that gender seems to have become even more polarized since the LGBT movement has gained momentum. Yet neither Wilchins nor one of the authors who contributed to Genderqueer can aptly explain why gender cuts so deeply to the core of human identity and why the "ick factor" exists to begin with. The authors do explain that eliminating the "ick factor" depends on a wholesale paradigm shift beginning with language and discourse and gradually affecting media manifestations, education, and political policy changes. For example, butch women should no longer be labeled as "freaks," whether they are gay or straight. A woman who chooses to slip back and forth between butch and femme roles need not fear the repercussions of her style of dress, and a man who does the same would also be able to express his gender without having to label himself or describe his sexual preferences."
Abstract This paper examines the variations in human sexuality between the modern era and the ancient Greco-Roman period. It discusses how, in the modern, Western society human sexuality is defined based on the gender, ethnicity, or social status of the individuals involved in the act. The paper then shows how, in contrast to Western society's concept of sexuality, Greco-Roman sexuality was characterized by a lack of interest in these individual characteristics and, instead, a concern with the role each individual played in an active/passive dichotomy.
From the Paper "All of these historical examples exist in subtle contrast to the modern conception of sexuality. Elements of active/passive and power relationships still exist in modern, Western sexuality. However, the strict control of the active, powerful sexuality is no longer solely the domain of the elite men of society as it was in the Greco-Roman societies. Dissimilarly, the power relationships that exist in modern sexuality are somewhat more fluid and shift along lines such as gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and even personal fetish. Greco-Roman sexuality was characterized by a idealized adherence to power relationships in which men held sway over their wives, over women, over young boys, and sexual plunder in conquered domains. In all of these situations, sexuality is defined in terms of power as it exists between individuals of different social status."
Abstract In this article, the writer notes that the issue of gender differentiation is a highly contentious one. The writer points out that this involves not only questions of how the process occurs in humans, but also its political associations in terms of power relations between the sexes, and institutional power in western societies in general. In order to understand the significance of the textual construction of gender differentiation the writer maintains that it would be useful to consider Foucault's analysis of how the medical community has played a major role in exploring this issue. Foucault's analysis is important for he does not simply consider the debates over gender differentiation to involve simply questions of biology and psychology, or even gender relations between the sexes. Instead, the writer notes that Foucault asks that we consider the textual explorations themselves as instruments of power by which medical institutions and society define and control sexuality.
From the Paper "This "debate" between Chodorow and Freud with regard to the differentiation of gender can thus be seen as a struggle for gender power in society as a whole. The capacity to define one or the other gender as a normative state of humanity is clearly an assertion of power. However, in a larger analysis, Foucault would suggest that we see both researchers as been fundamentally similar in that they both partake of an institutional approach to infantile sexuality in the medical and scientific community which has, as its ultimate purpose, the assertion of control and domination over children's sexuality through processes of surveillance and behaviour modification. These processes with regard to the development of gender differentiation, Foucault argues, can be seen in the rendering as "perverse" such gendered states as "homosexuality" in children. This is revealing of the instrumentality through which western societies have, for at least the past few centuries, applied significant efforts to the control of individuals through the control of sexuality and - in particular - the power to define sexuality according to the interests of institutional powers."
