Abstract This paper discusses the determinants of sexualorientation. The paper defines the sexualorientation categories of homosexual, bisexual, and heterosexual, and discusses some of the complex issues surrounding these labels.
From the Paper "According to Emily Cameron in "New Moon", some girls like boys, some girls like girls, and some girls just like people without worrying whether they're girls or boys. Whom you like romantically is called sexual orientation. It's usually divided neatly into groups of homosexuals being attracted only to people of the same sex, bisexuals being attracted to both sexes and heterosexuals being attracted only to people of the opposite sex. In reality the issue is more complex than these labels..."
Abstract In this article, the writer notes that television is arguably our most pervasive mass medium, and reaches millions of viewers, often for many hours per day. As such, it is reasonable to expect that it may play a substantial role in forming and moulding public opinion. This essay examines how race, sexualorientation, social class, gender and class are portrayed on television, with specific reference to four very popular television series: 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'; 'Ellen'; 'Frasier' and 'Friends'. It is argued that the relationship between television and the masses is becoming increasingly interactive, with the latter increasingly impacting the former, and both exerting a moulding action upon one another.
From the Paper "First, it must be conceded that there is abundant evidence of television moulding our current society, conveying a view of the world that reinforces the current status quo. Take for example the enormously popular television series Friends. This series features four fabulously shallow, attractive, white, heterosexual, gender-role-conforming, slim, reasonably affluent, utterly self-centred thirty-somethings living in a US city. These characters surely represent the current patriarchal North American status quo. None of them transgresses any societal norms, and all devote themselves with indefatigable vigour to the most important social virtue of our time - consumption. Indeed, much of the action takes place in a coffee shop, where the characters simply spend their time spending money and being amusing. This is reminiscent of the television series Frasier, where the characters also appear to have a bottomless capacity for expensive coffee (as well as fine wine and good food)."
Abstract This paper uses reality television as an example of race, class, gender and sexualorientation in popular culture. The author argues that reality television shows are filled with stereotypes. The paper relates that these stereotypes are used to maintain the status quo.
From the Paper "Reality television, which is a hybrid of a game show and a documentary, is a relatively recent development. Basically contestants have to do some type of unusual activity and this activity is filmed for a television audience. The nature of the activity and the prizes vary from show to show with some shows involving stunts and large cash prizes, other shows involve changing life styles and the prize is a new and supposedly better lifestyle. Although the contests on reality television programs are not actors they are still picked using a very deliberate selection process."
Abstract In this article, the writer discusses that the term "sexualorientation" has become the phrase used to identify a class of protected rights in law and in business and presumably includes all forms of sexualorientation. In practice, though, the writer points out, the term is a way of assuring some protection for homosexuals without actually using the term. When speaking about majority sexualorientation, meaning heterosexuality as the norm, there is no need to speak about orientation. The writer maintains that it is the basic role of government to protect each citizen from other citizens, and so protections on the basis of sexualorientation are needed no matter what the source of a different orientation might be. The writer concludes that protecting the class is a legal question and does not depend on the other elements to be in force.
From the Paper "Yet punishing people for a "crime" that is not a crime at all is un-American, and there is no reason for the government to be involved in an effort on the part of segments of society to force other segments to bend to their will. Some critics claim that there is a reason in that the government should be promoting so-called family values, while homosexuality is detrimental to those values. The recent battle in Congress was framed in part as a battle between the Employment Non-Discrimination Act on the one hand and the Defense of Marriage Act on the other, an act which defines marriage so as to eliminate homosexual partnerships. The title of the latter act shows the belief that marriage is under attack by homosexuals and so that heterosexuals can rally and defend themselves. Differential treatment of homosexuals thus becomes defense rather than discrimination."
Abstract Current researchers have approached the question of sexual preference and its causes from a biological as well as a psychological and sociological point of study. Both types of researchers would agree that the various areas of influence are not necessarily exclusive of one another, and that no single area dominates the decision as to what determines sexualorientation. The paper shows that some researchers have demonstrated a biologic or genetic component of human sexualorientation. Others dispute this claim, stating that sexuality is largely an environmentally-influenced preference. In conclusion, this paper argues that it is clearly necessary to approach the causes of sexualorientation from a point of view that includes both biologic and environmental factors.
From the Paper "Blanchard and Klassen have hypothesized that the Y-linked minor histocompatiblity antigens, or H-Y antigens, are involved in sexual development. Their study shows that some mothers experience a progressive immunization to the antigen, and that this change may increase the effects of H-Y antibodies on the sexual differentiation of the brain in male children that are born later in the birth order within a family. According to the authors, this information is consistent with the fact that there is a correlation between sexual orientation in men and the number of older brothers they have. Each older brother increases the odds of homosexual preference by nearly 33% in the younger siblings."
Abstract This paper explains that sexualorientation discrimination in the workplace is demonstrated not only by poor treatment of these employees but also in financial ways: Although equally qualified, male homosexuals are earning about twenty-two percent less than heterosexual men. The author points out that the Congress is considering the "Employment Non-Discrimination Act". The paper concludes that sexual discrimination could be reduced, if not eliminated, if employers trained and educated employees on sexualorientation, provided benefits for gay partners and allowed employees to form unions to voice their opinion.
From the Paper "Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees are discriminated against everyday in the working world. Although personal information, such as sexual orientation, should not be questioned in the workplace, employers are using this information to discriminate against certain people. Even employers that intend to help people have been known to discriminate. The Salvation Army is a perfect example of this. The Salvation Army in New York would pull its business out of the state rather than provide health insurance benefits to partners of gay employees. A law that will soon be enforced in New York states that all employers must provide health benefits to gay partners. Since the Salvation Army considers itself an "evangelical Christian church," it is against it's religion to promote homosexuality."
Abstract This paper examines how Sigmund Freud and Adrienne Rich approach the issue of the social construction of sexualorientation from radically different perspectives and with different objectives. It argues, through a critical analysis of the writings of both thinkers, that while Freud represents heterosexual orientation as natural he is clearly conflicted on the issue of social construction while, in contrast, Rich focuses almost entirely upon how heterosexuality is socially determined, while suggesting that - outside of this oppressive social determination - sexualorientation is natural.
From the Paper "In sharp contrast to Freud, Adrienne Rich represents heterosexuality as being social constructed by oppressive social forces, overriding innate or biologically determined sexual orientation that may be either homosexual or heterosexual. It should be noted that Rich is primarily focused upon a critique of the "bias" of "compulsory heterosexuality" in our society. While she attacks the view that women are "innately sexually-oriented" towards men (Rich 63), she acknowledges that there are women who are "self-described" as heterosexual as well as homosexual (Rich 90). Thus, although her focus is on the social construct of "compulsory heterosexuality" it appears that Rich considers there to be an underlying innate sexual orientation that the social construction is built upon and oppresses."
Abstract It discusses biological, psychological, and sociological opinions of this theory, and concludes that all elements of sexualorientation: biological/genetic, psychological, and socially constructed, are essential to the way in which it operates in Western society, and that growing tolerance for minority groups and opinions will increase the acceptance of "sexual deviants."
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 sexualorientation 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 After an outline and introductory paragraph, the author starts the piece by describing the traditional Christian view of sexuality. Then, the author describes the sexual revolution of the 1960s and how both views paradoxically exist in modern society. Using this scizophrenic view of sexuality as a backdrop, the author then discusses America's obsession with celebrities and how that obsession makes it dangerous for gay celebrities to reveal their sexuality. The author then argues that all celebrities are entitled to their privacy and while gay celebrities should be commended for asserting their sexuality, no one has the right to demand that they disclose such private matters.
Abstract This paper discusses the independent nature of attributes like sexualorientation, gender expression and sex identity. The paper looks at their expression along a continuous spectrum, in contrast to conventional "either/or" constructs. The paper explains that this conventional construct can be confining and even psychologically harmful. The analysis maintains these attributes run a range of expression and seldom fit within social "norms" that define them.
From the Paper "Sex is generally a term that denotes anatomy and other biological considerations like chromosomes and hormones. Gender is generally a term that denotes appearance, behavior, roles and identity. Many people consider there to be two separate..."
Abstract This paper discusses that attributes like sexualorientation, gender expression and sex identity are expressed along a continuous spectrum in contrast to conventional "either/or" constructs of these attributes. The author points out that these "either/or" constructs can be confining and psychologically harmful. The paper maintains that these attributes run a range of expression and seldom fit within social norms that attempt to define them.
From the Paper "Sex is generally a term that denotes anatomy and other biological considerations like chromosomes and hormones. Gender is generally a term that denotes appearance, behavior, roles and identity. Many people consider there to be two sexes."
Abstract This paper summarizes an article based on male voices and the perception of sexualorientation, specifically male homosexuality and the voice characteristics that people attribute to them. The paper discusses a group of people who listen to a number of recorded voices that range from "gay-sounding" to "straight-sounding" and then cross analyze the results by studying the pitch of each voice recorded how it influenced the listeners' response.
From the Paper "Male Voices and Perceived Sexual Orientation Male Voices and Perceived Sexual Orientation Introduction The background of the research is based on a study that was conducted by three Canadian University Professors who studied the perceptions of male voices in terms of which sound gay and which sound straight. The authors described how they discussed this research topic openly with their students. Their students agreed, "gay men speech mirrors the patterns of stereotypical high-pitched women's voices" (Smyth, Jacobs, & Rogers, 2003, p. 331). The authors developed a gay-sounding and straight-sounding scale based on listener ratings to record and measure the perception of sexual orientation based on a person's voice (Smyth, Jacobs, & Rogers, 2003, p. 329)."
Abstract The political concept of "Orientalism" is discussed in this essay, and is examined in connection to historical contexts of 19th century Europe. This essay considers how "Orientalism" enables white Europeans to perceive themselves racially and culturally superior, and to render Asian and Middle-Eastern cultures as exotic, and as a commodity that can be consumed. The ideal of exotic Asians persists today in the form of the Asian sex-trades, and in this essay the role of sex, sexuality, and difference is critically analysed in relation to theory-work by Edward Said, and other cultural critics.
This paper discusses sexual harassment, a very real issue often misunderstood and minimized, which needs to be seriously combated by employers and employees alike.
Abstract This paper explains that the culture of the workplace has completely changed in the last 30 years because of affirmative action and anti-discrimination policies. The author reports that sexual harassment is defined by four major categories: unwanted or unsolicited sexual attention; implied or expressed offer of a reward in return for sexual favors; implied or expressed threat if a sexually-oriented request is denied; and any intimidating comments or actions relating to gender, sexualorientation, or explicit sexuality. The paper states that the problem of sexual harassment sometimes is not taken seriously because of false claims by self-proclaimed victims who were sexually promiscuous or inviting at the workplace and others who bring suit to make financial gain.
From the Paper "It is said that between 40 and 70 percent of women report that they have experienced sexual harassment. It is possible that these statistics may actually be higher, because many people are ashamed or embarrassed to have been the victim of this and therefore will not report or admit to the occurrence. In most circumstances, this abuse was reported coming from a supervisor or authority figure of some sort. (Thompson) Sexual harassment occurs in every field of work, from hard labor to professional offices. Usually when sexual harassment occurs in one instance, it has happened before and it will happen again."
