Chapter 10 - Flashcards
(120 cards)
1
Q
Sexuality
A
Broad term that refers to sexual identity, sexual practices, sexual attractiveness, and sexual desires.
2
Q
Sexual orientation
A
The direction of a person’s. erotic and romantic attraction to a particular sex.
- Reference point = sex.
- Sexual orientation is thought of in terms of sex.
- Example: someone who is bisexual: is sexually attracted to either of the sexes, women or men.
- Example: someone who is heterosexual: is attracted to the opposite sex.
3
Q
Bisexual
A
A person who is sexually attracted to people of both sexes.
4
Q
Heterosexual
A
A person who is sexually attracted to people of the opposite sex.
5
Q
Homosexual
A
A person who is attracted to people of the same sex.
6
Q
“Homosexual” Word History
A
- Increasingly common to use “gay”, “gay person”, or “lesbian” instead of “homosexual”.
- Because the word “homosexual” has a history of being used in clinical discussions about how gay people are psychologically unhealthy.
- Homosexuality was listed as a mental illness in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
- Aversion therapy was used to “cure” homosexuality, including electric shock treatments.
- Homosexuality removed from DSM in 1987.
- Many gay individuals avoid the term “homosexual” because of the reasons above.
7
Q
Pansexual
A
- Traditional definitions of sexual orientation depend on a binary understanding of sex, evident in the words “same” and “opposite” sex.
- Pansexual sexual orientation is outside of the binary view of sex or gender.
- Pansexual: sexual and romantic attraction to people regardless of their gender identity or biological sex.
8
Q
Asexual
A
- Asexual: little to no sexual and romantic attraction, including limited interest in sexual activity.
9
Q
Questioning
A
Questioning means an individual who is unsure of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
10
Q
Allies
A
Allies are heterosexual individuals who support legal and social rights for LGBTQ+ individuals.
11
Q
LGBTQQIP2SAA -> LGBTQ+
A
- Lesbian
- Gay
- Bisexual
- Transgender
- Queer
- Questioning
- Intersex
- Pansexual
- Two-Sprit
- Asexual
- Ally
12
Q
Two Important Theoretical Perspectives on Sexuality
A
The social construction of sexuality and queer theory.
13
Q
Sexology
A
- Sexology = the science of sex, emerged in the mid-1800s.
14
Q
Masturbation
A
- Masturbation was categorized as a perversion of “self-abuse”, and it was seen as a gateway toward other perversions of sexual behaviors.
15
Q
Sexology Categorization
A
- Sexology focused on sexual behaviors, it categorized sexual behaviors and identities. Anything outside of heterosexual vaginal penetrative sex was seen as “abnormal” (often called perversions).
- Sexologists categorized people into heterosexual or homosexual, with heterosexuality considered the norm due to its perceived procreative function.
16
Q
Same-Sex Abnormality in Sexology
A
- Same-sex behaviors and desires were typically labeled as abnormal within this framework.
17
Q
Alfred Kinsey’s Contribution
A
- Alfred Kinsey and colleagues challenged these rigid categories, suggesting a continuum of sexuality rather than strict binaries.
- Kinsey’s work helped broaden understanding of sexuality beyond limited categories like heterosexual or homosexual.
18
Q
The sociology of sexuality
A
- In the 1960s, sociologists started to explore what we now call the “sociology of sexuality”.
- Focuses on the social aspects of human sexuality, including the social construction of sexual identities, norms, and behaviors within a society.
19
Q
Homosexual Identity Created in 19th Century
A
- Sexual identities are not universal, but rather were constructed in the 19th century in connection to sexual behaviors that have existed forever.
- Research looked at how a distinct identity termed “homosexual” was created in the late 19th century.
- Behaviors became regulated through laws and surveillance, leading to the creation of the identity of “homosexual” in the late 19th century.
- The late 19th century provided a framework for interpreting behaviors that had always existed.
20
Q
Laws Against Buggery
A
- In England, laws against “buggery” were in place from the 1530s to 1885, targeting non-reproductive sexual acts, including anal sex, bestiality, and oral sex.
- These laws were directed at the behavior itself rather than the individuals involved, although most offenses involved men.
21
Q
Oscar Wilde
A
- Scandals and public trials, such as the trial of author Oscar Wilde, contributed to the creation of the identity of “homosexual” by the end of the 19th century.
22
Q
The social construction of sexuality
A
- Sexual identities are socially constructed and shaped by history, context, and power.
- Sexual identities are not universal, but rather were constructed in the 19th century in connection to sexual behaviors that have existed forever.
- Sociologists call something a social construction when it’s clear that it’s created by society and changes as society changes.
23
Q
Cultural Views on Same-Sex Acts
A
- Attitudes and laws regarding same-sex practices, such as anal sex, have varied considerably over time and across cultures.
- In some cultures, same-sex acts were viewed as rites of passage toward masculinity and male virility.
- Attitudes and meanings towards behaviors are context-specific, changing cross-culturally and over time.
24
Q
Same-Sex Behaviors Historically - Women
A
- Same-sex behaviors among women have historically been relatively ignored and not subject to the same degree of legal scrutiny as men’s behaviors.
- Women accused of same-sex behavior were often labeled as “unchaste”, with their sexuality considered problematic in terms of femininity and morality.
- Didn’t care they were fucking women, cared they were fucking someone before marriage.
- Same-sex relationships among women were generally more tolerated than those among men, with some women living together as “close friends”.
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Self-articulation
The creation of a homosexual identity also created an identity around which people could gather and organize themselves, called “self-articulation”.
26
Boundaries around Sexual Behaviors
- Boundaries around sexual behaviors were created by the actions of the state in the 19th century, showing how people in positions of power shape definitions and boundaries.
- Ex. construction of homosexual identity
27
Role of Power in creating definitions and boundaries - Indigenous Peoples
- Look at the history of sexual diversity among Indigenous Peoples to understand both the role of power in creating definitions and boundaries, and how knowledge about sexuality can vary historically and culturally.
- European colonizers brought binary views of sex (male/female) and gender (masculine/feminine) to North America.
- European colonizers also brought ideas of normal/abnormal binary. - The idea that heterosexuality is normal, and anything else is abnormal.
- Indigenous sexual practices and identities faced surveillance and punishment under European rule.
- Due to struggles over governance and treaty rights, sexuality received less attention compared to legal issues among Indigenous groups.
- Many Indigenous Peoples want to see sexual diversity in a way that respects their traditional practices, not just Western ideas.
- This perspective may not align with Western categories like “lesbian”, “gay”, and “bisexual”.
28
Micheal Foucalt
- Micheal Foucault wrote about how the meaning and knowledge of sexuality vary historically and culturally.
- He argued that there is nothing natural or universal about how certain sexual behaviors are attributed to specific types of people.
29
Sexual Scripts
- Sociologists highlight how society influences our personal views and behaviors about sexuality.
- Sexuality is learned over the life course through sexual scripts and interaction with others.
- Sexual scripts are like mental guides we learn throughout life that tell us how to behave sexually.
- Sexual scripts are learned throughout life and guide our sexual behaviors and sexual responses.
- These scripts are shaped by our culture and influence how we act in sexual situations.
- These scripts help us shape and understand our past, present, and future sexual behaviors.
- For example, in North America, a common sexual script for heterosexual partners is that women are seen as controlling pleasure and men are seen as the assertive partner.
- This idea is seen in things like romance novels, which follow these patterns in how they portray relationships and sex.
- These patterns in sexual scripts have remained largely unchanged in romance novels over the past few decades.
30
Queer theory definition
Queer theory: an approach to sexuality and gender that rejects the notion of stable categories.
- Instead of seeing sexuality as just one thing, it looks at the many different ways people experience and express it.
- Queer theory acknowledges that there are many diverse identities and experiences when it comes to sexuality, and it rejects the idea that there is only one way to be homosexual or to have a gay identity.
- Queer theory challenges the idea of a single, unified homosexual identity.
Believes that there are many different ways people experience and express their sexuality.
- It focuses on analyzing how society organizes desire, identities, and bodies.
- Does not focus on sexual identity, focuses on sexual identities.
- Instead of viewing sexuality as singular, queer theory looks at multiple sexual identities.
- Queer theorists argue that identity is fluid and can take many forms for different people.
- They say that focusing too narrowly on one idea of being gay leaves out a lot of people who are different in terms of things like social class, race, age, and ability.
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Queer meaning in history
- Originally “queer” meant strange, odd, unusual, or abnormal.
- In the 19th century, it became a derogatory term for gay men.
32
Queer theory present meaning
- Starting in the 1980s, the term began to be used in a positive way within the LGBTQ+ community to reclaim it from its negative connotations.
- Today, “queer” is used broadly to refer to sexual and gender identities that are not heterosexual or cisgender or gender-binary (man/woman).
33
Queer theory - instability of identity
- Queer theory, influenced by Judith Butler, suggests that identities like gender and sexuality are not fixed but unstable.
- Butler argues that societal views of gender are rooted in heterosexuality and are constantly created and reinforced by individuals' words and actions.
- Non-heterosexual practices are often seen as deviations from the dominant discourse, leading LGBTQ+ individuals to be labeled as deviant and facing alienation, discrimination, and oppression.
- By highlighting the instability of identity, queer theorists aim to challenge the very notion of fixed identity categories.
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Conflict theory
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Structural functionalism
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Symbolic interactionist
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Feminist
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Postmodernism
39
Sexuality on a continuum
- Kinsey proposed a shift away from rigid categories of heterosexual and homosexual.
- He suggested that sexuality exists on a continuum rather than as discrete categories.
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The Kinsey Scale
- The Kinsey Scale illustrates this continuum, with exclusively heterosexual and exclusively homosexual at opposite ends.
- There are various categories in between, such as the category “predominantly heterosexual, only incidentally homosexual”, which would suggest someone identifies as heterosexual but has had at least one same-sex sexual experience.
-
“Equally heterosexual and homosexual” represents bisexuality, indicating an equal level of attraction to both sexes.
41
Distinguishing between behavior, desire, and identity
- Research suggests that many people have desires and experiences that don’t fit neatly into strict categories.
- People’s desires and behaviors do not always correspond with their stated orientation.
- Sexual behaviors may not always align with the categories of sexual orientation that people identify with.
42
Sexual behavior
Sexual behavior refers to the activities a person engages in, whether with a partner or alone.
- Sexual behaviors may not always align with the categories of sexual orientation that people identify with.
43
Sexual desire
Sexual desire refers to a person’s interest or inclination toward engaging in sexual activities.
44
Dimensions of sexuality
Sociologists recognize that sexuality can be understood in various dimensions: identity, behavior, and desires.
- Sexual identity, desires, and behaviors may not always align.
45
Distinguishing between behavior, desire, and identity, evidence
- Men are more likely than women to identify as exclusively heterosexual with congruent sexual behaviors.
- However, both men and women may identify as heterosexual while also having same-sex sexual or romantic experiences.
- Studies show that a significant percentage of individuals identifying as exclusively heterosexual had at least one same-sex partner.
- Some individuals may have had same-gender sexual partners despite identifying as straight.
- Similarly, some individuals identifying as gay or lesbian may have had opposite-sex partners.
46
Situational homosexuality
- Contextual circumstances, such as in prison or during times of war, can shape sexual practices, leading to what’s known as “situational homosexuality”.
- Situational homosexuality involves engaging in same-sex practices due to situational factors rather than inherent sexual orientation.
- Not because of orientation, but more because of the situation.
- Engaging in same-sex practices in certain contexts doesn’t always lead to a change in sexual orientation.
47
Sexual Intercourse for Canadians aged 15 to 24
- Around 60% of Canadians aged 15 to 24 have had sexual intercourse, with penile-vaginal intercourse being the most common definition.
- The percentage varies based on factors like age, ethnicity, religion, and sexual orientation.
48
Age and Sexual Intercourse
- Age is a factor that shapes sexual intercourse experience.
- Younger populations tend to have lower rates of sexual intercourse, with the likelihood increasing with age.
49
Age of First Intercourse
- The average age of first intercourse is around 17, with variations above and below this age.
50
Study on Toronto Youth
- A study among Toronto youth aged 13 to 18 found that 28% had experienced vaginal intercourse, while kissing and dry-humping were more common behaviors.
- About 7% of the sample reported having had anal intercourse, while approximately one-quarter reported experience with oral sex or hand stimulation.
- 24% of the sampled youth reported having no sexual experience, with this group more likely to be younger or belong to certain ethnic or religious groups: Muslim, South Asian, or East/South East Asian.
51
Sexual Activity and Gay Men
Being sexually active is more common among gay males compared to heterosexual males, but comparable among women regardless of sexual orientation.
52
Study at University in BC, hookups
- In a longitudinal study at a university in British Columbia, 70-80% of students had experienced sexual intercourse.
- Most of these sexual experiences occurred with committed, monogamous relationships, with casual encounters (hookups) being less common
- Those most likely to engage in hookups were typically male and gay, with a history of casual partners.
- A significant minority of surveyed students were “abstainers”, including those who were not virgins.
- More men began having sex in serious relationships over time, but it was still less common than women doing this.
- For women, the frequency of having sex in serious relationships decreased slightly over the study period, but it was still the most common way they had sex.
53
Sexual Activity Among Canadian Women Statistics
- Among Canadian women aged 35-49, 90-94% report having had sexual intercourse in the last 12 months.
- This percentage slightly decreases with age. With 88% of women aged 50-54 and 81% of women aged 55-59 reporting sexual intercourse in the last year.
- There are differences in age-at-first-intercouse among women, with older generations reporting a later age (age 19) compared to younger generations (age 17).
54
Heteronormativity
The attitude that heterosexuality alone is the normal and natural sexuality.
- It assumes that everyone is heterosexual unless stated otherwise.
- Like gender norms, heterosexuality is considered normative, leading to expectations about individuals sexuality.
- Those who do not conform to the heteronormative expectations may face prejudice and discrimination.
55
Heterosexism
- This prejudice and discrimination rooted in heteronormativity is referred to as heterosexism.
- Heterosexism: The prejudice and discrimination against non-heterosexual behaviors and identities.
56
Heteronormativity Privileges
- Heteronormativity is often subtle and difficult to notice, yet its influence and privileges are pervasive in society.
- Heterosexual individuals may never have been asked when they knew they were straight, highlighting the taken-for-granted nature of heterosexuality.
- Heterosexual couples can publicly express affection without worrying about harassment or victimization based on their sexual orientation.
- They can introduce their partners to others without concern and are unlikely to face questions about when they “chose” to be straight or when they realized their sexual orientation.
- In mass media like television and Hollywood movies, heterosexual couples are often portrayed as the norm, affirming heterosexuality as the standard.
- Heteronormativity is evident in employment patterns and workplace discrimination, legal treatment of sexual minorities, and education.
57
Legal Recognition of LGBTQ+ Rights
- In Canada, same-sex marriage was legalized in July 2005, but LGBTQ+ individuals have long faced exclusion and denial of legal protections.
- An example is the case of Egan v. Canada, where Jim Egan challenged the denial of spousal benefits to him and his partner based on their gay relationship.
- Despite initial dismissal by the Supreme Court of Canada, Egan’s case led to the recognition of sexual orientation as protected against discrimination under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, enabling LGBTQ+ individuals to challenge discriminatory practices.
58
LGBTQ+ Inclusion in Education
- Teachers often assume students and their parents are heterosexual, evident in activities like making Mother’s Day and Father’s Day cards.
- There are significant gaps in educators' commitment to and knowledge of LGBTQ+ students, their experiences of harassment, and their willingness to intervene on their behalf.
- Most sex education curriculum in North America assumes heterosexuality and fails to adequately address the needs of LGBTQ+ students.
- Among students, attitudes towards LGBTQ+ policies and individuals vary, with some expressing support while others oppose marriage and employment rights for sexual minority persons.
59
Homophobia
- An extreme version of normative heterosexuality is homophobia.
Homophobia: the irrational fear or contempt for gays and lesbians that can lead to harrasment and violence.
60
Transphobia
Transphobia: the irrational fear of or contempt for transgender individuals that can lead to harassment and violence.
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Subtle Discrimination Against LGBTQ+ People
- Discrimination against LGBTQ+ people today is often subtle but no less effective in reinforcing existing structures of privilege.
- Examples include discouraging close friendships between adolescent boys, stereotyping LGBTQ+ individuals in media, and questioning the need for Pride parades.
- Subtle discrimination disregards the fears and risks LGBTQ+ individuals face in public settings and within their families.
62
Online Homophobia
- Online homophobia is discreet but not uncommon, even in spaces like “mommy blogs” traditionally centered around heterosexual motherhood.
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LGBTQ+ Distress in Disclosing Identity
- Lesbian mothers joining mommy blogs disrupt the heteronormative space and share their unique experiences, but coming out online entails risks and potential distress.
- For lesbian mothers, this distress is connected to prior experiences of being misunderstood or treated unfairly by people like physicians and family members.
- Disclosure of sexual identity online, such as on Facebook, can also cause anxiety and distress for gay men due to previous experiences with homophobia.
- LGBTQ+ individuals' distress in disclosing their sexual identity online is often connected to prior experiences of being misunderstood or treated unfairly by others.
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Why do sexual and gender minorities feel distress?
Sexual and gender minorities feel distress because of previous experiences with being treated unfairly, being misunderstood, and violence.
65
Challenges Faced by Transgender Students
- Transphobia, like homophobia, creates concerns for transgender and gender non-conforming individuals about the risk of violence and feelings of alienation.
- Within schools, transgender and gender non-conforming students often experience violence, harrassment, and sexual assault.
- Transgender students face challenges related to accessing campus facilities such as residences and bathrooms.
- There is a lack of curricula and competency about transgender and LGBTQ+ experiences and issues, leading to exclusion in course material and misgendering of pronouns in classrooms.
- Sexual and gender minorities are disproportionately likely to experience violent victimization.
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Violent victimization definition
Violent victimization includes sexual assault, robbery, and physical assault.
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Do men or women experience more violent victimization?
- Women experience more violent victimization than men over their lifetime, regardless of their sexual orientation.
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Homonormativity
Homonormativity: refers to the attitude that privileges only some members of the queer community based on mainstream norms.
- Involves the promotion of narrow standards of identity and behavior within the queer community.
- Excludes or marginalizes those who don’t fit these norms.
- Pushes everyone to fit into a specific mold within the queer community.
- Makes people feel like they have to act a certain way even in LGBTQ+ settings.
- Reinforces stereotypes and limits diversity within the community.
69
Who are more likely to be offenders in violent incidents regardless of sexual orientation?
Offenders are most likely to be male in violence incidents, regardless of sexual orientation.
70
How do men and women compare in experiencing unwanted comments about their sexual orientation in public?
Both men and women are equally likely to experience unwanted and inappropriate comments about their sexual orientation (or assumed sexual orientation) in public spaces.
71
Which population group experiences the highest rates of violent victimization?
“Homosexuals and bisexuals” experience the highest rates of violent victimization among population groups.
72
Do sexual minority Canadians have higher or lower victimization rates compared to heterosexual Canadians?
Lesbian, gay, and bisexual Canadians experience higher rates of victimization compared to heterosexual counterparts.
73
Even after considering factors like age and childhood abuse, what are the odds of violent victimization among sexual minority Canadians compared to heterosexual Canadians?
Even after controlling for factors like age, history of childhood abuse, homelessness, visible minority status, and marital status, the odds of violent victimization among bisexual, gay, and lesbian Canadians are two times higher than among heterosexual Canadians.
74
Are sexual minority Canadians more or less likely to sustain physical injuries from assaults compared to heterosexual Canadians?
Sexual minority Canadians are also more likely than heterosexual Canadians to sustain physical injury from physical and sexual assaults.
75
Bisexual Canadian Women Violent Victimization Rate
- Bisexual Canadians experience a much higher rate of violent victimization, with rates three to four times the national average.
- Bisexual women are four times more likely to report experiencing violent victimization.
76
Are transgender Canadians more or less prone to violent victimization, including assault?
Transgender Canadians are more likely than cisgender Canadians to experience violent victimization, including physical or sexual assault.
77
What percentage of trans individuals have experienced assault for being trans?
A study found that 20% of trans individuals had been sexually or physically assaulted for being trans.
78
Are bisexual Canadians more or less likely to report victimization to police compared to other sexual minorities?
Bisexual Canadians are less likely than gay, lesbian, and heterosexual Canadians to report victimization to police, making it possible that the actual rates of violent victimization of bisexual Canadians may be higher.
79
Sexual Assault Definition
- One category of violent victimization is sexual assault.
- According to the Canadian Criminal Code, sexual assault is “an assault which is committed in circumstances of sexual nature such that the sexual integrity of the victim is violated”.
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General Social Survey Data about Sexual Assault
71% of sexual assault cases involved unwanted sexual touching.
20% were sexual attacks
9% were sexual activities where the victim was incapable of providing consent due to incapacitation by alcohol, drugs, manipulation, or non-physical force by the assailant.
81
Are men or women more likely to experience sexual assault?
- Women are nearly four times more likely than men to have experienced sexual assault at least once since the age of 15.
- Sexual assault is predominantly experienced by women.
82
How much more likely are women than men to have experienced sexual assault at least once since the age of 15?
Women are nearly four times more likely than men to have experienced sexual assault at least once since the age of 15.
83
Has the self-reported rate of sexual assault changed significantly since the early 2000s?
The self-reported rate of sexual assault has remained relatively stable since the early 2000s.
84
Which group, particularly, is disproportionately impacted by sexual assault among sexual minority women?
Bisexual women
- Sexual minority women, particularly bisexual women, are disproportionately impacted by sexual assault.
- Bisexual women are about twice as likely as heterosexual women to report experiencing sexual assault.
85
What types of unwanted sexual behavior are bisexual women more likely to experience in public and online?
Bisexual women are more likely than women overall to experience unwanted sexual behavior in public and online.
Eg. indecent exposure, unwanted comments about sex, gender, or sexual orientation, and unwanted comments, whistles, gestures, body language.
86
What factors contribute to the disproportionate victimization of bisexual women?
- Bisexual Canadians tend to be younger, and age is a risk factor associated with violent victimization for men and women.
- Factors contributing to the disproportionate victimization of bisexual women include their younger age, engagement in evening activities, and temporary living arrangements, which increase their risk of violent victimization.
- Bisexual individuals more frequently engage in many evening activities, and are more likely to be temporarily homeless, increasing their risk of violent victimization.
- Persistent stereotypes about bisexual women, such as being hypersexual, promiscuous, and untrustworthy, may also contribute to their increased risk of victimization, particularly by male partners who may feel insecure or jealous.
87
Top Three Most Common motivations for hate crimes
1. Race/ethnicity
2. Religion
3. Sexual orientation
88
What percentage of all police-reported hate crimes are motivated by sexual orientation?
Hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation make up about 10% of all police-reported hate crimes.
89
How do hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation compare to other categories of hate crimes in terms of violence?
Hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation are more likely to be violent compared to other categories of hate crimes.
90
Who are the typical victims and perpetrators of hate crimes targeting sexual orientation?
Victims: Males aged 25 to 34
Perpetrators: Young males, often under the age of 24
91
What percentage of transgender individuals have experienced threats or harassment according to a report?
Information on violence experienced by the transgender population is less available, but a report noted that 34% of transgender individuals have experienced threats or harassment.
92
What trend has been observed in hate crimes targeting sex or gender, including those targeting transgender Canadians, in recent years?
Hate crimes targeting sex or gender, including those targeting transgender Canadians, have increased in recent years and are more likely to involve violent violations.
93
What movement gained widespread attention on social media after actress Alyssa Milano encouraged women to share their experiences of sexual harassment or assault?
#MeToo
94
Who originally coined the #MeToo movement over a decade ago?
Activist Tarana Burke
95
What has the #MeToo movement evolved into beyond its original hashtag?
The hashtag has evolved into a broader movement advocating for survivors, raising awareness, and dismantling systems of power that make the victimization of women more likely.
96
How has the #MeToo movement impacted discussions about women's power and agency in sexual decision-making?
It has sparked discussions about how women often lack power and agency in sexual choices due to historical subordination
- Elaboration: The #MeToo movement has made people talk about how women often don’t have much say in their sexual choices because they’ve been treated as less powerful for a long time.
97
Token Resistance
A study found that men are more likely than women to believe in “token resistance”, where individuals say no to sex when they actually mean yes.
98
Aziz Ansari Allegations
- The response to allegations against comedian Aziz Ansari highlighted debates about coercion, consent, and gendered expectations in sexual interactions.
- A woman who went on a date with Ansari detailed her experiences with him as coercive and unwanted.
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Sexual Scripts and Women being unable to say "no"
Women may hesitate to offer a clear “no” because of sexual scripts rooted in femininity and the sexual double standard.
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Coercion
Coercion = direct pressure to accept sex
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Compliance
Compliance = no direct pressure to accept sex, but a general disinterest in engaging in it.
- Some argue that instead of coercion, there is compliance, where women may go along with sexual advances due to societal beliefs about the importance of their partner’s desires over their own.
102
Sexual double standard
Sexual double standard: men and women held to different standards for the same behavior, where women are negatively evaluated for behaviors that are praised in men.
- Evaluation is more positive for men, and negative for women.
103
Why might men and women be evaluated differently for similar desires and behaviors?
- Our ideas about gender shape our interpretation of sexuality.
- Masculinity is associated with an active sexual interest, strong sex drive, and pursuit of sexual encounters.
- Femininity is associated with passivity, a lower sex drive, and sexual innocence.
- Women are the object of desire for others' sexuality, but they shouldn’t have their own desires.
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Madonna-whore dichotomy:
Madonna-whore dichotomy: that women should be chaste and not sexual (“Madonna) but should be sexy and physically attractive (“whore”).
- Basically women expected to be chaste yet sexually appealing.
105
What derogatory label is often applied to sexually active women outside of a relationship?
Sluts
106
What did Emmerink et al. find regarding men's attitudes towards dominance and initiative?
Men were more likely to agree with statements indicating dominance and initiative, such as "I tend to take the initiative" and "I like to be dominant."
107
How are women judged in comparison to men for sexual behavior in college hookups?
- Research on college hookups suggests women are judged more harshly than men for sexual behavior.
- Women and men said women who have “too much” sex are less desirable than women with fewer partners or those who refrain from sex altogether.
- Women are often judged negatively for having “too much” sex, labeled with derogatory terms like “slut”, “ho”, “jezebel”.
- Men engaging in hookups are not subjected to negative labels.
- Women reported guilt for refusing sex.
- Both men and women reported that men are expected to be active in pursuing sexual encounters.
108
How are derogatory labels like "slut" applied differently to men and women?
Women are labeled “slut” over behaviors like dancing and clothing, while men are labeled “slut” over higher-level behaviors, like lots of sex partners.
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Traditional Sexual Scripts for Men
Traditional sexual scripts for men assume they are proactive in their pursuit of sexual interactions, and have a higher overall desire for sex.
Boys are encouraged to explore sexuality, with focus on pleasure and sexual activity.
Men are believed to have consistent and strong interest in sexual encounters.
Studies show men’s sexual desires are seen as consistent traits, while women’s desires are seen as influenced by the situation.
Widespread belief that men are naturally more interested in and more active in pursuing it.
110
Emphasized heterosexuality
- Research on young men, especially in their early 20s, focuses on their sexual encounters with women.
- Emphasized heterosexuality: emphasizing sexual encounters with women is seen as a way for men to demonstrate their masculinity.
Hookups and emphasized heterosexuality are seen as performative acts through which men display their gender.
Pursuing women in social spaces is not just about hooking up, but also about demonstrating masculinity to other men.
Men’s sexual encounters contribute to their status and popularity among friends.
Hooking up is a collective activity shared among male friends, from psyching each other up before going out to exchanging stories afterward.
Men often engage in objectifying and misogynistic behavior, such as tagging friends in suggestive photos of women and making objectifying comments on social media.
Men ‘mark’ their heterosexuality by participating in hookups, and to avoid being labeled gay, which they see as a negative thing.
Men are inclined to use the ambiguity of the word “hookup” (which could mean anything from kissing to sexual intercourse) to exaggerate their sexual encounters with women.
Some men may engage in sex they do not want/enjoy, because of pressure from friends.
Many men try to “prove” their heterosexuality to others.
Men across various age groups tend to adhere to traditional sexual scripts, emphasizing high sexual desire and a reluctance to turn down sex as a way to assert their masculinity.
111
Incel
Incel: a shorthand term meant to denote ‘involuntary celibacy’, meaning an individual who wishes to have sexual encounters but cannot find a partner.
- The term encompasses various situations, including virginity or difficulties in finding sexual partners.
112
Manosphere
The online incel community has expanded significantly on platforms like Reddit and 4chan, forming the “manosphere.”
- Within the manosphere, some men express feelings of victimization, reject feminism, and assert entitlement to what they perceive as lacking in their lives.
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Stacys
Incels generally believe that women are capricious, opportunistic, and shallow, often labeling these women as “Stacys”.
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Chads
The supposedly high-status men that these women are exclusively interested in are known as “Chads”.
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Beta
Beta: used across the manosphere in reference to a lower-status position relative to other men.
Incels may consider themselves as “beta”, whom “Stacys” are likely to reject.
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Incel Ideaology
Incels blame women and feminists for their lack of sexual success, perceiving it as a denial of their rights.
Some incels experience sadness and isolation, while others become violent and radical, leading to extreme actions.
High-profile cases like Elliot Rodger and Alek Minassian have committed violent acts, referencing incel ideology in their actions.
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Femininity in History
- Historically, femininity was associated with purity, innocence, and morality, with women believed to lack sexual desire.
- Sexuality for women was associated only with marriage and for procreation, not pleasure.
- Despite cultural changes influenced by the women’s movement, remnants of these beliefs persist today.
- Women are still held to expectations of chasteness, passivity, and sexual inexperience.
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Traditional Sexual Scripts for Women
- Traditional sexual scripts for women emphasize meaningful and emotional connections within relationships over sexual activity.
- Puberty for girls is often associated with preparing for marriage, rather than exploring sexual activity.
- Sexual exploration is discouraged for women, who are expected to prioritize relationships over sexual activity.
- Women who are interested in a relationship, and show moderate interest in sex fulfill cultural norms of femininity.
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Emphasized Femnininty
Emphasized femininity: practices of femininity that conform to the needs and desires of men, and thus the subordination of women.
- Emphasized femininity includes prioritizing men’s desires, acting to avoid the ‘slut’ label, and being evasive or ambiguous in discussing sexual behaviors to downplay sexual activity.
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Orgasm gap
Women are more likely to experience orgasm through activities like oral sex than vaginal penetrative sex.
Concept of “orgasm gap” refers to the longer time required for women to reach orgasm compared to men.
Recent research challenges and rejects the notion that women take 20 minutes to orgasm.
Women can orgasm in 4 minutes or less, especially during masturbation.
Lesbian women report orgasming more frequently than heterosexual women.
Orgasm gap decreases with more frequent sex, and when men prioritize their female partner’s pleasure.
Reflects gendered expectations about women’s right to pleasure and its prioritization in sexual encounters, rather than biological differences.
