Midterm 2 Flashcards
Sex
A persons biological distinction between male and female
Genitalia and reproductive organs
Sexual orientation
A persons romantic and emotional attraction to another person
Heterosexuality
Attraction to the opposite sex
Homosexuality
Attraction to the same sex
Bisexual
Attraction to both sexes
Asexual
No sexual attraction to either sex
Is sexual orientation biological or sociological
Sociological- our sexuality comes from what society teaches us to do
We would expect that as conversation around homosexuality increases, so would the number of homosexuals
Biological- sexuality is innate, isn’t new, and possibly is genetic
Pornograph
Sexually explicit material used for pleasure
Porn is about power- men with less power tend to watch more porn because it portrays men as having power
Prostitution
Selling of sexual acts and favours
Street prostitutes vs escorts- danger increases but money decreases
Sexual violence
Any non consensual sexual activity
Structural Functional analysis of sexuality
Culture and social institutions regulate with whom and when people seek to reproduce (manifest function)
All cultures have regulations about who to reproduce with
Prostitution is a latent function that aids in the regulation of sexuality
Dysfunction- the gender imbalance of men buying and women selling
Symbolic Interaction Analysis of sexuality
How do societies construct their sexuality
Not all sexual constructs are contextual
Social Conflict and Feminist Analysis of sexuality
Sexuality reflects inequality and creates inequality
Queer Theory
Heterosexual culture stigmatizes homosexuality; wants to remove the stigma and power inequality
Hyper sexuality is linked to
Mental health problems Cognitive development problems Poor sexual and physical health Problems with intimacy Increased acceptance of violence
Deviance
Recognized violation of social and cultural norms
Definition of deviance are socially situated
Social control
Attempts by society to regulate people’s thoughts and behaviour
Informal- human interaction shuns certain behaviours
Formal- police, laws
Social Foundations of Deviance
Varies according to cultural norms
Based on social definitions- nothing is inherently deviant
Social power gives greater ability to define deviance
4 Functions of Deviance (Emile Durkheim)
1) Deviance affirms cultural values and norms
2) Deviance and responding to deviance clarifies moral boundaries
3) responding to deviance draws people together
4) deviance encourages social change
Robert Mertons Strain Theory
Accept Accept- conformity Accept m reject g- ritualism Reject m accept g- innovation Reject reject- retreatism New new- rebellion
Labelling Theory- Howard Becker
Deviance and conformity result not from what people do but rather to how others respond to those actions
Primary Deviance
responding to primary deviance has little effect of self confidence and on what other think of you
Secondary deviance
An individual takes on a deviant identity within an accepting subculture
Deviance becomes normalized and is important to the individuals identity
Stigma
Powerfully negative label that changes our concept of self and how others view us