Download chapter 11: sexuality

CHAPTER 11: SEXUALITY
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
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Explain what is mean by “sexuality is socially defined and patterned.”
Discuss how sexual identity is a social construction. Explain the concept of sexual
scripts.
Be able to debate from a sociological perspective whether one’s sexual orientation
and sexual identity is patterned by one’s socialization or by one’s biology, or by
both.
Explain and give examples of how sexual attitudes in the U.S. have changed over
time; how are attitudes influenced by institutional channels, economic forces, and
public policies which regulate sexual and reproductive behavior.
Identify contemporary sexual values and practices in America and discuss how they
have changed in recent years and how these value changes affect public legislative
policy. Include attitudes about homosexuality, AIDS, abortion, and gay rights.
List at least five things that public surveys have indicated about sexual attitudes and
behavior (remember that reports may not represent actual behavior).
Explain how attitudes toward gay and lesbian relationships have changed in the
U.S.; include descriptions of changes in the legal status of lesbians and gays.
Discuss changes in the sexual attitudes and behavior of teenagers over the past
decade.
Explain sexuality and the social factors that produce sexual behavior and attitudes
from the two macro-level sociological theoretical perspectives – functionalism and
conflict theory.
Discuss how symbolic interaction theory interprets sexuality. Remember that
symbolic interaction incorporates the social construction of one’s identity and
includes issues such as coming out, and queer theory. Describe how the queer theory
may be sexually liberating to those who struggle with a sexual identity.
Discuss sexual politics, and how sexuality is influenced by race, class, and gender.
Explain and provide cross-cultural examples that demonstrate how sexuality, sexual
attitudes, and behavior are culturally relative.
Explain the international sex trade and how it operates as sex capital and how it
contributes to the global economy. Discuss how the international sex trade
contributes to worldwide epidemics and pandemics.
Describe how homophobia permeates the culture and how heterosexism is
reinforced through institutional mechanisms.
Describe how and why lesbians and gays have created their own subcultures and
how individuals who do not identify themselves as either gay or lesbian deprive
themselves of the support community. What legal support have gays and lesbians
achieved?
Discuss the social issues related to sexuality such as birth control, eugenics, new
reproductive technology, pornography, teen pregnancy, and sexual violence.
Explain the different perspectives on abortion and how they differ. Trace the history
of abortion rights in the U.S.
Describe the impact and lasting significance of the sexual revolution.
19. Describe the impact of technology, cybersex, and the commercialization of sex from
both a macro and a micro perspective.