SOCIOL 135 Lecture 5: Sept. 5, 2014 - Constructing Sexual Hierarchies and Critiques of Social Construction Theory
Document Summary
Constructing sexual hierarchies and critiques of social construction theory. Friday september 5th/8th, 2014: the intersection of gender and seuxality, sexual hierarchies, critiques of social construction theory. Sex the socially agreed-upon physiological characteristics such as genitalia, reproductive organs, and secondary sex characteristics for classifying humans as female or male. Gender the social meanings, attributes, competencies, norms, and conduct associated with being a woman/man; feminine/masculine. Gender system a system of meaning and differentiation linked to the genders through social arrangements. Heteronormativity the cultural, legal, and institutional practices that maintain normative assumptions that there are only two genders, that gender reflects biological sex, and that only sexual attraction between these opposite" genders is natural or acceptable (schilt and. Westbrook: gender is supposedly a reflection of biological sex, opposite genders are complementary", heteronormativity reinforces gender inequality. Compulsory heterosexuality the norm of heterosexuality is imposed violently and in subtle ways. Heterosexuality is reinforced and rewarded: marriage rights federal recognition of marriage.
