Classical Studies 3400E Chapter Notes -Essentialism, Acculturation, Diadem
18 Nov 2011
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Document Summary
An individual"s biological status as male or female; or, a sexual act. The sexual knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, values, and behaviors of individuals. Its dimensions include the anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry of the sexual response system; identity, orientation, roles and personality; and thoughts, feelings, and relationships. The expression of sexuality is influenced by ethical, spiritual, cultural, and moral concerns. For moderns (especially freudians), sexuality is thought to provide a key to unlocking the mysteries of the self: sexual activity is considered in a psychological and self-reflexive way. Essentialism. the belief that people (or phenomena) have properties that are essential to what they are. Such properties are viewed as definitive of identity because they are natural or inherent or inborn, existing before or beyond acculturation. Constructionists, on the other hand, believe different times and places produce different sexualities that sexuality as we understand it today has little to do with those of people in other historical periods.
