Changes of Sexuality Throughout the Years

By:Ariana Wassmer

When it comes to sexuality over time there has been many differences through the years.  We notice different trends for a certain sex, how people act, and also what becomes the norm. Back in the day we notice that women were always seen as just housewives and all they were good for was having a family, cleaning up the house, and looking pretty for their husbands. Women didn’t have many rights either. It is amazing to see how much women had to protest and work to even be allowed to attend college and be given the right to vote. Because of these strong feminist women, we now have more rights that we didn’t have before. In addition, more and more women are now have their own careers and women are becoming more and more successful because they are starting to receive opportunities. Although, women are getting more and more opportunities, the opportunities that we are receiving aren’t always the same as men. Men still think they are superior to women and that is because they know we don’t get equal opportunities, therefore they think they are better than us and that is where the problem comes from. As a result, even though we as women have made great progress, we still have a long way to go. 

When it comes to men we see a little shift over the years. For instance men has always been seen as the bread winners, the ones that are suppose to provide for their family. Now we see more men being stay at home dads and taking care of the children while women go to work. I think this is great thing because this right here is changing the norm in our society. The only issue is that society sees this as a negative and stay at home dads usually are called lazy and not taking care of their family where in reality they are just in a different way.  

We as a society need to look at each other as an equal not as a man or a woman because that is where the conflict happens. Being a man or a woman shouldn’t matter in any aspect of our lives. Expectations for men and women should be the same. If we as a society, commit to change the social norm I truly believe the world would be a better place.  The reality is neither men or women is better than the other, we are all equal. 

Sex and Gender Theories by Karen Arias

Sex and gender have always been of great importance to us. We want to know the sex of our unborn child. We want to know their gender. But we end up confusing the meaning of one's sexuality and one's gender. This could stem off from gender performativity as well. People often times get confused with their meanings which leads to theories of how gender and sexuality of a person came to be. Is a person straight, gay, both, or neither. Is a girl supposed to be doing what every girl should be doing, or can she do what boys do. Can a boy perform in a feminine manner in the world? Sex and gender are different things, but over time we have taught ourselves that they have to intertwine.

 For example sexuality by definition could be one's sexual interests or preferred sexual orientation. "Sex refers to biological differences between males and females. For example, chromosomes (female XX, male XY), reproductive organs (ovaries, testes), hormones (oestrogen, testosterone)." (Saul McLead, Simplypsychology.org).  However, gender is different, because it is what society expects from the certain sex that you are. As it is said that gender is performative. If you are born female you have to do what every female is expected to do, and the same goes for those born as males.  Gender is a social construct. As I mentioned it is what society thinks is normal and suitable to go along with your sex. 

http://www.simplypsychology.org/gender-biology.html

Is the distinction of gender and sex important? 

Judith Butler has stated that "biological sex" and "social gender" are both constructed within a society. That there is no difference between them. "When the doctor calls a newly born infant a girl or a boy, s/he is not making a descriptive claim, but a normative one... In effect, the doctor's utterance makes infants into girls or boys. We, then, engage in activities that make it seem as if sexes naturally come in two and that being female or male is an objective feature of the world, rather than being a consequence of certain constitutive acts (that is, rather than being performative). And this is what Butler means in saying that physical bodies never exist outside cultural and social meanings, and that sex is as socially constructed as gender. She does not deny that physical bodies exist. But, she takes our understanding of this existence to be a product of social conditioning: social conditioning makes the existence of physical bodies intelligible to us by discursively constructing sexed bodies through certain constitutive acts." (Feminist Perspectives on Sex and Gender). We can see here that basically sex is gender. That the distinction of sex and gender hold a way of dualistic thinking. Yes, it is quite a controversial topic given the fact that most people will say that they were born this way or that its purely natural, whereas others would say that it is just another socially constructed way of thinking. 

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/feminism-gender/#SexGenD

Throughout time there have been many ways to think of gender and sexuality. Whether or not they are different or are truly intertwined. Some people believe sex is biological and gender is socially constructed. Others believe that both socially constructed. Many theories have been made. With these theories came the idea how a woman and man should act. How the mind of a woman differs from that of a man. Other people tend to analyze why some theories work and others don't. There are may theories people tend to believe, analyze, and make. We live in a society where people will go back and forth with this argument. And I guess there is no true answer, because maybe we will believe one thing and not the other and maybe we will change our minds, given that there are many more other theories people claim are true. In my opinion we all are just human and we can be whoever we want to be, act the way we want to act, and just be ourselves and however we feel comfortable. 

http://www.autostraddle.com/rebel-girls-5-bad-theories-on-gender-and-sex-from-way-back-when-that-still-impact-us-today-263227/

Human Sexuality Organizations by Isabel Pantoja

The term “Human Sexuality” can have different meanings to different people. Usually though, human sexuality can be defined as an “erotic” a persons sexual orientation, gender, an attraction for another person, all of which can have an influence as to what “human sexuality” truly is. Throughout history human sexuality has always been present, now in the 21^st century more than ever. The freedom society has now to be able to express themselves in regards to their sexuality is far more acceptable then it was compared to centuries before the 21^st century. Because of such freedom of expression countless organizations have been made for those wish to express their sexuality. There are countless organizations making a stand and fighting for equality or acceptance.

LGBT

LGBT is one of the most well known organizations associated with sexuality and gender. The four letters are initials and stand for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. The actual organization didn’t come about until the mid 1980’s where the initials “LGBT” were coined and used more often rather than just gay/lesbian. The organization made way for not just those who were gay or lesbian but also those who were bisexual and transgender. It allowed those who were still in search for themselves and those who were still understanding their sexuality to have a place to feel welcomed and not alone. Today the organization LGBT has branched out to other organizations that deal with similar sexuality issues but have given opportunity to many who are still figuring out their own sexuality. 

Branching Out 

•        Al-Fatiha Foundation (defunct)

•       Beyond Ex-Gay

•       International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC)

•       International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA)

•       International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Youth and Student Organisation (IGLYO)

•       International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender & Intersex Law Association (ILGLaw)

•       International Lesbian Information Service (defunct)

•       Global Action for Trans Equality (GATE)

•       Global Respect In Education (GRIN)

•       Gay and Lesbian International Sport Association (GLISA)

•       International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILTGA-LAC)

•       Organisation Intersex International (OII)

•       Trans March

•  

   

Gender Performativity by Sarah Loeffler

Some people may not realize that there is a difference between sex and gender.  Sex refers to a person’s biologically status; male, female, or intersex.  Factors that determine the sex are internal reproductive organs, external genitalia, sex chromosomes, and more.  Gender refers to the attitudes, feelings, and behaviors that a given culture associates with someone’s biological sex.  Someone’s sex and gender don’t always have to be the same.  Most people don’t realize that gender is performed.  As we grow up, we are taught how to act more feminine or masculine depending on what your biological sex is.  Because we learn from a young age what is consider more masculine or feminine, when someone acts out of the norm, society tends to question why they dress or act “differently”.  

Everything society does, from the way we get ready in the morning to how we dress follows a certain script about what is “normal” for someone who is feminine and masculine.  Society usually looks down on people who want to be there own person and change the way they do their own daily activities.  The way people act and perform their genders change depending on what is consider the norm at that specific time period.  

Religious Aspects of Sexuality by Samantha Garcia

Historically, most structured Religions  have some sort of moral code against homosexuality and anything out of the heterosexual "norm" such as transgender, bisexuals, transsexuals etc. For example Christians see activism and the fight for equal rights for the gay community, as "political immorality". Words of the Bible condemn homosexuality and as for Catholicism, it is considered one of the most grave sins to be committed. There are protests that still happen all over America to this day against homosexuality and for Proposition 8. Things have definitely progressed but as a society, we are still very far from equality. 

Catholicism Vs. Homosexuality

• Believes marriage can only be between a man and a woman
• Same-sex marriages considered not a favorable environment for children to be raised in
• Homosexual activity = "moral disorder"
• Homosexual acts= "contrary to natural law" It doesn't produce life therefore it is against God's intentions that was meant for sex
• Leaders (bishops, priests, cardinals etc.) of the Church have actively campaigned against same-sex marriages

Stance: Completely opposed

Westboro Baptist Church Vs. Homosexuality

The Westboro Baptist Church is an extremist group, known as a "hate group". Their main purpose is protesting against the gay community and "Gay America".  They are highly homophobic and believe that God in fact hates America because of how it has progressed in the acceptance of the gay community. They believe every death, shooting, or mass murder was "God's punishment" for all of the progressive activity that has been happening in America. They do things as extreme as picketing the funerals of dead soldiers because they have fought for the country. They believe God intended for them to die to punish them for trying to protect what they like to call "Fag America". They are highly recognized for their offensive signs they use to picket almost every day. 

                                 

The children are also highly involved in the process of picketing. They teach them these values from day one.

Stance: Viciously Opposed

As for progression, America has come a long way in the gay community. Now we have organizations and parades that fight for equal rights and celebrate LGBT pride. But when it comes to religion and structured religious practices, the traditions stay alive and so do the people who practice them. This doesn't stop the fight for equality and the progressive education that continues to make a change in the world.

Mythical Norm

One of the biggest questions we can ask ourselves is: what drives one to prefer a certain someone? In the “Age, Race, Class and Sex: Women Redefining Difference” paper by Adure Lorde, an in depth analysis of the “mythical norm” in the U.S. is presented to the reader. Adure states that "In America, this norm is usually defined as white, thin, male, young, heterosexual, Christian, and financially secure”.  The idea that this is a mythical norm of specified to a white male makes it a “white privilege”. Furthermore,  though a white woman can marry the mythical norm, she would never be described in the norm because she is not male and may or may not be financially secure.  

This is a good example of the mythical norm, which is based off what is normal, common and typical. Not only is the mythical norm based off what one looks like but also how one behaves, what is and is not acceptable in that time.
-Eleni Sarantinos