Indeed our society is rooted based upon oppression and undermining of the different social categories that are associated. Through the video, “Valentine Road” and after having read Eve Sedgwick’s, “How to Bring Your Kids Up Gay”, I am beginning to understand this undermining that still prevails in our society. Growing up is itself a hard process. Especially, when you as a person don’t fall along the lines of race, class and gender norms. Specifically in gender norms, the video highlights the author, Eve Sedgwick's concepts of ending these hate crimes and discrimination given to young teenagers, based on sexual orientation. Sedgwick refers back to the idea of systemic oppression. In her article, She refers to an alignment of individual behaviors, …show more content…
institutional practices, and ideological beliefs that reproduce oppression. Throughout the article and the video, we can see how systematic oppression is placed under gender practice, within the younger generation, and how institutions impose certain behaviors and practices. Sedgwick reflects upon gender identity as something that can change, however, society has implemented a biological assertion: you have testes and a penis, then you are a man.
However, despite many people are more willingly accepting the gay culture, there is still a distinction and psychological background that suggests that the development of homosexuality in adolescents should be eradicated and should end in the future. Gender identity is seen as something that is natural. Therefore, if a boy or girl does not identify themselves as such, there is something wrong with them. Sedgwick mentions how the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders considers “being gay” as a gender identity disorder most commonly found within the younger kids. Schools and other institutions are primary examples that want to eradicate this behavior and impose the option of expressing gender identity freely. The video captures this concept in how Larry King and his friend Malina, both being gay, want to express their gender identity but the school prohibits this kinds of behavior. Their behaviors are being constantly monitored. Sedgwick continues arguing that younger generations’ sexual orientation are primarily given the most attention to in order to maintain gender norms in future …show more content…
generations. Parents, teachers, authoritative figures and other adults are impeding homosexuality around their children.
In order to do so, they make attempts in shaping the lives of their children, constantly teaching them the essence of masculinity and femininity, the distinctions between the two, and how they can’t be used interchangeably. In her article, Eve uses the examples of hegemonic father's. She quotes back to Friedman in saying that the first part in a child's development is to implement a core gender identity, as a basis for further future generations. Born and raised heterosexual dads, working and playing sports want their children to be raised as hetersoexual and expect them to work similar jobs and play the same sports. The dad hopes to further implement these ideals into their grandchildren and keep their heritage straight. In the video, the documentary mentioned how Larry King’s killer, Brandon was born and raised by a drunk, abusive, and masculine dad. His hate crime committed towards Larry is considered to be based upon the hyper masculine behavior and neo-natzi ideals his father taught him. This constant monitoring and assurance in the youth’s sexual orientation is causing much chaos within institutions
themselves. Many questions are raised in institutions such as what is the proper behavior for students in schools to have in expressing gender, what is acceptable and what isn’t, despite these debateable questions, one thing remains clear. Institutions, as referred by Eve, are more frequently taking efforts to turn these kids away from homosexuality, rather than facilitating their development. Institutions, such as schools, want their students to conceal any signs of gendered practices they feel are not normal. For example, gays kids aren’t allowed to dress certain ways, can’t hold hands with their couple, are expected to be a part of institutional practices, and should comply to the ideals that have already been established. They neglect the personal expressions of gay students and they constrain and limit what they can, and cannot do. Clearly, there is systematic oppression within institutions towards the alignment of individual practices, ideological beliefs and institutional practices. The main concepts the author wants to get across is that systematic oppression is beginning to thrive within the younger generations through gendered practices, sexual orientation, and their institutional behaviors.
Kidd expands on society’s sexual perspectives in mass media and illuminates the stress pushed towards the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender population. He outlines sexuality as one of many influences on the ways we interpret the culture we consume. He supposes that popular culture has five major social roles: generating basic social norms, producing social boundaries, producing rituals that generate social solidarity, generating modernization, and generating social progress. He pays particular attention to Emilie Durkeim and connects his sociological
In certain countries such as the U.S, people discriminate against others to a certain extent based off their gender, race, and sexuality. Butler states that “to be a body is to be given over to others even as a body is “one own,” which we must claim right of autonomy” (242). Gays and Lesbians have to be exposed to the world because some of them try to hide their identity of who they truly are because they are afraid of how others are going to look at them. There are some who just let their sexuality out in the open because they feel comfortable with whom they are as human beings and they don’t feel any different than the next person. The gender or sexuality of a human being doesn’t matter because our bodies’ will never be autonomous because it is affected by others around us. This is where humans are vulnerability to violence and aggression. In countries across the globe, violence and attack are drawn towards tran...
In the short story "Two Kinds," by Amy Tan, the mother in the story tries to do what is best for her daughter to become a world-renowned prodigy. This issue could also be connected to the short story "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas," by Ursula K. LeGuin, where the people of Omelas are happy in their lives but also see that there is this person sleeping in a closet and being treated like an animal, but still carry on with their lives. There are people who speak up against these hateful laws towards homosexual people, but there is also the group of people that keep silent and do not say anything with fear that they might be labeled with words such as "gay" or "faggot." The two stories have a deep connection with each other in the sense that they affect the different reactions that citizens have to laws that limit the lives of others. Confo...
In the essay by Judith Butler, Besides Oneself: On the Limits of Sexual Autonomy, she describes the social norms of society slowly changing and designing new social norms of society by the awareness of Gays, Lesbians, and Transgender preference people. She is also describing the struggles of everyday life for gays, lesbians, and transgender people. Butler states a question that makes a good point for this way of thought, “what makes for a livable world?”(Page 240). This question is asked to understand what a livable life is first. A livable life is life that is accepted by society. If society does not accept certain individuals because of the choices they choose to make or the way they are brought up, then society chooses to stay ignorant and uneducated on these types of situations. Individuals who are not accepted by society receive less treatment than that of some who is accepted by society. This does not only extend to gays, lesbians, and transgender, but extends to people who are less fortunate than others. People judge people. This is human life. People are influenced by other people and want they have. The media is a big part of what people strive to be like or accomplish. People watch th...
In fact, her father has extremely traditional stereotypes of "male" and "female." He believes that the male should be the defender—strong, powerful, and dominant...
For example, “sociological and popular understanding of gay and lesbian relationships has been greatly distorted by the false presumption that only heterosexual relationships are normal ways of expressing sexual intimacy and love” (Andersen 1997, 95). This explains how society helps in influencing and identifying people sexual identities throughout their lifetime. Andersen admits that “heterosexual identity includes the belief that men have an overpowering sex drive and that women are considered more loving, soft and are link to sex [… and] contemporary sexual attitudes are shaped by phallocentric thinking-that which sees men as powerful and women as weak” (Andersen 1997, 94, 96). Although, society is lead to believe that men should be the dominant figure of the family. The reality is that, in gay and lesbian relationships, no one individual displays the behavior of an authoritative
Discrimination has always been prominent in mainstream society. Judgments are quickly formed based on one’s race, class, or gender. The idea that an individual’s self-worth is measured by their ethnicity or sexual preference has impacted the lives of many Americans. During the early colonial period, a social hierarchy was established with white landowners at the top and African-American slaves at the bottom. As equality movements have transpired, victims of discrimination have varied. In the late 1980’s when Paris is Burning was filmed, gay rights were still controversial in society. The lack of acceptance in conventional society created hardships in the lives of transgender women and gay men.
Today television shows are widely praised for their portrayal of different characters sexuality. On Modern Family a same-sex couple’s life is shown through their relations with their family and raising a child. There’s also shows aimed at young adults that are receiving attention for their depiction of gay or lesbian characters such as Glee and Pretty Little Liars. Even the Disney Channel has shown a same-sex couple on the show Good Luck Charlie (with some backlash claiming that since Disney is intended for children that they should seek merely to entertain and not to push an agenda). On the contrary to this argument is the idea, that same-sex couples are becoming more and more normal thus they should make it recognizable to children.
Along with ethos and small touch of logos, the author Roxane Gay uses a strength appeal of pathos to persuade her audience onto her argument. “White people will never know the dangers of being black in America, systemic, unequal opportunity, racial profiling, and the constant threat of police violence. Men will never know the dangers of being a woman in America, harassment, sexual violence, legislated bodies. Heterosexuals will never know what it means to experience homophobia.” (Gay). In this paragraph, the author is identify the inequality between racial barriers, genders and sexual orientation which an emotionally involved topic to bring up. How people are treated differently how the way they look, where they come from. Woman would
The media is a large part of our everyday lives; everywhere we go we can find a source of media. It influences our thoughts, feelings and behaviours every day as it is a huge influence in today’s society. Society heavily relies on the media to show them what is in the norm and what is going on in the world. The media also serves as another way to display the normative of the society. Sexuality is a big part in the media and what is appropriate sexuality. The media negatively affects the people who do not fit society’s ideal normative. This includes people with a sexuality that is not the normative of heterosexuality. In the media, these people of other sexualities are excluded and made to feel they do not fit into society. My pyramid shows how society classifies people by their sexuality in the media. This involves highlighting the normative sexuality and excluded any other sexuality from the mainstream media.
“The unprecedented growth of the gay community in recent history has transformed our culture and consciousness, creating radically new possibilities for people to ‘come out’ and live more openly as homosexuals”(Herdt 2). Before the 1969 Stonewall riot in New York, homosexuality was a taboo subject. Research concerning homosexuality emphasized the etiology, treatment, and psychological adjustment of homosexuals. Times have changed since 1969. Homosexuals have gained great attention in arts, entertainment, media, and politics. Yesterday’s research on homosexuality has expanded to include trying to understand the different experiences and situations of homosexuals (Ben-Ari 89-90).
The 1990s saw surge of gay characters in both television and movies. From Ellen Degeneres and her character Ellen Morgan coming out under much scrutiny on the TV show ‘Ellen,’ to Julia Roberts and Rupert Everett comedically playing off each other in the motion picture ‘My Best Friend’s Wedding.’ Sure, gays and lesbians have been around forever, especially in Hollywood. But never has there been a time to be more out. With the popularity of shows like Will and Grace, which feature leading gay characters, as well as Dawson’s Creek and it’s supporting character of teenager Jack McPhee, we are slowly seeing gay and lesbian characters creeping into the mainstream media.
In “Dude, You’re a Fag,” multiple boys that were interviewed said they “didn’t like gay people” and were disgusted by gay men but lesbians were “good” (Pascoe). These boys only viewed female homosexuality as “good” because of its place in the heterosexual male fantasy and not because they approved of homosexuality as a legitimate and accepted sexuality (Pascoe). The binary gender system creates a male dominated society that allows for only female homosexuality to exist because even through it goes against the strict normative heterosexuality it can still be a source of pleasure for men. Male homosexuality, however, is not accepted because in a male dominated world it is associated with not being masculine. Through the use of the slur “fag,” people demean and emasculate boys and men (Pascoe). The use of “fag” against someone does not imply that they are homosexual; instead, Pascoe’s study and interview of high school age boys shows that it is used to say that a person is not masculine and therefore not conforming to their gender roles. Even though women can be sexually fluid and have intimate relationships with other women, it is not viewed as legitimate sex because there is no penis involved. Women are allowed by society to have sex with whomever they want, as long as they are still able to perform their gender role as wives and birth givers. In contrast, in
On television, I watched characters such as Marco del Rossi and Paige Michalchuk on the Canadian teen-drama Degrassi. These were the first positive experiences I had of what gay culture was like. Of what I saw, I did not feel like I fit into that lifestyle/group. On the other hand, the movie The Matthew Shepard Story shared the violent side of homosexuality’s history in the retelling of Matthew Shepard’s murder.
When one hears the words “LGBT” and “Homosexuality” it often conjures up a mental picture of people fighting for their rights, which were unjustly taken away or even the social emergence of gay culture in the world in the1980s and the discovery of AIDS. However, many people do not know that the history of LGBT people stretches as far back in humanity’s history, and continues in this day and age. Nevertheless, the LGBT community today faces much discrimination and adversity. Many think the problem lies within society itself, and often enough that may be the case. Society holds preconceptions and prejudice of the LGBT community, though not always due to actual hatred of the LGBT community, but rather through lack of knowledge and poor media portrayal.