The HIV/AIDS panic propelled the study of sexuality into the sociological mainstream, framing young people’s sexual relationships as an important strategy for discovering information that might minimise risk of the disease. For feminist analyses, this research simultaneously drew attention to social constructions of heterosexuality (Jackson, 1999; Allen, 2003), underlining sexual attitudes and behaviours centrally concerned around issues of desire, pleasure and power, and the degree to which women can subvert or challenge it within heterosexual relations. This essay examines recent debate regarding the nature and extent of power in terms of its ‘immutability’ and ‘instability’ in heterosexual relationships (Allen, 2003). It will examine research that suggests power is inescapably patriarchal and that heterosex represents the embodiment of men's domination and women's subordination (Holland et al, 1998; Chung, 2005), as well as claims that heterosexual relations are being contested; asserting agency to women and suggesting that male power is at some level vulnerable to subversion (Stewart, 1999; Allen, 2005). Heterosexual feminist theories configure masculinity and femininity around gendered, normative standards of what it means to be masculine, and by default, feminine (Goldstein, 1994). Wilton (1997) notes the structural ‘heteropolarity’ maintained within the context of hegemonic heterosexuality, which asserts conventional femininity as ‘passivity, helplessness, and victimisation’ (Vance, 1984), in opposition to a super-ordinated masculinity; predicted upon independence, activity and the possession of sexual desire and power (Goldstein, 1994; Connell, 1987). Consequently, heterosexuality has often been theorised by feminists as ... ... middle of paper ... ...and a conceptualisation of power that captures both women's experiences of agency in heterosexual relationships and the way in which these relationships are simultaneously governed discursively and materially by male power. What is clear across all research is that the extent and nature of any change in young men and women’s roles and practices within heterosexual relationships varies between studies undertaken with different groups of young people. Perhaps there should be more consideration of the factors that might explain variations such as socioeconomic class, ethnicity, cultural locations and contextual settings. With this in mind, and ‘if we turn on the light and start talking about bodies, feelings and desires’, it could be possible to not only begin the process of reclaiming and remaking sex, but also reform gendered heterosexuality (Holland et al., 1994).
According to feminist Victoria L. Bromley, if feminism is about combating all forms of inequalities, including oppression, towards all social groups, then feminists must study how masculinity oppresses both men and women. Patriarchy, men’s powers and dominance, hegemonic masculinity, the idea that the “dominant group” in society is most powerful, and hyper masculinity, the exaggeration of the emphasis on male characteristics, all lead to oppression through multiple forms: privileges and unearned privileges, hierarchies of power and exclusion. Bromley argues that the feminist approach towards eliminating oppression, is to use an intersectional analysis, a theoretical tool used for understanding how multiple identities are connected and how systems
Knudson-Martin, C., & Mahoney, A. R. (2009). Couples, gender, and power: Creating change in intimate relationships. New York: Springer.
Kimmel, Michael S. "Masculinity as Homophobia: Fear, Shame, and Silence in the Construction of Gender Identity." Theorizing Masculinities. Ed. Harry Brod, and Michael Kaufman. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc., 1994. 119-42. SAGE knowledge. Web. Research on Men and Masculinities Series. 5 May 2014.
In the article “An Anthropological Look at Human Sexuality” the authors, Patrick Gray and Linda Wolfe speak about how societies look at human sexuality. The core concept of anthology is the idea of culture, the systems of attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors people acquire as a member of society. The authors give an in depth analysis on how human sexuality is looked at in all different situations.
Three themes that Dyer develops in his essay on male sexuality are patriarchal power, violence, and the female gaze. Firstly, Dyer mentions that “the penis is also the symbol of male potency, the magic and mystery of the phallus, the endowment that appears to legitimate male power” (Dyer 2013, 113). That is to say, the penis is considered the ultimate force of dominance for men, although it is said that the penis is “far more commonly the soft, vulnerable charm of male genitals” (Dyer 2013, 113). As a result, men tend to play the dominant roles in society, while women are portrayed as inferior and patriarchal power is created. In addition, situated with patriarchal power is violence. Dyer emphasizes violence as an element of male sexuality
In this book, leading theorist on sex and gender Sandra L. Bem discusses how hidden molds in our cultural discourse, social institution, and individual minds support male dominance while oppressing women and sexual minorities. She explains her lenses of gender, which shape perceptions of social reality and also more physical things – like unequal salary and insufficient daycase – that establish social reality itself before she presents her theory of how cultural gender lenses are shaped and influence either the adaptation of conventional gender identity or the resistance of conventional gender identity. She then presents evidence for reframing the discussion on sexual inequality so that it focuses not only on the variances between men and women, but on how androcentric dialogue and societies transform gender differences into female disadvantage.
Masculinity is a subject that has been debated in our society for quite some time. Many wonder what it means to be masculine, as it is difficult to define this one –sided term. Pairing this already controversial term with “feminist studies” can bring about some thought - provoking conversation. Feminist studies of men have been around for many years with regards to the feminist movement. It seeks to create gradual improvements to society through its main principle of modifying the ways in which everyone views what it means to be a man. Feminist studies of men bring forth the discussion of hegemonic masculinity; how this contributes to the gender hierarchy, the radicalized glass escalator and ultimately the faults of this theory.
Accordingly, this emphasis has impacts on the types of pleasure that men request and want to receive that primarily focuses on their pleasure and not that of the women (Kimmel & Holler, 2011, p. 292). Hence, this demonstrates the power of men that is demonstrated by the domination and the submission of women within the sexual interaction (Kimmel & Holler, 2011, p. 124). Thus, gender inequality is reproduced whereby the male is the recipient focus of power (Kimmel & Holler, 2011, p. 291). Additionally, this sex with a prostitute will assist the man in gaining hegemonic status due to his conforming behaviours to the masculinity type (Kimmel & Holler, 2011, p.
To support the argument of female sexuality being repressed and monitored, Rich (Rich, 1984) argues and expands on the work of Gough (Gough, 1975). If looking at heterosexuality as a system of oppression rather than a sexual identity, there are 8 characteristics to male power. The first characteristic is female sexuality under the patriarchy and thus denying women the right to their own sexuality. A mixed list of different social norms ensure that female sexuality is only expressed to benefit men in the sense of male pleasure and also for the purposes of reproduction. The second point is sexuality being forced upon women in the forms of rape, guilt etc. (Weedon, 1999). When thinking about gender roles in relation to sex it’s important to see the correlation between masculinity representing dominance while femininity equates to submission, therefore women can often get a warped view of sex and feel as though they have to comply with the sexual demands of men (Segal, 1999). This relates to Gail’s attitude within the film when seeing sex as something of a burden and feeling as though she has to comply with the sexual demands of her
Sex is one of the most central themes in society today, with generally everybody in the world, adults and children, either seeing it in the mass media or taking part in it, whether it be for their career, for reproductive reasons, or for pleasure. Because of its predominance, sexuality plays an important, if not the most important, role in social inequality, causing double standards, violence and internal self-worth issues for minorities. Factors such as pornography, prostitution, and the way people view homosexuality and intersexuality as repugnant all influence the prejudice ways in which society views and treats women, homosexuals, and intersexuals.
Unlike sex, the history of sexuality is dependant upon society and limited by its language in order to be defined and understood.
Holland, J., Ramazanoglu, C., Sharpe, S. & Thomson, R. (1998) The male in the head—young people, heterosexuality and power ,London, The Tufnell Press
This essay will discuss the ways sexuality is gendered and their impacts towards both men and women by exploring the contemporary heterosexual scripts from a sociological perspective on three main aspects; i.e. sex drive, desire and power. It studies how men are deemed to have a higher sexual edge than women, who acts as the relationship gatekeepers. This essay analyses the theory that women predictably pursuits love and relationships while men are more sexually controlled by lusts and cravings. Sexual dominance and passiveness is another traditional script inspected in this essay, focusing on how men are always expected to be the prevailing initiator thus devouring more power in relationships while women stays being the weaker, submissive receivers.
Wilton, Tamsin. "Which One's the Man? The Heterosexualisation of Lesbain Sex." Gender, Sex, and Sexuality. New York: Oxford University, 2009. 157-70. Print.
How does 'sexuality' come into being, and what connections does it have with the changes that have affected personal life on a more general plane? In answering these questions, Anthony Giddens disputes many of the interpretations of the role of sexuality in our culture. The emergence of what he calls plastic sexuality, which is sexuality freed from its original relation of reproduction, is analyzed in terms of the long-term development of the modern social order and social influences of the last few decades. Giddens argues that the transformation of intimacy, in which women have played the major part, holds out the possibility of a society that is very traditional. "This book will appeal to a large general audience as well as being essential reading for those students in sociology and theory."(Manis 1)