Transcript Chapter 9 Sexual Orientation

Chapter 9 Sexual Orientation
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The Global Context: A World View Of Laws
Pertaining To Homosexuality
Homosexuality and Bisexuality in the United
States: Prevalence and Explanations
Sociological Theories Of Sexual Orientation
Chapter 9 Sexual Orientation
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Heterosexism, Homophobia, and Biphobia
Discrimination Against Sexual Orientation
Minorities
Strategies For Action: Reducing Antigay
Prejudice And Discrimination
A Global View of Laws and Social
Attitudes
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In 52 countries, laws criminalizing
homosexuality apply to both men and women.
In 33 countries, laws criminalizing
homosexuality apply to men only.
In 10 countries, penalty for same-sex sexual
behavior is death.
Environmental Explanations for
Sexual Orientation
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We all have capacity for heterosexual,
homosexual, or bisexual relationships.
Availability of sexual partners and early sexual
experiences may affect sexual orientation.
Study compared lesbian and heterosexual
women and found no differences in incidence
of traumatic experiences with men.
Structural-Functionalist
Perspective
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Homosexual relations and non-marital
heterosexual relations, are “deviant”.
They do not fulfill the family institution's
function of producing and rearing children.
Conflict between heterosexuals and
homosexuals may lead to social change.
Conflict Perspective
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Conflicts about sexuality represent division
between those with power and those without
power.
Trends toward acceptance of homosexuality
may reflect the corporate world's competition
over employees and the gay and lesbian
consumer dollar.
Symbolic Interactionist Perspective
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Meanings of heterosexuality, homosexuality,
and bisexuality are socially constructed.
Once individuals are labeled as lesbian, gay, or
bisexual, that label tends to become their
master status.
Heterosexism, Homophobia, And
Biphobia
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In 1999, 46% of respondents in a Gallup Poll
felt homosexuality should not be considered an
acceptable alternative lifestyle.
Heterosexual women and men hold similar
views toward lesbians, but men are more
negative toward gay men.
Bisexuality
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Often rejected by homosexuals and
heterosexuals.
Sometimes viewed as heterosexuals who are
looking for exotic sexual experiences.
Lesbians exhibit greater levels of biphobia than
gay men.
Effects of Homophobia
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Males are hindered in their self-expression and
intimacy in same-sex relationships.
Youths may avoid activities that they might
enjoy (e.g. arts for boys, athletics for girls).
Some males engage in coercive and early
sexual activity to prove they are not gay.
Sodomy Laws
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Sodomy laws once existed in all 50 states.
17 states still ban oral and anal sex between
consenting adults.
In states that criminalize sodomy, laws are
primarily used against gay men and lesbians.
Hate Crimes Against Sexual
Orientation Minorities
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In 1999: FBI reported 1,317 incidents of sexual
orientation hate crimes.
Hate crimes based on sexual orientation
increased from 8.9% in 1991 to 16.7% in 1999.
In 1999, 29 anti-LGBT murders were reported
to the National Coalition of Antiviolence
Programs.
Antigay Hate in Schools
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More than 2/3 of gay and lesbian students
have been verbally, physically, or sexually
harassed at school.
Survey of 496 LGBT youth ages 12 to 19 found
that 2 out of 5 did not feel safe in school.
More than 1/4 of gay youth drop out of school.
Reducing Employment
Discrimination
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1974: Minneapolis became the first
municipality to ban antigay job discrimination.
1981: Wisconsin became 1st state to ban
antigay job discrimination.
8 states and more than 200 local governments
ban antigay discrimination in their public work
force.