Def. Sexual orientation is a person sexual identity in relation to the gender to which they are attached
Biological Sex
Def. Whether someone is male or female
Gender Identity
Def. A person’s perception of having a gender which may or may not correspond with their birth sex
In the UK, heterosexuality has been traditionally defined as the dominant and ideal which links to reproduction
Sociologists consider heterosexuality to be the product of culture rather than biology
Made observations around the old and though history about changing links between homosexual identity and homosexuality sex
Weeks (1991)
Observers that to come out and enhance a gay sexuality is to make a statement about challenging the dominant
Weeks (1987)
Tends to be much more strongly linked to identity for those who are homosexual than those who are heterosexual
Sexual identification is a strange thing don’t participate in same sex sexual activity, but some don’t say they are gay but participate in same sex sexual activity
Reiss (1961)
Young male prostitutes or rent boys regarded themselves as heterosexual despite having sex with men
Neutralising their behaviour
Plummer (1996)
Homosexuality is not created by sexual attraction but produced by the process of coming out and not accepting of homosexuality
Construction of homosexuality usually involves seeking out and joining a gay subculture
Rich (1980)
Argues heterosexuality is forced on woman
Lesbian identity has been written out of existence and said it was abnormal, so men find it threatening as it challenges the dominance of hegemonic masculinity
McIntosh (1996)
In western culture the role of a homosexual male involves certain expectations or cultural characteristics such as a higher voice
Once a male has accepted the label, he will start to fulfil these expectations such as labels created
1988 section 28 prevented the local authorities from promoting homosexuality
2000 the age was lowered to 16
2005 the civil partnership was introduced
2003 section 28 was scrapped
The equality act 2007 made it illegal to discriminate against homosexuality
Homosexuality and Lesbian Identity
1950s cultural attitudes towards to begin to shift the consent age was changed to 21
1960 it was decriminalized
1970 was no longer defined as psychiatric condition
1990 and 2000 the consent age was 16
2014 gay marriage was legal
They now have gay marches
Gillian Dunne suggest that lesbian households are much more equal
Heterosexuality and Identity
Product of culture not biology
Socially constructed is the double standard that exists about comparable male and female sexual behaviour
Men are promiscuous predators and females are passive a disinterested in love rather than sex
Postmodernist
People have more freedom to choose their own sexual identity and attitudes have become more relaxed to decide from a range of sexual identities
However, woman is more constrained by traditional stereotypes to choose sexual identities
Stigmatised or spoiled sexual identities so individuals regard sexual activity outside normal sex as a deviant activity
Lead to hostility in public seating, bulling at school and discrimination in employment