Construction of Sexuality
Most of the articles for today discussed the idea that sexuality is not biological, "natural" or fixed at birth. In Hubbards article she argues that people fall in love with a person, and not a sex. She also states that the only reason the "norm" is heterosexuality is because of society, and she believes that people (especially when they are younger) would be much better off and happier if they were able to freely expermient and decide for themselves, versus having to fit into what society deems as correct. In Rust's reading she discusses how she has spoken to many people who have changed their sexual identity throughout their lifetime, as they experience new things and meet new people. So while they may have been brought up with the idea that heterosexuality is correct, people change their feelings and orientations.
The article dealing with the Drag Queens was very interesting as well. According to them, not only is their show entertaining, but they try to educate people and get people to feel more comfortable talking about and experiencing sexuality, In other words they try to make people think out of their box, which is easier in a gay club, because then straight people are usually the minority, which is a position that they normally would not find themselves in.
I agree that society constructs what is proper sexuality, I think that more studies should be done on how and why people identify their sexuality like they do. It's been only recently that the subject of sexuality has been a more open issue to discuss, so I think that there needs to be a lot more done to make people more comfortable with the idea that sexuality is not "natural" and that people are indeed able to decide for themselves what is right for them.
1. Hubbard and Rust claim that people are not born with a biological sense of sexuality, but rather it is assigned to them by interaction with society. Do you agree? Why or why not?
2. The Drag Queens at the club claim that they are able to help educate people by providing an atmosphere that people are usually not able to experience, so you think this is true? How effective do you think they really are?
Comments
In response to the question about Drag Queens, I believe that the stage creates a space where socially unacceptable things become acceptable. Once you move outside of this space, things are looked at as only a "performance" and may not be taken seriously. So although I do agree that the drag queens may be offering an experience that many may never have otherwise, people may never take the drag queens seriously outside in the real world, and they may be perpetuating social constructions of gender because of this. For instance, if a drag queen were to wear his/her outfit to the supermarket, they would not recieve the same response compared to wearing the outfit onstage.
Posted by: Molly Kay | February 8, 2007 4:14 PM
I think it's interesting that society debates the nature/nurture origins as an important aim in sexuality. It suggests for many people that if a society concludes that sexuality is learned, then something like homosexuality or bisexuality can be cured or reversed. As a society we need to change our views/morals on what is considered 'wrong.' Once that happens, I believe it will no longer matter to most people whether sexuality is biological or not. Many of us transgress what we learn from society in regards to sexual norms and what is considered 'deviant.' I don't believe we have conscious control over what those transgressions necessarily are, however.
Posted by: Matt K. | February 8, 2007 4:24 PM
I agree that we are not born with a biological sense of sexuality. In class Eric made a point about how just because he is a man, doesn't mean that he is attracted to every women. Just the same with me, although I am a woman, I am not attracted to all men. We choose our partners just the same way as we choose our friends. We pick them based on what we like, not based on sex. Eric also made an interesting point about how many people that engage in same sex relationship sometimes never had one in the past. Even though I don't consider myself gay, there are females that I am attracted to by apperance or personality. Our society likes to categorizes everything into black and white when there's actually a lot of grey area in between.
Posted by: Amanda L | February 9, 2007 2:28 PM