Sexuality

• Kinsey Reports


  In the US, 37% of men have experienced a homosexual experience but only 4% identify as being gay
• How are identities changing?


  Section 28 was overturned in 2003, Equality Act (2010), Same Sex marriage (2013), gay people are much more open with 64 MPs being openly gay
• Weeks


  Argues that 'sexual identification is a strange thing' as there are people who identity as gay but do not take part in same-sex sexual activitiy and vice versa.
• Reiss


  Study of young male prostitutes, who regarded what they did as 'work' and saw themselves as 'straight', even though they had sex with men for money.
• McIntosh


  in Westernized cultures, homosexual males have certain expectations and characteristics e.g. higher voice. He states that when someone accepts the 'gay' label they will fulfil these roles
• Plummer


  Supports McIntosh, arguing that when a man accepts homosexuality he joins a stereotypical gay culture
• Mulvey


  Feminsits are concerned about the way that women are portrayed through their sexuality. Mulvey uses the concept of 'male gaze' to describe men sexually exploiting women in the media for their own benefit.
• Rich


  Argues that women's sexuality is oppressed by the patriarchy, through marriage, objectification and domestic violence. 'Compulsory heterosexuality' was used to describe how women are socialised into a heterosexual role.
• Rich Continued


  Also believes that most women aren't inherently heterosexual but it's forced upon them. Also argues that lesbian experiences are different to gay ones, but they have been constructed as abnormal as its a threat to male dominance.
• McCormack


  Studied attitudes towards sexuality in a sixth form college and found that homophobia is not tolerated and seen as immature. Even the boys were much more accepting, giving less pressure on them to prove their masculinity
• Lees


  'Slags' vs 'Drags': women are subjected to negative terminology for being frigid and promiscuous, whereas men are seen as 'players' and 'saving themselves