Sexuality

• Simpson

  • Gay men 'degayed' in 'hetrospaces' and acted more flamboyantly in 'homospaces'
• The Kinsey Report

  • Large US survey found that 37% of men engaged in a homosexual relationship to the point of orgasm but low number identified as gay (illegal at the time)
• Weeks

  • Saying 'I am gay' is a powerful statement but to say 'I am hetrosexual' is not
  • Sexual identity is complex and sometimes contradictory - many gay people hadn't had a same-sex relationship
• Rich

  • Women are socialised into heterosexuality and lesbianism is portrayed as 'unnatural' - 'compulsory heterosexuality'
  • Female sexuality is oppressed by patriarchal institutions like marriage and sexual violence as lesbianism is a threat to male dominance
• McIntosh

  • There are expectations that gay men must conform to in Western culture to fulfil their role
  • E.g. effeminate mannerism and attention to appearance
• Foucault

  • How sexuality is expressed is dependent on current social discourse
  • Homosexuality was seen as deviant in the 1950s but is more normalised now - shown in changes to laws
  • More representation - Heartstopper series
• 1967 - decriminalisation of homosexuality in England and Wales

  2010 - Equality Act stops discrimination against gay people

  2014 - gay marriage legalised
• Walter

  • New hypersexual culture as a result of the portrayal of women in digital media
  • Gives young boys unrealistic expectations and too much pressure on young girls
• Julian

  • There is a 'sex recession' as a result of pornography
  • Too much pressure on individuals due to new sex norms
  • Took 'Sex holidays' as if it were a job
• McCormack

  • Decrease in 'cultural homophobia' partly due to progressive government action and changes in legislation
  • More normalised in media - gay celebrities and characters