Social construction

• Social construction refers to something that has been made or defined by society, rather than simply occurring naturally.
• crimes that change from culture to culture

  • Adultery - involves a sexual act between 2 people, one or both of whom is married to another person.

  illegal in Muslim-majority countries, several Christian-majority countries in Africa, Philippines, Taiwan and 21 U.S. states.

  legal in most countries, including UK

  • Homosexuality - sexual acts between members of he same sex

  male homosexuality illegal in 72 countries and in 45 so are lesbian relationships. in 6 countries, conviction can result in death penalty.

  legal in UK, Europe, North and South America.
• reasons why the law varies between cultures

  • religion - including Christianity, Islam and Judaism. countries where religion has a strong influence over law-making are more likely to have laws against homosexuality.
  • sexism - the fact that male homosexuality is a crime in more countries than lesbianism may be due to sexist assumptions by male lawmakers that women were incapable of same-sex attraction.