Sociology Ch.12*
Sexual orientation
a persons emotional and sexual attraction to a particular sex (male or female)
Transgender
a term that refers to individuals who identify with the behaviors and characteristics that are opposite of their biological sex.
Gender
a term that refers to social or cultural distinctions of behaviors that are considered male or female.
Homophobia
an extreme or irrational aversion to homosexuals
Gender identity
an individuals sense of being either masculine or feminine
double standard
concept that prohibits premarital sexual intercourse for women but allows it for men (Reiss 1960)
gender socialization
each agent reinforces gender roles by creating and maintaining normative expectations for gender specific behaviors
Kinsey scale
he created a six point rating scale that ranges from exclusively heterosexual to exclusively homosexual. the scale indicates that sexuality can be measured by more than just heterosexuality and homosexuality
Queer theory
is a perspective that problematizes the manner in which we have been taught to think about sexual orientation. it is a scholarly discipline that questions fixed (normative) definition of gender and sexuality
Sexuality
is viewed as a persons capacity for sexual feelings.
agencies of socialization
occurs through four major agents of socialization family, education, peer groups, ad mass media
Sex
refers to physical or physiological differences between males and females, including both primary characteristics (the reproductive system) and secondary characteristics such as height and muscularity.
Gender role
societys concept of how men and women should behave or expected to act
Sexism
the prejudiced belief that one sex should be valued over another
Transsexuals
transgendered individuals who wish to alter their bodies through medical interventions such as surgery and hormonal therapy
doing gender
when people perform tasks based upon the gender assigned to them by society and, in turn, themselves