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