Sociology of Sexuality Outline 10/05/07

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1 Sociology of Sexuality Outline 10/05/07 William Masters and Virginia Johnson I. Major findings: A. Human Sexual Response Cycle a. Excitement b. Plateau c. Orgasm d. Resolution B. Male and Female Differences and physiological incompatibility C. Sexual dysfunctions D. Homosexual vs. Heterosexual functioning II. Criticisms: A. Mechanistic interpersonal and internal variables not considered B. Assumption of excitement as first component of cycle; omission of desire C. The model defines normality when it wasn't tested on a "normal" sample D. Researcher bias to try and make male and female sexuality as similar as possible E. Beginning of medicalization of sexuality a. Assumes certain normality b. What is not "normal" isn't just different, it is abnormal c. Normal and average are seen as the same d. Normal and healthy are also seen as the same F. Beginning of the hunt for perfection a. Search for the perfect penis archetype III. Social Construction: body is mediated by culture, personal history, biography, norms, beliefs, expectations, gender, circumstance, and cognition. A. Two studies B. We don't have only instincts; we also have situated responses, which are mediated by social institutions. We create our sexual selves through reinforcing interactions (interactional aspect). Note that this does not eliminate the individual; different individuals react differently to identical situations.

2 Sociology of Sexuality Outline 10/9/07 Social Change in American Sexuality Themes: 1. Shift from social control to individual control and privacy 2. Shift from sex as a means of reproduction to sex as a means of pleasure and intimacy 3. Shift from one type of sexuality and one act of sexuality as acceptable (heterosexuality, missionary) to sexual diversity and tolerance (other acts and orientations) 4. Shift from religious control over sexuality (guidance) to secular/non-religious control (school and state) 5. General shifts in sexual culture due to technology and economics 6. Growth and vast impact of political movements sexual stakeholders Shift from social control to individual control and privacy 1. Laws that attempt to create religious and racial boundaries 2. Laws that prevent pre- and extramarital sex 3. Mann Act 1910 law against race mixing 4. White Terror Movement began in 1880s Shift from sex as a means of reproduction to sex as a means of pleasure and intimacy 1. During Colonialism, the focus was on reproduction to facilitate population growth. 2. Early 1900 s marks the experimentation with sex for pleasure 3. Anthony Comstock a. Moral entrepreneur who sought to redefine public morality and limit sexual pervasiveness b. Played on fears of immigrants, race, and ethnicity c. Comstock Law 1873 (lasted through 1920s) i. Prosecution of obscenity 4. Stock Market crash and Great Depression 1920s 5. Cold War period/mccarthy era 1950s a. Homosexual paranoia in government b. Public decency in movies and media 6. Regeneration of Women's Movement late 1960s a. Sexual liberation "personal is political" b. Non-marital sexuality c. Critique of monogamy, marriage, tradition, and gender roles d. Sexual experimentation e. Growth of cohabitation

3 Shift from one type of sexuality and one act of sexuality as acceptable (heterosexuality, missionary) to sexual diversity and tolerance (other acts and orientations) Shift from religious control over sexuality (guidance) to secular/non-religious control (school and state) 1. Church dictated appropriate sexual behavior. 2. Supreme court becomes involved in matters regarding sexuality and privacy a right to privacy among married couples General shifts in sexual culture due to technology and economics 1. Changes in privacy 2. Contraception (e.g. vulcanized rubber) 3. Drugs which promote sex; surgery and medical treatment Growth and vast impact of political movements sexual stakeholders 1. Different social movements influencing views of sexuality a. feminists, gay-movement b. civil rights model applied to sexual rights 2. Mobilization of resources to interested groups

4 Sociology of Sexuality Outline 10/9/07 through 10/11/07 History of Sex Videos The Ancient World a. Mesopotamia 1st i. written accounts of sexuality ii. Patriarchal class society = inequality iii. Sexuality was not considered a moral issue (adultery was a crime of theft) iv. Sex was a means of fertility and procreation, but also a powerful pleasure giving force transcend the physical and obtain spiritual healing b. Egyptians i. Sexuality and spirituality = one ii. Sexuality was a critical part of the cycle of life, fertility, and death iii. Sex for recreation and procreation (breeding heirs) iv. Marriage very important (severe punishments for adultery) v. Sex symbols c. Greeks i. Sex is a good, natural part of life ii. Procreation demands sexual performance iii. Marriage was an economic arrangement iv. Patriarchal society 1. male sexuality glorified 2. higher love is between two men (pederasty = adult male and adolescent boy for wisdom) 3. female sexuality is utilitarian (prostitution to service men) v. Females are sexual 1. more sexually driven than men, but not allowed to pursue sex 2. used masturbation and dildos vi. Helenistic transition between Greek rule and Roman rule 1. females discovered 2. sex became more widely accepted d. Romans i. Libertarian sexuality ii. Sadomasochism (elite male domination, female submission) in. Higher status women had more control over their own sexuality 1. elite women could obtain divorce iv. Attempts to control pregnancy 1. abortion allowed 2. contraceptives used v. Still maintained a reproductive focus vi. Rulers scared of empire's downfall due to moral collapse too promiscuous

5 1. Augustus makes adultery a crime 2. Constantine allied himself with the church and placed a new emphasis on celibacy II. The Eastern World a. China i. Daoism 1. male sexuality is preserving life force ejaculation helps reach immortality (longevity of men and men's sexual pleasure) 2. female pleasure not mentioned ii. Confucianism 1. utmost ' importance on the family and procreation 2. new emphasis on women's pleasure 3. polygamy in a Chinese patriarch a. Brothels an escape from sexual duty b. Concubines sexual slaves b. Japan i. Sexual, practice not sinful healthy sex life brought balance and order ii. Family was most important iii. Male sexuality needed to be released 1. prostitutes different degrees 2. Geishas highly trained female entertainers 3. Theater homosexual practices not stigmatized (similar to Greece) c. India i. Hinduism 1. seek unity with divine through carnal pleasure (intercourse) acts have a religious philosophy 2. spirituality and sexuality tightly interwoven 3. sexual love as a metaphor for love and relationship with God ii. Buddhism 1. monks and nuns adopted a life of celibacy to stop productions (acts) of karma existence devoid of carnal pleasures 2. Kama Sutra written by an ascetic a. Inventory of all things sexual b. Methods for insufficiencies c. Blueprint for courtship and marriage 3. Tantra sexual taboos

6 a. Some people saw enlightenment through deviance from social and sexual norms d. Middle East i. Islam 1. belief in family 2. patriarchal and polygamous 3. sexual pleasure is good and important for men and women 4. severe penalties for adultery 5. women responsible for household chores; separated form outside world for protection 6. poetry