Summary:
Chapter 7 is about human sexuality and sex drives. It begins
with the topic of sexual identity and orientation. There are many different
types of sexual orientations, transsexuals, intersexual, homosexuals,
heterosexuals, bisexuals, and asexual.
No one really knows how sexuality is determined; if it is biological or
determined by the way one is brought up.
Next, the chapter discusses sexual roles and how they are socially
determined. Typically, the more masculine gender (as in men) is more likely to
initiate sexual relations than women are.
The chapter then discusses what is knows as the “double
standard” in which men can have sex with men whenever they want with who ever
they want but when a women does the same, she is stereotyped as promiscuous.
Most sexual assaults and sexual violence are also attributed to male behavior
instead of female.
Next, the book talks about why people have sex and there are
many reasons. Two main reasons are peer pressure and social expectations. Our parents who may or may not talk to
their children about sex influence their children’s sexual behavior. Another influence are the people around
a person, such as friends, classmates, sexual education classes, and siblings.
Other influences include religion and popular culture.
Chapter 7 then goes in depth in the different kinds of
sexual relations. Many children
are influenced by their parents to abstain from sex until marriage. Other young adults that choose to have
sex before marriage can have good or bad experiences. Then the chapter goes
into the differences in sex between singles and married couples. Then, the
difference between sex for younger couples and older couples is also compared.
Chapter 7 also talks about why couples become unfaithful. Sexual relations
between homosexuals is discussed.
Next, the risk of STIs, in particular HIV and AIDS and ways
to protect oneself from them.
What I Learned:
I thought that table 7.3 was particularly interesting. In a survey, it was asked what men and
women considered cheating. More
women than men thought that each category was cheating. The categories included things like
intercourse, kissing, phone sex, holding hands, and flirting.
Question for discussion:
Looking at the table and reading the section about
infidelity and I had wonder if it has always been that way. I’m a communication major and I always
wonder what the media’s influence on society is. The book cited Desperate
Housewives as one show that glorifies cheating. Another television show that makes cheating a major plot
line is Gossip Girl. There are many
TV shows and movies that glorify cheating, so does this make men more likely to
cheat?
Gina Zidek
I also found that picture of Desperate Housewives to be interesting because listed all of these macro and micro reasons of why people cheat. But it seems that they were hinting at that those are reasons on the surface but in reality it is just for the sex it seems to me. Also to answer your questions I think that it is just easier for that scenario to placed on to men because they do not romanticize relationships. I think that actually probably more women cheat on men but it is just silent because it is seen as something horrible compared to a man cheating on women. It would almost be like she is not doing her "job" as the wife so he strayed, but if she cheated it would be seen as a great disrespect to the husband.
ReplyDeleteI think your question about whether TV shows make people more likely to cheat could work both ways. In one way, I think it would make some people think that it was a good idea because often it is portrayed as part of a glamourous lifestyle. On the other hand, some people might use it as a way to sort of vicariously live out what it would be like to cheat, without actually doing anything.
ReplyDeleteTo answer the question as to whether TV shows make people more likely to cheat, I agree with Natalie when she says that the argument could go both ways. I think people might watch these shows and see the "hotness" and the love of the chase in cheating with another person, and they want to experience that. On the other hand, people may watch these shows and realize they never would want to do that. They may see what it could do to your life and they may never would want to do that. It really could go either way.
ReplyDeleteMaria Nicholas