...walking down the street together used to be the only visible acceptability, but now to see a couple of the same gender holding hands is slowly becoming more accustomed and ordinary. Same-sex relationships are becoming more common and socially acceptable than a decade ago, and with the ever increasing desire to put discrimination behind us, it is clear that homosexual marriages are growing in acceptance as they grow in number. Touching on the subjects of television, film, and laws, it has come apparent just how acceptable and worldwide these relationships are becoming. The most influential source of media is television. Although people call television the idiot box, it could play a key role effortlessly. In the past, media has led society to believe that same-sex relationships are not acceptable. Achieved by displaying strictly heterosexual relationships on almost every television show, and leaving no room for possibility of homosexuality. Even though most television shows are American, they are still televised nationally including Canada, influencing minds in positive ways. The first reality show to cast a homosexual character on national television was MTV's 1992 "The Real World", which follows the lives of 7 strangers, with different backgrounds, personalities, and sometimes religious values living under one roof. One of the seven cast members, being gay, announced his lifestyle not only to his roommates, but to the world. This came off as a huge shock to the entire house...
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...our society in molding our identity as individuals. The word “gay” is now stemmed deeply into the American society that has been slowly becoming socially acceptable. There are those who debate you are born being a homosexual, those who assert society influences you to become a homosexual, and others who believe one chooses to become a homosexual. In the article, “Revolutions, Universal, and Sexual Categories,” by John Boswell works tediously to answer the question in whether categories exist because we are able to recognize real distinctions or because we make categories to make things easier and agree upon it as society (2). The two sides that debate this argument with each other are realists who believe categories are the footprints of reality which is supposed to be known universally (2). The other side is described by Boswell as nominalists is the reality that people come to believe is by the creating of humans and their society (2). So, nominalist believe that if it were not for society and the socialization of individuals everyone would just be sexual and not conform to either being simply heterosexual or homosexual. Realist, also described by Boswell as “essentialists” disagree and believe that regardless of our perception of what is heterosexual/homosexual some people have certain characteristics of being one or the other or both (3). Boswell, states that nominalists and realists would come to agree that neither of their explanation is hundred percent correct, but...
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...What Other Cultures Can Teach Us about Sexuality By Zach Daly Professor D Human Sexuality Final Paper Sexuality is an interesting concept, and when examined clearly has a relationship to cultural rules and norms. What is considered acceptable and appropriate sexual behavior varies significantly according to cultural rules, though some sexual taboos and norms seem to cross cultural lines. The fact that cultural norms impact what sexual behaviors are considered appropriate or inappropriate is significant, because many people argue that certain variants of sexuality are either natural or unnatural. However, if some sexual behavior was inherently unnatural, one would not expect to find sexual behavior that is considered aberrant in some cultures as a normative behavior in other cultures. In fact, it is this diversity of “normal” sexual behavior that is the most informative aspect of learning about sexual behavior in other cultures, because it helps explain that what is considered deviant in some cultures is considered normal in other cultures. Of course, examining diverse cultural sexual norms does not mean that all abnormal sexual practices should be embraced as elements of cultural diversity. The fact that a behavior might be considered normative and may be adapted to further cultural norms does not mean that the behavior is necessarily positively adaptive. For example, child brides are the norm in many cultures. The practice of permitting child brides serves...
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...religions, and/ or personal beliefs or people are just not well informed of what these titles carry. For someone that does not struggle to conform with society’s ‘acceptable way’ of gender it is no issue to fit in when it comes to that part of their lives. However, to a transgendered person, for example, fitting into a certain gender/ sex is an everyday struggle. Sex and gender have become the main distinction all over the world; it would be very hard to get rid of this. Personally, I do not believe that there will ever come a day where the existing gender binary completely disappears but I do believe that changes may be done to it over time. In an issue like gender binary, nurture ironically beats nature. People are not born hating homosexuals, transgender people, bisexuals, etc., that sort of hatred is acquired throughout the years and growing up in a society that puts a huge emphasis on such divisions makes it very difficult to have a majority support it rather than oppose it. It is an issue that unless a person has the right knowledge and learns to be sympathetic and logical about the situation, they will not understand it; even less try to help it. “People who follow the norms of gender can take their genders for granted…...
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...Chapter 30: Economic and Social Change in the Late 20th Century Economic, cultural, and social changes have affected America greatly in the late twentieth century. The population since 1980 has become increasingly older, urban, diverse, southern, and western. Declining birth rates and rising life expectancy combined to produce an aging population. Between 1970 and 1990 most American financial and industrial growth occurred in the South and West, the Sunbelt. The Sunbelt also proved attractive to large numbers of new immigrants from Latin America and Asia. Lyndon Johnson's 1965 Immigration Act laid the basis for an increased volume and diversity of immigrants. Modern legislation has attempted to limit immigration to political refugees, and also to curb illegal immigration, while raising the number of immigrants with specific skills. Continued flight of businesses and individuals to the suburbs brought transformation and crisis in the nation's urban areas, but the 1990s witnessed a revival and renewal in some major cities. Technological change has ushered in amazing economic transformations. The most noteworthy new technologies are those in biotechnology, high-performance computing, and communications systems. Innovations in credit, electronic banking, franchising, and globalization, especially through the widespread use of computers, have affected business. Employment in traditional manufacturing areas declined while unions saw their membership and political power...
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... [The following is a summary of the presentation “Social Media and You!” by, Presented on the] Summary: The presentation that I prepared for assignment two was related to social media, what it is and its effect on society today. I chose social media as my presentation topic because I feel that it is one of the most relevant issues or changes that we are seeing in society today, it has been said that the social media revolution is the biggest revolution since the industrial in the late 18th century (Patterson, 2011). I believe that as social media has such an enormous influence on a majority of people’s live today, my presentation will be something that everyone finds interest, engaging and hopefully has an opinion on. Social media has gone from being considered a fad or a novelty in the last 10 years to having an enormous impact on the way that nearly everyone in the world lives their lives. Whether it’s browsing current affairs on twitter, communicating with friends on Facebook, or scanning through the millions of informative or ridiculous videos on YouTube, or even all three! Not only do social media vessels allow us these common comforts that make our lives a lot more entertaining and easy, they also can serve a more serious purpose, a recent example would be the organizing of protests and even battles through social networking sites such as Facebook and YouTube in the Middle East (CNN, 2011). Social media is the reason the fights against their ruthless dictator...
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...male or female. It came from the Greek language, where “homo” means the same or similar, hence referring to the attraction between two beings of the same sex. Homosexuality is also referred as a clinical term. Most male homosexuals generally prefer to be called "gay men" and most homosexual women generally prefer to be called "lesbians." Homosexuality is one of the three main categories of sexual orientation, alongside bisexual and heterosexual. The longstanding consensus of the behavioral and social sciences and the health and mental health professions is that homosexuality is an example of normal and positive variation in human sexual orientation. Currently the most common adjectives in use are lesbian for women and gay for men, though gay can refer to either men or women. The American Psychology Association defines sexual orientation in the following way: “Sexual orientation is an enduring emotional, romantic, sexual, or affectionate attraction toward others”. There are three broad categories within the family of sexual orientations which are defined as: heterosexuality, homosexuality (gay orientation) and bisexuality. The origins of homosexuality has been surfacing now and then in our time and we will look at how the future will hold for them(homosexuals). Literature Review Nowadays, homosexuality is an uncomfortable and even forbidding topic for many, but in the ancient world it was commonplace and usual. Homosexuality existed since a long time ago and with it the land...
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...What Is LGBT? LGBT stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender and along with heterosexual they describe people's sexual orientation or gender identity. These terms are explained in more detail here. Lesbian A lesbian woman is one who is romantically, sexually and/or emotionally attracted to women. Many lesbians prefer to be called lesbian rather than gay. Gay A gay man is one who is romantically, sexually and/or emotionally attracted to men. The word gay can be used to refer generally to lesbian, gay and bisexual people but many women prefer to be called lesbian. Most gay people don't like to be referred to as homosexual because of the negative historical associations with the word and because the word gay better reflects their identity. Bisexual A bisexual person is someone who is romantically, sexually and/or emotionally attracted to people of both sexes. Transgender or Trans Is an umbrella term used to describe people whose gender identity (internal feeling of being male, female or transgender) and/or gender expression, differs from that usually associated with their birth sex. Not everyone whose appearance or behaviour is gender-atypical will identify as a transgender person. Many transgender people live part-time or full-time in another gender. Transgender people can identify as transsexual, transvestite or another gender identity. Gender Identity One's gender identity refers to whether one feels male, female or transgender (regardless of one's biological...
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...Human Right Violations of Homosexuals Amit Kumar Anand Rohit Maheshwari Dr. Munmun Jha(Guide) IIT Kanpur, Kanpur-208016, India Abstract This paper addresses the plight of homosexual rights.Historically,homosexuals have not only been treated as social outcasts but also their legal right to equality has been denied.We have made an attempt to portray homosexuality as an alternate way of life rather than perversion or a crime. 2 Historical Background Homo erotic practices were widely present, and integrated into the religion, education, philosophy and military cultures of various societies and also condemned by many. 1 Introduction 2.1 Ancient history Homosexuality is defined as sexual orientation characterized by aesthetic attraction, romantic love, and sexual desire exclusively for members of the same sex or gender identity. The potential for homosexual behavior appears to be a basic part of human sexuality, since many people experience homosexual interest, curiosity, or activity at some point in their lives. Homosexual behavior has also been observed in most animal species. Many homosexuals prefer to be called gay or, in the case of women, lesbian because of the exclusively sexual connotation of homosexual. When individuals engage in both heterosexual and homosexual behaviors, they are said to be bi-sexual. The practices associated with the erotic attraction of people to one’s own gender have been around since the dawn of humanity. Homosexuality, one...
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...Socio-Cultural Influences on Sexuality There is nothing that sparks a debate more than the topic of sexuality. The multitude of opinions in societies displays an attempt to define, promote, or control sexuality. Sexuality is a part of our humanity in which defines sex, gender identities, gender roles, sexual orientation, pleasure, intimacy, and instigates procreation. Though, sexuality is experienced and expressed through thoughts, desires, beliefs, attitudes, values, roles, behaviours, and relationships; it is greatly influenced by societies, cultures, historical perspectives, religious perspectives, biological forces, psychological theories, ethics, morals, and legal factors. In the United States, known as the “melting pot” because of the mass amounts of cultural influences brought in by immigrants worldwide that now reside on its land; one of the biggest concerns in regards to sexuality are the social and public health challenges that influence sexual behaviours, attitudes, and beliefs. Sexual behavior in not just a personal matter between two people, but rather a theme that can affect society in terms of social expectations for sexual behaviors, gender identity, roles, stereotypes, and bias. Social Expectations on Sexual Behaviors “Sexuality is an important part of our lives” (King, 2012, p.1), currently and amongst the generations before us. Throughout history, sexual behaviours have been largely influenced by culture, religion, and historical perspectives...
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...........................................................4 - 5 iii. Surrogacy and fertility treatment................................................5 iv. Organizations..............................................................................5 - 8 v. Health..........................................................................................8 - 9 D. History..............................................................................................................................9 - 11 i. Ancient........................................................................................9 - 11 ii. Modern........................................................................................11 E. 10 Reasons Why Homosexual “Marriage” is Harmful and Must be Opposed.................11 - 17 F. Reasons to Legalize Same Sex Marriage..........................................................................17 - 18 G. Same Sex Marriage in the...
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...Table of Contents Introduction ………………………………………………………………… Background on Sexuality in India General Concepts on Sexuality and Love …………………………………… Interpersonal Heterosexual Behaviors o Adults ▪ Premarital Courtship, Dating, and Relationships……..…………. ▪ Marriage……………………………………………………. ▪ Family Size…………………………………………………. o Children ……………………………………………………….…. o Adolescents ………………………………………………………. Homosexuality ……………………………………………………………….. Significant Unconventional Sexual Behaviors o Coercive Sex ▪ Sexual Abuse……………………………………………….. ▪ Sexual Harassment………………………………..…………. ▪ Rape………………………………………………………... ▪ Dowry Deaths…………………………………….…………. o Prostitution………………………………………………...………. o Porn……………………………………………………………….. STDs, HIV/AIDS …………………………………………………………….. Contraception, Abortion, and Population Planning ………………………. References ……………………………………………………………………. Appendix ……………………………………………………………………... The Effects of Globalization on Sexuality in India Abstract: Globalization has an impact on all aspects of life, including the construction, regulation and imagination of sexuality and gender. This paper aims to suggest some of the ways in which this impact is occurring, primarily in India, with some emphasis on questions of HIV, sexual identity, and human and sexual rights. In issues of sexuality...
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...ETIKA PERBANDINGAN MPU2312 SEXUALITY MS. NORIAH Krishna Priyah Chee Long Kok Si Janice Ong Jonathan Chow Justin Bonus Phuah Kah Hock Wang Wei Shen INTRODUCTION In this report we will discuss about sexuality in general such as homosexuality. We will look further into the LGBT community between Asian and Western countries. Homosexuality has been a characteristic of human culture since the course of the 19th century. After the modern gay rights movement that began in 1969, in America, more people around the world started to change their mindset of seeing gay rights as “a mental illness to cure” to having more people trying to understand LGBT through biology, psychology, history and cultural variations of sexual practices and identity. We chose this topic because, gay rights has always been a sensitive topic for Malaysians today, this is mainly due to the fact that the government retains the colonial era penal code criminalizing sodomy and shaped by Islam, the official religion in Malaysia. In addition to the secular law, Muslim citizens may also be charged in special Islamic courts, the Syariah Court. In this report we will discuss the religious perspective of Asian and Western countries about homosexuality. We will go through the meaning of homosexuality in detail and ethical perspectives between Asian countries and western countries. Revealing statistical numbers on homosexuality problems and suggestions on how to be ethical when dealing with sexuality...
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...Society Of The Spectacle | Guy Debord Modernity and Post-Modernity | Reading Report By Maeve Lejeune Guy Debord’s book Society Of The Spectacle, published in 1967, explores the social control that capitalism and the media has on society (Jenkins, 2013). Debord was a French Marxist theorist (The European Graduate School, nd) who observed how society was affected by the decisions made by people in powerful positions. During Debord’s life and writing, social upheaval was deeply prevalent in the world. He wrote Society Of The Spectacle after WWII, the death of Adolf Hitler, and in the midst of the Cold War and Vietnam War. The book, Society Of The Spectacle, discusses modernity and post-modernity by identifying key influences that shape society and the way that people consume products and interact with each other. This report will discuss the book by highlighting the dominant themes of Capitalism, mass-production and consumption, and the influence of the media on society. The report will also use examples from the Holocaust to compare and contrast with the theories of modernity discussed in the Society Of The Spectacle. Society Of The Spectacle demonstrates Debord’s understanding of the divisions between classes and discusses the downfalls of Capitalism. Throughout the 221 theses, which make up the book, Debord suggests that the relationship people have with the world is not necessarily with the ‘real’ world. Society’s relationship with the world is based on the...
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...afraid to show their true selves. More and more people are becoming socially accepting of homosexuals after realizing that their intentions and overall lifestyle follows the same as heterosexual people. We all face the same implications of life, including forming relationships, drama, raising a family, working and paying taxes, etc. Ranging from common folk to famous celebrities and even royalty, homosexuality seems to affect many in ways that also range from positive to negative as well. It is a complication not by the individuals who feel and exhibit it, but due to a lifestyle that demands respect and acknowledgement. The gay community, or LGBT, today faces many obstacles when it comes down to fighting for equality. In many schools around the United States, a broader sense of welcome has opened up for those individuals who seek sanctuary in coming out to their friends and loved ones. In The Advocate Magazine, the national gay and lesbian magazine for many teenagers, a freshman from Minneapolis named Javier shares his story about coming out to everyone at his new high school but is concerned of what just may happen. In his time at high school, Javier meets a teacher that is lesbian who understands him and helps support him as they form a gay-straight alliance for many teens looking for a safe community to truly be themselves. But the big issue in the real world is that not all homosexuals have the same rights as those who are straight or heterosexual. If marriage is based on...
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