The gender of sexuality : exploring sexual possibilities / Virginia Rutter and Pepper Schwartz.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Rutter, Virginia

Contributor:

Schwartz, Pepper.

Series:

Gender lens series

The gender lens series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Sex.

Sex (Psychology).

Sex differences (Psychology).

Sex role.

Gender identity.

Physical Description:

xxi, 303 pages : illustrations, map ; 23 cm.

Edition:

Second edition.

Place of Publication:

Lanham, Md. : Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, [2012]

Summary:

The Gender of Sexuality serves as a fun and informative guide on how to approach the topics of gender and sexuality-two areas fraught with stereotypes and misinformation. The second edition of this book features significant new material on the changing status of gender, same sex marriage, and transgender. After introducing key concepts in gender and sexuality, the authors explore topics such as sexual desire, the role of biology, sexual behavior, uncommitted sexual relationships and "hooking up," marriage and cohabitation, and the politics of sexuality. Examples from popular culture, film, and media invite readers to engage with key concepts. This is an ideal book for courses on gender, sexuality, marriage and family, or social problems.

Contents:

1 Sexual Desire and Gender 1

Desire: Attraction and Arousal 6

The Biology of Desire: Nature's Explanation 8

The Influence of Hormones 9

The Mechanisms of Arousal 13

Evolutionary Psychology 15

The Social Origins of Desire 19

The Social Construction of Sexuality 21

Social Control of Sexuality 27

An Integrative Perspective on Gender and Sexuality 31

Sexual Identify and Orientation 36

The Continuum of Desire 38

Gender as the Basis for Sexual Identity 42

Conclusion 43

2 Sexual Behavior and Gender 45

The Challenge of Studying Sexual Behavior 46

A World of Gender Difference 48

Race, Ethnicity, and Social Class 49

Gendered Patterns in Sexual Practices 53

Masturbation 54

Relational Sex versus Recreational Sex 58

Fantasy and Pornography 65

Initiation and Sexual Negotiation 70

Orgasm and Stimulation 72

Numbers of Partners 76

Nonmonogamy 79

Consent and Coercion 82

Conclusion 86

3 Uncommitted Sexual Relationships 89

What Does Sexual Freedom Look Like? 89

The Control of Sexuality: Over Time and Across Space 90

Historical Change in the United States 94

The Shifting Double Standard 98

The Sexual Revolution 101

Social Forces and Casual Sex 106

Frontlash and Backlash in the 1990s and Beyond 112

What's Happening Now 114

Special Issues: Examining the Continuum 115

Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender 115

Bisexuality 118

Transgender 121

Sex Practices among Single People 122

Getting into Sex 122

First Intercourse 125

Frequency and Sex Partners 129

Sexual Etiquette 134

Heterosexual Etiquette: Contraception, Safe Sex, and Abortion 135

Miscommunication and Sexual Privilege 140

Sexual Coercion 141

Sexual Confusion 144

Sexual Aggression and Complicated Emotions 147

The Future of Sex among Singles 149

Conclusion 150

4 Sex and Marriage 151

Why Do People Marry? 151

The Social Context of Marriage 153

Gender, Ethnicity, and Sexual Orientation 155

The "Marriage Script": An Enactment of Gender Difference 155

Race and the Significance of Marriage 158

Same-Sex Commitment 160

The Importance of Sex in Marriage 162

Commitment and Passion 165

Sexual Frequency 165

Initiation and Refusal 167

Same-Sex Pairs 169

Everyday Influences on Committed Sex 171

Emotional Complications for Heterosexuals 172

Same-Sex Burdens 173

The Concerns of Older Partners 175

Social Trends in Improving Committed Sex 176

Sex Advice of the 1960s 178

Advice of the 1970s: More Pleasure, Our Way 179

Advice of the 1980s: Problems, Problems, Problems 180

The 1990s and the New Millenium: Desire! or Desire? 181

Outside Temptations 182

Why Do People Have Outside Sexual Relationships? 186

Is Nonmonogamy Gendered? 189

The Problem of Sustained Desire in a Divorce-Prone Society 190

Peer Marriage: Love between Equals 191

Conclusion 194

5 The Politics of Sexuality 195

Sex as a "Political Football" 195

Newer Sex Scandals, Newer Themes 196

Ambivalent Obsession 200

Politics and Women's Bodies 201

Debates Past and Present 201

Teenage Sexuality, Hooking Up, and Emerging Adulthood 204

Adolescence and Families 208

The State of Teen Sexual Behavior 210

Sexuality Education 216

Teen Health 218

Sexual Assault 220

Feminist versus Patriarchal Positions 221

Strange Bedfellows 226

False Prophets, False Accusations, and True Lies 227

Same-Sex Marriage 229

Where Have We Been? The Legal Journey 230

Where Are We Now? Laws and Attitudes 231

The Debates 233

Same-Sex Parenting: Does Gender Matter? 235

Legal Precedent 236

Conclusion 238

6 But How Do We Use What We Know? Questions and Answers 241

Sexual Function 241

Sexual Orientation 252

Sexual Harassment and Violence 259

Conclusion 265.

Notes:

Rev. ed. of: The gender of sexuality / Pepper Schwartz, Virginia Rutter. Thousand Oaks : Pine Forge Press, c1998.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780742570030

0742570037

9780742570047

0742570045

9780742570054

0742570053

OCLC:

724673659