What are the factors that determine a person’s sexual orientation?
Gender identity and sexual orientation both are social constructs based upon normative social roles. Because of this binary assumption, it is difficult to understand the sexual orientation and research into queer gender identities. However theories have been put forward to explain queer identities.
Due to their greater visibility and social role as “old maids,” gay men have been studied more than lesbians. This is due to their psychological advantage of being raised by a strong mother. The effeminate presence of a masculine figure and strong mother would make a boy gay. This theory is flawed. It exists mainly to shame strong mothers into submissive role.
Another reason gay men exist is the difference in brain size between straight and gay men. One study revealed that gay men have hypothalamuses smaller than those of straight men. This makes it more likely that certain gay men are genetically predestined to be so. The results of this study are also not supported. The study’s subjects did not identify as straight or gay. Subjects who had died before the study were classified as straight or gay based on their AIDs history. Subjects who had been diagnosed with AIDs and died from it were classified gay. Other subjects were classified straight. Researchers did not consider the possibility that straight men might die from AIDs or natural causes. The study also overlooked the fact AIDs alters the size the hypothalamus. Subjects who have AIDs tend to have smaller hypothalamuses as a result of the disease, and no sexual orientation.
A “gay gene”, another possible explanation, is discussed. The theory raises an easy question: If homosexuality is linked to a particular gene, why haven’t the genes died? If the homosexual gene is Xlinked, it’s possible that the gene passes on to straight carriers women. These evolutionary benefits could outweigh any inherent decline in fertility or reproduction among gay men. However, this benefit has not been established.
Studies of homosexual women are less frequent than studies of gay males. Gay factors are likely to differ between lesbians and gay men due to cultural differences in sex acceptance. Gay women may be able to identify as social and political activists. Lesbians may be women who have been in abusive relationships with men and are looking to escape abusive husbands. Some women may choose to be lesbians in order to have a more male role in society.
It is not clear why certain individuals are more heteronormative than others.
Gender is also socially constructed and used to classify individuals. Cultures make gender roles and expectations that are based on sexuality, and they force children to play these roles before they even get born. Gender can be defined as an individual’s physical characteristics. The person’s gender is determined by their appearance.
What are the factors that determine what tasks are considered “men’s work” versus which tasks are considered “women work?”
Human infants’ helplessness meant that cultures have had to make decisions about men’s and woman’s work. No matter their gender, humans have many responsibilities. Societies use labor division to accomplish their goals. Men and women will need one another when their work is divided. It is inefficient to give every child the same task, so it is better for society as a whole to divide labor.
The biological differences that exist between males or females are not what determine the division of labor. While some may believe that males have more strength than females but males can still train and their bones will grow as a result. Cultural rules influence biological differences.
The motherhood role plays a major part in the division labor. Certain tasks are imposed on women because men cannot give birth or nurse young children. Mothering also requires other tasks. Work that is easily interrupted and less likely than to result in death is the work of women. Because a woman can take over cooking and sewing while she is nursing a baby, these tasks are possible for them to do. Hunting and whale watching are not possible.
Men are given dangerous tasks because they run the risk of dying. Only one member of society will be killed if a hunter is killed. A society loses a female member if she is killed while hunting. Because men are less valuable, women need to be able to share the tasks with them.
Another factor that divides labor are the ages of men and women in marriage. Many cultures have women marry young and get married as soon as they can. Women are not able to learn specialized skills during their childhood. Women marry later in life than men. This allows boys to take longer time to master difficult and specialized tasks.
Why is incest taboo a common feature across all human groups?
Incest taboos can be a universal human practice, which is rare. This means incest bans could be beneficial, ancient, or both. While incest rules can be taken in many forms, all of them restrict sexual relations within nuclear families. Some cultures make this taboo applicable to aunts, uncles, cousins, and other family members.
Incest taboos can also be used to manage resource resources in other species. Parents can force children to leave when they can feed themselves. Although these restrictions may be present in some other species, they do not apply to all. To teach their sons how to have sexual relations, female orangutans, like other species, have sex together. This could be due to the need to teach sons and the solitude of orangutans.
Incest taboos do not have a clear origin. Freud thinks incest bans are designed to prevent boys from marrying their fathers. However, this theory assumes young boys already know the relation between sexy and marital. The boy might also want to kill his uncle if he is the main disciplinarian or masculine presence in a culture. This shows boys dislike their fathers and don’t want them to die.
Privacy theory is another theory explaining the universality incest-toboos. This theory suggests that incest taboos can be separated within a nuclear household, which allows for separate egos to develop. The nuclear family would be anonymous if it did not have privacy. This theory is not applicable to the common system of fathers and mothers sharing their privacy.
Binary theory is a way to apply the “us against them” mentality in sex. The theory says that incest toboos stem from the desire of individuals to be separated from the rest. The binary theory doesn’t convince as it presupposes sexual taboos.
According to Westermark, incest taboos are a result of an inability to see people outside of their roles. People perceive others based upon their past experiences. For example, siblings are seen in the contexts of siblings, teachers in the contexts of teachers, and so forth.
Taboo is a way of implying that something would be done by people. Therefore, any psychological or biological explanations to incest taboos don’t hold water. Social theory holds that incest prevention somehow benefits cultures. However, restricting sexual partners leads towards external alliances. This implies that there is equal importance given to sex or marriage. Alliances are made through marriage.
Intest taboos could be used to monitor and protect adult behavior. The taboos are not meant to prevent children from being physically or mentally injured. We are still not sure of the universality and origins of incest-related taboos.
Why is it more common for ceremonies to mark female puberty than ceremonies for men?
Although puberty is a natural process, it is celebrated often as a single event. Menarche is a visible and prominent physical event that marks female puberty. In many cultures, male puberty is seen as the trigger for social roles shifting. Menarche is the moment when a woman can have children and transitions from childhood to adulthood. Celebrate the beginning of the female reproductive cycle.
Puberty ceremonies are celebratory for some women, while others involve mutilation. Mbuti celebrate the Ilima. Ilima is when young girls are introduced to adult society.
Others cultures use a fattening ceremony as a way to celebrate puberty. This time, the girls are free from any responsibilities and can eat alone. Once she’s nourished, she looks her best and is ready for marriage.
Female puberty is marked in some cultures with genital surgery. Some cultures take out the clitoral veil, which leaves the reproductive system healthy. Other cultures infibulate young girls. Females are culturally expected to have mutilated and genitalia. It is possible to alter girls after menarche in order for them become women.
What restrictions are placed by cultures on sexual activity? What relationship does it have to the restrictions that are placed on males and females?
Cultures tend to restrict sex beyond marriage. This includes extramarital and premarital sex. Premarital sex is allowed in most cultures for either one or both genders. Premarital sex is prohibited in 36% of cultures, and can lead to death. 46% allow premarital sexual activity for males and women in 46% of cultures. Only 18% permit only male premarital sex. Cultures that permit premarital sexual activity for women but ban males are rare.
Because of the possibility for pregnancy, females are less likely to be pregnant than their male counterparts. Premarital sex does not create a bond between potential parents. If there isn’t enough money, both the mother as well as the child may experience difficulties during pregnancy.
The gender divide still exists in cultures that allow premarital sexuality, and cultures that restrict it to males. According to some, females are more likely to engage in sex. This could be because men underestimate the sexual relationship between females and males. A greater acceptance of different sexual partners could also explain why men are more likely to have premarital sex. Premarital sexual relationships may exist between men and married women, widows, or other animals. This allows men to have premarital sexual relations with married women, widows, or animals.
Extramarital relationships are also forbidden. 74% disapprove extramarital sexual activity. However, polygamy is acceptable in 82% cultures. Extramarital affairs are more open to men than for women. Extramarital sex means that resources are given to someone else instead of staying with the couple.
Extramarital sex can be allowed in certain cultures, provided that permission is given. If a brother asks, the Yanomamo Indians in Brazil will often allow him to have sex and have it with his wife. It is expected that the younger brother will consent to sex with his wife if he asks. Eskimos can swap wives, but they need permission.
Extramarital sex is allowed in some cultures during festivals. May Day traditions allowed for sex to be had with several partners in order to fertilize the soil. Extramarital sex is a common practice in some cultures to demonstrate that death can be overcome and that life continues to thrive. American culture is open to extramarital liaisons.
Is there a PMS?
Premenstrual disorder (PMS), a cultural phenomenon, does not exist everywhere. PMS refers to the dangers faced by females during and before menstruation. Many symptoms of menstruation include cramping, bloating and nausea. PMS can also be caused by psychological factors like depression and lethargy.
These psychological symptoms are often explained by menstruation. It is normal for a female to feel depressed, lethargy, or irritability when she is in pain from her menstruation.
Also, PMS can be illogical. PMS is a cultural belief that females are hormonal and raging during the week before and after menstruation. Half of females could be uncontrollable at any time if this was true. This is not possible.
Females can act on emotions and behave as men, thanks to PMS. Women are encouraged to have extreme feelings and men can be louder and more emotional than women. PMS-ing is when a female acts like a male and blames her body for her actions.
Some cultures don’t have PMS. Many cultures have fewer menstrual periods than we do. This is due to the fact that women are more likely to be pregnant or nursing while they have menstruation. The negative effects of PMS that can be caused by infrequent menstruation are not possible. These cultures do not have the same negative effects as us, and menstruation can resume in these countries. Women who breastfeed and have had a baby will experience cramp-free, smooth menstruation. Their cervix is also stretched to allow for a more comfortable period. Women from other cultures experience no PMS symptoms due to the absence of any discomfort.
What social and biological implications does aging have on males and women?
Males and females age in a unique way. The existence of menopause and females is extremely rare. Only humans, elephants, and whales experience similar life stages. The biological significance of the biological changes in aging females that occur in non-human primates is quite interesting.
Menopause occurs when menstruation becomes less regular and less frequent. This happens about 15 years before a woman’s health starts to decline. It is not known what causes menopause, but evolutionary benefits may be involved. According to the grandmother hypothesis, menopause is a time when women can take on additional responsibilities. Women who are not pregnant will have no children to look after. This means that they may be able access more resources than those who are working with children.
Some theories suggest that women who enter menopause are less likely to waste resources. A child has to reach the age of fifteen to be able to live independently from his or her parents. Children born before the mother’s death could be possible if women had children all their lives. These children may not have the parental support they need, which will ultimately lead to a loss of resources.
Menopause is also a cultural concept. Menopause is characterized by mood swings. This is largely a cultural phenomenon. Menopausal women have lost their sexiness due to the increased emphasis on female attractiveness and youth. Women who have been valued for their lives may find it difficult to adapt to their new roles in society. This can lead to mood swings. These mood swings are less common in women who weren’t considered sexy as children.
Some cultures also have positive meanings for menopause. Non-western cultures offer menopausal females a sense of freedom and choice. They can join councils of elders and have sexual relationships that involve younger men.
Men age differently from women. Men go through climacteric (or “manopause”), where their hair falls out and their muscle mass decreases. As well, testosterone and sperm counts decrease.
While cultural aging for women can be described as a biological process, males age differently. Retirement is the major life change for a man. Retirement is often a significant life change for men. Men who are not able to adapt to retirement can die within two years of retirement.
