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Compare And Contrast The Four Assumptions Of Essentialism

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To better understand human sexuality it is essential to know the definition and four assumptions that make up both essentialism and social constructionism. Essentialism can be defined by a belief that things have a set of characteristics that make them what they are due to its biological factors. While social constructionism is the idea that society can shape the way individuals view sexuality. Therefore being able to differentiate between the four assumptions will give you a better understanding of human sexuality.
Essentialism claims that that there are distinct and true differences between categories such as with sexual orientation. Essentialism expression consists of four assumptions relating to biological aspects. Assumption one states that there is a truth that exists apart from us and that we can know that truth. This assumption in other words means that sexual orientation of man can be …show more content…

Social constructionism examines cross culture differences and historical contexts that show how categories have changed to identify sexual orientation. The first assumption for social constructionism is that objective reality doesn’t exist in other words stating that no set reality exists for every human regarding sexuality or gender. Assumption two states that we make subjective interpretations of what we experience. This means that when an individual goes through a particular situation, they make-up their own reality or beliefs for certain situation. Assumption three expresses that we construct reality within a given cultural context. Therefore, different realities and beliefs are based on the culture you live by. Assumption four of social constructionism states that what is important is not what it is, but what we interpret something to mean. All four assumptions relate to how society has the capability to construct how an individual views certain facets of their

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The social construction of ethnicity and its role in people's sexuality, as understood by Nagel, marks the vast differences between two groups that might live in the same geographical space but whose lives are not the same. In the case of Cuba, jineteras live differently than other young Cubans due to their specific intersection of race, gender, sexuality, and ethnicity that marks them a certain way. Therefore, the ideas explored here are useful to apply them in other scenarios where social and cultural differences arise among groups that do understand each other because of

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Race and sexuality are sometimes perceived as exclusive of one another; a person has a racial identity and a separate sexual identity. In mainstream society, the default racial identity is White and the default sexual identity is heterosexual, while other racial and sexual identities are seen as marginal. This can be detrimental for individuals with intersecting marginalized identities, such as a lesbian Argentinian woman or a bisexual Black man. Although it is easier to view race and sexuality as separate concepts, race and sexuality are deeply connected to each other, and they influence one another as well. Racist ideologies shape the perceptions of the sexualities of different racial and ethnic groups, which in turn affect how individuals in these

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Sexual essentialism refers to the belief that sex is a natural force that exists prior to social life and ultimately shapes behaviors. Rubin argues that sexual essentialism forms the basis for the judgment depicted by the circle, where categorizing certain sexual behaviors as “natural” and others as “unnatural” serves to justify the moral hierarchy. Sexual hierarchies, the other concept introduced by Rubin, describes the societal rankings that place some sexual practices over others. The Charmed Circle illustrates these hierarchies, outlining which practices are deemed okay and which are not, highlighting how social and cultural norms sustain discrimination. The diagram's exclusion of race neglects how racial dynamics intersect with sexual norms, adding another layer of complexity to the understanding of these social hierarchies.

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The assumptions one has is gained by the influences made by society while they are growing, as well as their family upbringing, education, the economy they live in, the interactions they have with people and even the media. Ideas and values we learn from these interactions shape how we interact and experience our social world (Ore,

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Kelborn (1995) (pg. 89). The problem is so many people are discriminate based on age, race, and gender. Which this is a global problem, however, in America culture sexual orientation has also served as a basis for discrimination and oppression across cultures, socioeconomic strata, and gender lines. This model of discrimination and oppression should be contraindicated, people should have equal rights without being oppressed no matter what the gender, or race.

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Something I really took from Essentialism by Greg McKeowen was that if you don’t prioritize your life someone else will. Vital or trivial? Design or default? Essentialism is all about priorities and how to prioritize your life. Phrases like I have to, it’s all important, and I can do both tie people down in their daily lives but embracing essentialism means to replace I have to, it’s all important, and I can do both with I choose to, only a few things really matter, and I can do anything but not everything free people to do what truly matters to them.

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According to Maddux and Winstead (2012), social constructionism is the process we utilize to categorize and decipher the world around us (p.13). The social constructionism perspective categories, describe the manners in which people think about and attempt to make sense of differences among people. We cannot deny that social factors and hereditary work together to influence what we believe and who we are, however, social constructionism tends to focus on the social influences on the lives of the collective as well as individuals (Maddux & Winstead, 2012). The social constructivist describes the psychological terms as constructs, and that the constructs can be produced and converted (Maddux & Winstead, 2012).

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Whereas felt stigma derives from the knowledge that homosexuality is stigmatized, irrespective of whether or not an individual endorses it, internalized stigma is an individual’s tacit acceptance of sexual stigma as part of his or her own value system. Internalized stigma is exhibited by both sexual minorities and homosexuals. Under internalized stigma, the person’s self concept is consistent with the stigmatizing responses of society. The person accepts society’s negative association with homosexuality and consequently harbours negative attitudes towards the self and towards his or her own homosexual desires.

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In biology, essentialism is the idea that all organisms and species were unchanging throughout time. Up until Darwin’s Origin of Species, the prevailing view on biological species was that all organisms were made without accident and would never change. Essentialism also promoted the idea that all organisms that had lived on the earth were currently there; species neither evolved nor underwent extinction (Marshall, 2015). Nearly every modern scientist views this as an incorrect assessment of biology, and that organisms on the planet are constantly changing and evolving. It took many years for evolution to become the prevalent thought process, however.

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In the introduction from Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick’s novel, she states that her argument is that the continuum between male “homosocial desire” and homosexuality cannot be understood outside of its relation to women and the gender system as a whole (2435). She then uses the sociological neologism "homosocial" to distinguish from "homosexual", stating that the social bonds between males can be applied to “male bonding”. She also notes that these activities may be characterized in our society by “intense homophobia, fear, and hatred of homosexuality” (2435). Following this accusation of sorts, she explains why she views this homosocial behavior as potentially erotic to hypothesize the potential unbrokenness of a continuum between homosocial and homosexual (2435). Her use of the word “desire”, rather than “love”, she mentions is in response to the fact that “in literary critical and related discourse, “love” is more easily used to name a particular emotion and “desire” to name a structure” (2435).

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Social constructionism Social constructionism places emphasis on the idea that reality is a product of the knowledge and perceptions that a group of people agree upon. It focuses on the construction of reality within groups (Robideau, 2008). For instance the meaning of what constitutes femininity may be similar across different South African cultures. This may serve as a guide for the South African communities, however with the progression of time, it is evident that the notion of femininity has evolved, which shows that reality is constructed through human relationships and interaction, and can change from time to time (Robideau, 2008).

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by David M. Halperin sexually defines itself as separate, sexual domain, within the larger field of human psychophysical nature. For some cultures it is considered natural and psychological but different people feel different ways about that unproven theory. Sexuality effects different people due to their cultures views on passion, libertinism, eroticism, love, affection, and desire. Athenians felt like that was when people were sexually attracted to the same

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Sexual Identity In “Gender Socialization and Identity Theory” by Michael J. Carter, he asserts gender identity originates with the family. The writer maintains that families are the agents of identity socialization. Carter argues that beginning with infancy children are taught how they are expected to socialize primarily by their families, simply due to the continuous contact with one another, boys are dressed in blue while girls are dressed in pink. The author plainly elucidates children gain knowledge of homophily through playmates by self-segregation into homogeneous groups.

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Society and culture shapes human sexuality that is what is interesting to sociologists. There are several levels in societal influences as well on human sexuality which includes macro levels, society as a whole and ethnic groups which could have the impact of one’s sexuality. Social institutions are influenced by social institution, religion, economy, family, medicine also law. Each institution supports “sexual ideology, or discourse, also sexual activity”. Important part of Americans life is religion.

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A functionalist approach on deviance is that it clarifies moral boundaries and promotes social cohesion (Ferris and Stein 158). Basically, functionalism is all about social stability. They view marriage and family as a big part of society and the only way to continue society. Marriage is between a man and a woman in their eyes. Since sexual reproduction is the only way continue life, in the eyes of a functionalist, homosexuality is deviant.

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