Using the work and writing of Lord, Ingraham and Concannon this paper will explore the relationship between citizenship, sexual identity and social exclusion. “The Silencing of Sexuality” by author Cassandra Lord focuses on the negative response society places on homosexuality. The concept of living a... ... middle of paper ... ...owards heteronormativity. What people refer to, as normal human behavior doesn’t necessarily apply to everyone. However, due to conservative traditional and religious beliefs, the integration of homosexuals in society is often met with resistance.
Adichie, author of ‘We should All be Feminist’, explains why people negatively view feminism even though feminism itself only promotes equality. Adichi asserts, “it shows that word feminism is so heavy with negative baggage: you hate men … you hate African culture … you think women should be in charge”(Adichie 11). Feminism is one of the most innovative movements in the world. It had great influence in abolishing slavery and racism. However, feminism, in 21st century, is a word that no one wants to be called.
While this may be ascribed to the daunting tasks of mothering and childcare, the women pointed to a more self-appropriated explanation as they echoed one another in their tendencies to "downplay the significance of their lesbianism in giving accounts of themselves [as mothers]" (110). Simultaneously, these women were rooting themselves more deeply in the heterosexual world and losing ties with the homosexual world. Many of the reports quote the lesbian mothers as feeling stronger ties to the world they share with straight women than with other lesbians. Many felt the lesbian community to be unfriendly to lesbian mothers. One woman was even asked to leave her all-lesbian rap group after her child was born, as her fellow group members believed she was no loner "attuned to lesbian issues" (124).
Lastly I will touch upon the responses lesbians in America have disclosed as a means to normalize lesbianism and reduce its negative stereotypes, as well as mention grass root organizations that have been created to fight against the inequality present i... ... middle of paper ... ...e need for women’s dependence on men. Unfortunately, compulsory heterosexuality is reinforced daily through multiple social institutions including, religion, literature, and politics. Compulsory heterosexuality has contributed to the confinement of women in lower paying jobs than men due to the sexual marketability required of women to be heterosexual feminine woman. The pressure to be heterosexual in the workforce then and in present day America stretches out to society turning women into sexual pray feeding the dominance of men especially in the workforce. This reality has caused a disturbance within the feminist movement for it continues to disempower not allowing for the growth of sexualities like lesbianism.
The feminist movement thinks that sexually oriented expression-not sexist concepts of marriage and family, sex segregated labor, or pent-up rage is the cause of discrimination and violence of women. Their solution is to suppress “all” pornography. These are not the beliefs of Nadine Strossen, President of the American Civil Liberties Union, which is an organization that is famous for defending the rights of U.S. citizens in the First Amendment. She is claiming that pornography is a way to strengthen womens rights. I don’t see how displaying women as objects, and putting them in films portraying the abuse of them in a sexual manner is helping to protect their rights(Faigley & Selzer, 540).
Somehow this is supposed to benefit girls by teaching them that “sexuality defines how ‘good’ women are, and that women’s moral compasses are inextricable from their bodies...(Valenti 299).” What it comes down to is this: Women cannot be sexual but must possess some sex appeal. When the statistics show that “ninety-seven percent of Americans will have sex before marriage (Filipovic 17),” does this mean that the majority of women should walk around with the word “dirty” stamped on their forehead? This becomes a problem when women are gang-rapped or young girls are molested and they do not speak up about their experience. Would you want to when you know society is going to permanently label you for something you had no control
Yet the unfortunate truth to feel as though society has forced a role upon you, while not having the freedom of acting as one pleases without society judging you is merely suppression against women. The discipline of woman studies is a new discipline to the education system, being explored and accumulated by not only female feminists, but also male feminists. A feminist is someone who believes that women deserve the public support for their social, political, and economical equality to men. Yet, when we fast forward the past to now... ... middle of paper ... ...ape their wives.” She also reports that in 1989, “the complaints of sexual harassment increased 70 percent.” This has to be an adverse reaction from the changes in fashion, causing men to look at women as objects, not as humans, or more importantly women. The social definition of a woman fluctuates from day to day, because of the movies and songs of this era.
According to Feud, human beings are born with unfocused sexual libidinal d... ... middle of paper ... ...osexuality in women results from the unconscious mind of a person. In addition, Freud belief that homosexual cannot be converted to heterosexual once it is developed. On the other hand, Jung presents his arguments basing on the idea that homosexuality is caused by the spirits. This is because it is believed that homosexuals have both male and female soul. These spirits are the ones that drive an individual to be attracted to a person of the same sex.
There is a general expectation around the behavioural traits expected in gay men; they’re weak, delicate, stylish, and associate themselves more so with women (Engle, 2017). This expectation is harmful, as closeted gay men may want to avoid the gain of this stereotype in avoidance of being told ‘you don’t act gay’ as if it’s an accomplishment. The Journal of Gay & Lesbian Mental Health also saw gay men resenting the ‘gay friend’ label, as if their sexuality was used for personal gain rather than pure friendship. These negative microaggressions can lead to the individual ‘lashing out’. Michael Eagles, a long-term Truckee and openly gay man, faced extreme homophobia and threats from one of his colleagues.
Gay mentions in her essay collection that feminism “doesn 't allow for the complexities of human experience or individuality” Which does feel true we all see feminism as angry females that hate men, the objectification of women, and what we all assume no shaving of the arms, legs, underarms, etc. which is not all true maybe some feminist can be what we all assume but not all. Women should be allowed to believe in women’s right but also be able to get married, have kids, dress, like a girl, or shave their legs and not feel obligated to hate all those beliefs. Gay mentions that she does/wants all those things but by doing so would make her a “bad feminist”. By her looking past the essential feminist “guidlines” Gay concludes that “she rather be a bad feminist than no feminist at all”.