Construction of gender and sexual identities - Essay Example

Module Module ID: Construction of Gender and Sexual Identities It has aptly been observed that every culture of the world maintains some specific characteristics and traits, which distinguishes it with the rest of the cultural groups and communities at large prevailing within the same natural and physical phenomena. This distinction is generally dependent of several sub-cultures existing under one culture, which not only divide the individuals into factions and groups, but also provide them with identification on the basis of their likes and dislikes, and priorities and aversions as well. Consequently, the sub-cultures of society work in an active and effective way by not only uniting the like-minded people under one platform, but also helping them in respect of winning their rights and privileges particularly at the time when the majority of the population appears to be standing at the opposite side, censuring and condemning the minority group in one way or the other. It is especially the case with the homosexuals, which have established their specific sub-culture, and have invented and introduced particular terms and jargons in order to convey their messages to their community members on one hand, and conceal it from the members of outer groups on the other (Warren 1998). The present paper aims to concentrate upon the gender and sexual identities with reference to the homosexuals in order to get acquainted with their sub-culture and mode of communication while living in the societies, an imperative majority of which still regard same-sex relations as perversion and deviant behavior (Macionis 2007). Sexual identity and the terms related to it, according to Ponse (1978), are applied in quite a different way in gay and lesbian environment to the dominant mainstream social set up. In addition, there also exists a sub-culture within the gay environment, which could only be comprehended with by the members of homosexual community, as well as the individuals interested in the same. As a result, an imperative proportion of the majority population remains almost unaware of the terms to be applied in order to express some specific action, performance or identity in general. For instance, the term gay had frequently been applied in order to demonstrate the individuals carrying jolly and care-free disposition in past; though, the same adjective has become entirely confined to defining homosexual males and females, and the previous usage of the word focusing jovial people has ceased to exist in main culture and homosexual sub-culture as well (Sherwin 2006). However, some of the terms are exclusively applied to identify homosexuality. Unger & Crawford (1993) argue that the feminists have articulated various terms in order to make division between sex and gender, determining the biological characteristics, and social traits and qualities of the homosexuals respectively. For instance, the notion lesbian explains a female engaged in a homosexual relationship, though in past it was donated to the individuals belonging to the Greek island Lesbos (248). Similarly, the notion active simply describes a vigorous and energetic person, though in homosexual acts, the same defines the person playing dominant part in homosexual relationships by penetrating into the recipient or passive partner; the terms dominant and top also define the penetrating partner, while submissive and bottom signify the receiver respectively. Hence, Ponse (246-47) appears to be justified in her claim that the terms used by the majority of the population are applied interchangeably in gay culture, and hence display the meanings that are quite different to the actual application of the same in their nature and scope. On the contrary, the essentialists strictly confine sexual behavior on the basis of the biological characteristics of males and females. As a result, males and females should always play dominant and submissive roles as per the demand of their sex organs and biological traits. Somehow, Weeks (1998) refutes the theory presented by the essentialists that biological characteristics aim to assign some specific tasks and characteristics to the individuals in the light of their sex organs and traditional social values as well. He is of the opinion that since sex is a natural appetite, the individuals should be free to decide to fulfill their sexual desires out of their own without taking their specific biological attributes carried by the members of one particular gender into any consideration (312). The essentialists are of the opinion that since nature has determined the roles and sex positions for males and females, these could not be altered because of the natural human tendencies and in accordance with their biological and socio-cultural milieu (Stein 2011). Consequently, it frequently been noted that women tend to have a natural tendency to promiscuity, while men are described as having a much stronger sex drive. Consequently, the essentialist perspective has created a rift between the members of society on the basis of its rules and principles. Though no theorist could deny the universality of homosexual phenomenon, which has been vogue in all human societies since ever, yet essentialists and moralists look for associating sexual desires and performances as well with biological traits and cultural values (Weeks 313). Hence, discouraging the people to quench their sexual needs out of their free will may create fear and conflict in society. The abhorrence for homosexuality by the mainstream heterosexual population of the Middle East, even being popularly observed by a significant proportion in their sexual life, according to Simmons (2011), is actually an outcome of lack of distinction between sex and gender. It is therefore, the Arab cultures do not hesitate by labeling the homosexuals to be the members of the third sex (160). Although practiced by a significant number of the population, homosexuals are aptly blamed for being subversive and violating societal norms by not fitting prescribed gender roles (Simmons 161). It is particularly the case with the recipient partners of male homosexuality; consequently, they try to conceal their sexual role under the cover of the terms including submissive, slave, bottom and compliant etc in order to escape the taunting remarks and behavior from society. The same has also been stated by Whitaker in his work Unspeakable Love while elaborating the popularity of gay sex in the Middle Eastern culture. Homosexuality, according to Whitaker (2006), serves as a great taboo in the Middle East culture due to the very reality an overwhelming population of the region belongs to the Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths; where all the three regard such relationships as absolutely unnatural as well as against the teachings of their Scriptures. Since gay sex is a great sin in the eyes of God, the Jewish and Islamic states including Israel, UAE, Iraq, Iran and the Christian-Muslim mixed state of Lebanon could not allow these practices to their subjects altogether (Whitaker 31). As a result, homosexuality is quite secretly practiced in these areas, where gender identity demands stereotype sex roles from the members of both the genders. The same is also the case with India, Pakistan, Nigeria and Ukraine, where men’s playing passive role in homosexual intercourse is particularly considered to be the sign of great insult and humiliation. By this they neglect the important aspect that same-sex sexual attractions are involuntary; as a result, announcing punishments to people for practicing the same and inflicting discrimination upon them appears to be a wrong thing (Stein 633). On the one side, the Middle East state-governments imposes harsh punishments on homosexuals; and on the other side, their websites and closet cultural traits present a contradictory situation altogether, depicting homosexuality an essential cultural trait that has been in vogue in the entire region (Simmons 163). However, active homosexual partners are regarded as possessor of masculine strength and vigor, though passive partners are vehemently looked down upon and condemned by the population. Since the Indian and Ottoman empires, as the literature provides evidences, witnessed erotic love between the older males as dominants, while the young boys as submissive partners in gay relationship (Saikaku 1990), they never admitted themselves to be queers or homosexuals at large in order to escape to be labeled as queers and perverts. Hence, main objection and social pressure appears to be on the gender role, which actually maintains a significant part in homosexual relationships (Whitaker 44). Hence, specific terminology, related to homosexual relationships and identifications as well, are devised to place a mask on the gay relationships in order to shield the roles as well as for restricting the gay culture within some specific place, time and space eventually (Warren 1998); it is also the case with female gender identity. Although, some feminist apply the term lesbian in order to demonstrate their sympathies with the female gay community, yet the word lesbian actually signifies the female really practicing same-sex sexual activity as her lifestyle. In addition, use of specific terms frequently while entering into interaction with homosexual community increases the sense of security and affection among gays in the wake of it (Ponse 247). The word homosexual seems to be a medical and/or psychological term, which creates some unpleasant feelings about someone, and displaying him/her to be undergoing a mental or psychological disorder. It is therefore its (mis)use has witnessed a certain decline with the passage of time, and has been replaced with gay and lesbian for male and female homosexuals respectively (248). The terminology, related to homosexuality, emerged in the limelight, during the second half of twentieth century, in the aftermath of WWII (Unger & Crawford 39), when different civilizations had obtained the opportunities of proceeding closer to one another either as allies or rivals. The terms got popularity with the passage of time, and the literary figures also started to apply the same in order to identify the roles being played the homosexuals. Stigmatization of gay and lesbian terms, according to Warren (183), was popularized within the community just to observe strict secrecy of gay relationships, which could be used even in the presence of the heterosexuals without their being able to comprehend with these words and terms that have already been popular among the gays with specific meanings. Since the gay community did not intend to disclose its activities before the majority society, it aims to confine the entire terminology to the community in order to escape taunting and jeering attitude towards them at the hands of heterosexual-inclined social fabrics. It is partially true due to the very fact that the passive roles played by the males in gay relationship are looked down upon particularly in the gay non-tolerant oriental societies including Russia, Ukraine, the Middle East, South Asia and Africa (Simmons 164). Nevertheless, gay communities have established their separate spots and places in the western societies, comparatively safe haven for them, where there appear to be limited restrictions to defy them to promote their activities and cultural patterns at large (Warren 184). Since the western societies are aptly regarded to be the pioneers in displaying tolerance towards gays, and permitting them for adopting the sexual orientation of their choice, they also carry the same cultural traits with them to other parts of the world in the same manner as they had brought their culture and technology in the Asian and African countries during the colonial era from 17th century onward (Anghie 2005). Consequently, the theorists are justified in their claim that gay terminology is introduced in the Middle East by the American and British troops during their invasion in Iraq in 2003 (Simmons 160-61), which further paved the way towards the popularizing of the sexual identities and role playing they had already been indulged into. Hence, the western societies did not introduce homosexuality in the third world; on the other hand, they just projected and promoted the sexual identities by defining specific terms they applied in order to demonstrate the positions and role preferences of homosexuals during their sexual encounters with others (Stein 635). While discussing the historical and cultural background of homosexuality terms, Ponse elucidates that the notion gay, widely and unanimously denotes to both male and female homosexuals for the last several decades, though it is frequently used for the males. Derived from the French word gai, stating to be homosexual as well as prostitute in English language, the term gained unconditional popularity to define homosexuals. It encompasses all the activities, likes, dislikes, pleasures, aptitude and lifestyles associated with the both male and female homosexuals; and hence, would take the entire homosexuals in its vast fold. Female homosexuals also feel delighted in affiliating themselves with this very term, as it offers them the proximity and intimacy with the entire gay community (249). Role playing is an imperative phenomenon in gay relationships, where both masculine and feminine roles are also appropriately defined by the gay cultures with the help of specific terminology. For instance butch and femme denoted masculine and feminine roles respectively in lesbian relationship, in the same manner as top and bottom as well as master and slave are applied for male gay relationships for the penetrating (donor) and penetrated (recipient) partners in male-on-male homosexual intercourse respectively. Butch appears to be described butcher or dominant person, while femme concentrates upon playing feminine or submissive part in lesbian activity, as the roles played by the straight couples during the sexual intercourse between husband and wife (Levitt et. al 2005). Similarly, Ponse has also thrown light into the historical backgrounds of various terms, including lesbian, by elaborating their literary developments and specific use to define homosexuals. By pointing out to the social construction of homosexual term lesbian, the author cites how the poet Sappho invented the very term by defining the erotic love between the girls belonging to the Lesbos Island. Somehow, still the women of senior age appear to be unfamiliar with the use of the word, and just recall the term homosexual while indicating the sexual attraction and physical contacts between the women. Consequently, the (then) older stratum of society has no frequent orientation with the word lesbian, though the same used to be quite proudly applied by the young lesbians during the last decades of 20th century. The term above-mentioned is not confined to social structure only; on the other hand, it is also used and exploited as well at political forums, where the feminists appear to be supporting the female cause by demanding unconditional and unrestricted sexual liberty for women; while the same is exploited and censured in order to defame the political opponents by confining to it a complete woman-to-woman lifestyle, where male folk maintains least concern in respect of the lesbians’ sexual desires. It is therefore Ponse regard the use of the notion in order to demonstrate dedication and solidarity to the lesbian community at political scale (247-48). A large majority of females observing homosexuality, Ponse argues, introduce themselves to be bisexuals instead of lesbians due to the bitter fact that mere viewing oneself lesbian looks somewhat queer and unacceptable within social and political establishments even this day (252), though diversity in sexual inclination is welcomed in almost all societies and cultures at large. Elements of diversity appear to be evident in sexual behavior too along with other aspects of individual and collective human life. Since everyone observes difference in respect of both attitude and aptitude in his personality traits, the same divergence could be witnessed in their sexual choices and preferences too. Consequently, every person maintains quite divergent taste while fantasizing about sex. It not only gives birth to different appetites that come under the definition of paraphilia, but also may invite the displeasure and non-approval of a majority proportion of society, including the essentialists, in its wake. As a result, males’ playing as submissive part, and females’ observing dominant part in homosexual activity is not only absolutely unnatural, but also contradictory one biologically in the eyes of the essentialist theorists (Stein 636). Objections raised by the biologists and essentialists on role playing and gender identities also look imposing restrictions to all sexual fantasies including homosexuality, anal sex, exhibitionism, voyeurism, masochism, sadism, pedophilia, spanking, klaptophilia and other sexual adventures, which are frequently included in the long list of sexual fantasies and diversities observed and adopted by the individuals in their private or public life. Since no one can stop the humans from fantasizing, role playing and gender identities could not be stopped by introducing and imposing statutes of law on human desires and longings (Stein 636). To conclude, it becomes evident that though biological characteristics strongly recommend gender role playing and sexual identities as well, yet human appetite is uncontrollable and is in search of divergent tastes and flavors by getting fed up with one and same sexual activity and style. Human sexuality, according to Weeks (1998), includes everything that could invite the attraction of the people in one way or the other; orientation with the individuals of opposite gender (straight), the same gender (gay or lesbian) or both genders (bisexual), and even animals (zoophile) come under the definition of sexual orientation, which could be queer or weird activities in the eyes of a large proportion of a population, but are adopted and followed by the individuals as sexual diversity (Weeks 314-15). It is therefore, Ponse does not hesitate while pointing out towards an important fact that gays and lesbians are somewhat born characteristics, which could just be discovered in earlier, middle or later years of life. Family pressure and social norms could create marriages of convenience, though they restrict homosexuals from completely enjoying the sex in the light of their aptitude and fantasies (Rosenfeld 2003). Hence, the individuals’ turning gays is a bit preposterous one, and appears to be quite unacceptable to notice that they have made alterations in their sexual orientation with the passage of time (Ponse 249). Works Cited Anghie, Antony “Imperialism, Sovereignty and the Making of International Law” Cambridge University Press 2007 Print Ihara, Saikaku “The Great Mirror of Male Love” Stanford University Press 1990 Print Levitt, Heidi M. & Hiestand, Katherine R. 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Peter M Nardi and Beth Schneider 1998 Rosenfeld, Dana “The Changing of the Guard: Lesbian and Gay Elders, Identity, and Social Change” Temple University Press 2003 Print Sherwin, Adam “BBC ruling on use of the word gay” The Times (London) 6 June 2006 Retrieved 3 May 2010 Simmons, Heather “Dying for Love: Homosexuality in the Middle East” Human Rights and Human Welfare Topical Review Digest: Human Rights in the Middle East & North Africa 2011 Retrieved from Accessed on 11-30-2012 Stein, Edward “Sexual Orientations, Rights, and the Body: Immutability, Essentialism, and Nativism” Social Research Vol. 78: No. 2 Summer 2011Retrieved from Accessed on 11-30-2012 Unger, R. K., & Crawford, M. “Commentary: Sex and Gender—the troubled relationship between terms and concepts”. Psychological Science, 4, 1993 122–124. Warren, Carol “Space and Time” from Social perspectives in gay and lesbian studies ed. Peter M Nardi and Beth Schneider, 1998 Weeks, Jeffrey “The meaning of diversity” from Social perspectives in gay and lesbian studies ed. Peter N Nardi and Beth Schneider 1998 312-321 Whitaker, Brian “Unspeakable Love: Gay and Lesbian Life in the Middle East” University of California Press 2006 Read More