Changes in Gender and Sexuality - Essay Example

What have been the most significant changes in gender and sexuality over the past 20 years? Use examples to illustrate your answer. Globalization has changed the world in a variety of ways. The influence of advertising, television, the Internet and other technologies has changed he way the world experiences gender and sexuality. The world has also been changed by major events like the September 2001 attacks on the World Trade Centre in the US, the HIV/AIDS disease and the death of celebrities like Princess Diana. Because of technology people are able to visit each other more regularly without leaving their homes. They can use their cell phones, send an e-mail, text message or talk in a chat room. Wireless Networking, Broadband and WIKIs are all new terms brought about by the changes, and they add to peoples ability to communicate with each other on a global basis. Internet connections connect us with any type of research we can imagine within seconds. We also have the ability to freely conduct business, get an education or network with others, via these connections. Third world countries have been influenced by First world countries through the media and advertising. We can see these influences in fashion, sexuality and gender issues around the world. Fukuda-Parr says that globalization also brings with it a new threat to human security because it "…is the defining trend of the world. Its driven by clearly identifiable, political, economic and technological changes that have removed barriers of contact across national borders…" (2004, p. 35). This new threat brings problems with identify theft, changes in culture and violence. Changes in sexuality In the last twenty years, people have gained many things through the use of technology. They have been exposed to advertisements touting beautiful women and men with expensive cars and lifestyles. Life was once simple. Women didnt try as hard to look like models and "gender bending" meant something different than it does now. Because of this, people are obsessed with body image. They can change every aspect of the body through a variety of methods. Plastic surgery is now routine, fat goes away with liposuction, silicone implants increase breast size. These treatments were once hidden by those who were doing it, but now its become common place. Before technology, and up until the last few years, everyone wanted to look younger. This was emphasized through the media and created new diseases like anorexia and bulimia. However, as Baby Boomers age, they are more into looking good and showing their real selves. Although there is still a strong market for anti-aging products like wrinkle creams, the Dove Pro-age campaign created products, advertising and billboards geared towards real women and helped older women accept that though they were growing older, they werent ugly. Sex has changed since the late 1980s when HIV/AIDS came into global importance. People all over the world had to talk about sex more openly and had to redefine how they did sex. Altman states, "AIDS is both a product and a cause of globalization, linking the least developed and the most developed regions of the world (Altman, 2001, p. 70). People could now talk about sex, sexuality, condom use and all the areas that were once kept quiet. The term "safer sex" was coined as one way of explaining sex to others. People began to examine other ways they could be safe with sex. AIDS education programs discussed sex in a variety of ways and settings, and talked to audiences of children in school programs, youth and adults. Sex in many cities has become more open to sexual exploitation and sex trafficking. Some cities rely on sex as a tourist trade. Younger women are seen as "uninfested" with HIV/AIDS and therefore are often more desirable in prostitution. Some of these are sold into brothels by their families. When this happens, they are subject to rape and violence (Ehrenreich, 2002). The Internet also gave way to meeting new people, first in chat rooms and then in other cyber spaces. Online dating has become a large trend and match making services went online, which made finding a mate easier. Drugs like Viagra (largest sales began in 1988) and other male enhancement drugs helped men who may be having challenges satisfying their mates. And finally, just like everything else, sex went online and the term cybersex was born. This allowed people to interact with each other on an intimate basis without the fear of AIDS. "Already the freedom and anonymity of the Internet has taken sex out of the bedrooms and put it onto a screen where it can be played with, experimented with, bent completely out of shape…" (Parker, p.43). Homosexuality and behaviour styles Homosexuality has also seen changes because of the focus by the media and business on the homosexual dollar. Homosexuality has gone from radical to a marketing niche (Altman, p. 52). More gays and lesbians "came out of the closet" and instead of marching, demanded equal rights with their heterosexual counterparts. We have seen the onslaught of gay rights, gay pride and gay marriage discussion. We have seen more characters on TV sitcoms and in the movies. Programs like, "Queer as Folk" and "The L Word" have given us a glimpse into this lifestyle and therefore created more of a tolerance. The Ellen Degeneres Show is the only talk show in the US hosted by a lesbian. As an example of how homosexuality is more tolerated, it has given way to an open discussion about two other behaviours. Oprah Winfrey has done several shows about African American males who are on the "down low" (Oprah, 2006)--meaning they have sex with men for pleasure but do not consider themselves homosexual, and the term "metro sexual" was coined for straight men who are said to be in touch with their feminine side, and express themselves as the stereotypical gay male, but are heterosexual. The emphasis on gay and lesbian rights to marry, has caused a structural change in family values. Christianity has seen a resurgence of defining family as "a heterosexual woman and heterosexual man with kids". The metro sexual, male has given way to the ubersexual: Ubersexuals are confident, masculine and stylish, and committed to uncompromising quality in all areas of life, (Saltzman, quoted in Harris). Some TV advertising has become more gender specific as a result. Changes in Gender As globalization continued, sexual openness gave way to a variety of gender changes. We can no longer talk about gender as only male and female. The world has been given more information about transsexuals, Two Spirit people (Native American LGBT), and the term Middlesex. People began to explore alternatives to male and female. Some individuals found that they wanted to undergo gender reassignment surgery to get more in touch with what felt like their true selves. Documentaries have been made about transsexuals and most recently, those individuals who are considered "middle sexes" -- exploring gender though a variety of different avenues. Male and female roles havent changed much however. Women are still paid less than men and men are still seen as the breadwinners if they are they head of the family. Areas where women are affected are prostitution and immigration. Many third world women come to first world countries to gain more opportunity. Instead, they are greeted with jobs as nannies or maids or have to turn to prostitution to make a living. According to US Womens Connect, there are several issues that stop the progress of women and are gender related. The most significant are: The sequence of domestic abuse leading to divorce, leading to poverty and sometimes homelessness for women of all classes and races. The current dominant values that: blame poor women for their poverty; mistrust or demonize women on public assistance; and glorify individual efforts over community needs. (US Women Connect, 2000 Final Report) Globalization has changed the way that we do things. It has also changed the way the world reacts to one another. Bibliography Altman, Dennis. 2001. Global Sex, Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. Dove Website, http://www.dove.co.uk/uk_en/uk_en/index.html Ehrenreich, B.E. and Hochschild, A.R. (eds) 2002. Global Women: nannies, maids and sex workers in the new economy. New York: Hendry Holt and Company. Fukuda-Parr, Sakiko 2004. Gender, globalization and new threats to human security in Peace Review, 16:1 March, 35-42. Harris, Paul 2005. Guardian Unlimited, Metro sexual man bows to red blooded ubersexuals, Marian Saltzman Quoted in article 11/01/08 http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1598631,00.html#article_continue Karlgaard, Rich. 2006 Digital rules: Our challenge is change, not globalization, Forbes.com, 10/01/08 http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2006/1127/035_print.html Oprah Winfrey Show, A secret sex world: living on the down low, video on website, www.oprah.com/tows/after/200404/tows_after_20040416.jhtml . Thomas, Anthony. 2006 "Middlesexes: redefining he and she" video recording, New York: HBO Documentary Films Parker, Carol 1998. Getting it on line, Australian Magazine, May 30-31, 1998. US Women Connect: Linking US Women and girls to the global womens movement, Beijing +5 online working group on womens economic security and justice, Final Report, August 2000, retrieved January 11, 2007, http://www.uswc.org/wgpoverty.html Read More