Question One Hegemonic heterosexuality essentially means that heterosexuality is the dominant ideology of sexual orientation and relationships in our culture (Walden 2016). In Mark Carrigan’s article “There’s More to Life Than Sex?” he discusses the asexual community, and defines asexuality in a couple different forms. Carrgian states that many researchers believe that asexuality is defined as, “’I have never felt sexually attracted to anyone at all’ which Bogaert takes to be indicative of asexuality” (403: 2011). In this, asexuality would challenge hegemonic heterosexuality due to the fact that heterosexuality is the sexual attraction to someone of the opposite sex (Walden 2016). Throughout the Carrigan’s article he also discusses the definition
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The specifics of hegemonic masculine heterosexuality include men being the dominant in sexual encounters, sex equals intercourse (of course, only PVI), sexual intercourse leads to orgasm, etc. (Walden 2016). Hegemonic feminine heterosexuality specifics include aspects such as, sex is for men, women are nurturers (his needs before hers), PVI is the only way for an orgasm, etc. (Walden 2016). In Carrigan’s article, he defines the group of romantic asexuals, stating, “heteromantics only feel romantic attraction to the opposite sex, homoromantics to the same sex, biromantics to both sexes and panoromantics without reference to sex or gender” (406: 2011). The latter three categories of romantic asexuals challenge the gendered sexual scripts due to the fact that a heterosexual encounter is the only right sexual experience for both men and women. Having a different sexual orientation than one to the opposite sex is counter-hegemonic in the current culture surrounded sexual scripts. Additionally, Mary Fahs article, “Giving, Getting, Faking, Having: Orgasms” discusses women faking orgasms. Fahs states, “women fake orgasm because of concern for their partner’s feelings, avoidance of conflict, and importance of orgasm to the relationship” (363: 2011). In this, women faking orgasms due to their concern for their partner’s feelings reinforces the concept of women being nurturers, which is an aspect of hegemonic feminine heterosexuality. It also supports the notion in the GSS that sexual intercourse leads to an orgasm (for men), because a sexual encounter is typically done when the male finishes (Walden 2016). Going back the gift metaphor in Fahs’ article, she states, “the gift paradigm signifies that women constructed their partners as having the power to provide orgasm to them rather than attributing the action to
The specifics of hegemonic masculine heterosexuality include men being the dominant in sexual encounters, sex equals intercourse (of course, only PVI), sexual intercourse leads to orgasm, etc. (Walden 2016). Hegemonic feminine heterosexuality specifics include aspects such as, sex is for men, women are nurturers (his needs before hers), PVI is the only way for an orgasm, etc. (Walden 2016). In Carrigan’s article, he defines the group of romantic asexuals, stating, “heteromantics only feel romantic attraction to the opposite sex, homoromantics to the same sex, biromantics to both sexes and panoromantics without reference to sex or gender” (406: 2011). The latter three categories of romantic asexuals challenge the gendered sexual scripts due to the fact that a heterosexual encounter is the only right sexual experience for both men and women. Having a different sexual orientation than one to the opposite sex is counter-hegemonic in the current culture surrounded sexual scripts. Additionally, Mary Fahs article, “Giving, Getting, Faking, Having: Orgasms” discusses women faking orgasms. Fahs states, “women fake orgasm because of concern for their partner’s feelings, avoidance of conflict, and importance of orgasm to the relationship” (363: 2011). In this, women faking orgasms due to their concern for their partner’s feelings reinforces the concept of women being nurturers, which is an aspect of hegemonic feminine heterosexuality. It also supports the notion in the GSS that sexual intercourse leads to an orgasm (for men), because a sexual encounter is typically done when the male finishes (Walden 2016). Going back the gift metaphor in Fahs’ article, she states, “the gift paradigm signifies that women constructed their partners as having the power to provide orgasm to them rather than attributing the action to