Written in 1972, Ann Oakley published Sex, Gender and Society, discusses the distinction between biological sex and gender. Her work considered ‘pioneering’ at the time of publishing, as it cited sources not just from sociological work, but from psychology, anthropology and scientific evidence. The purpose of this book is to discuss gender performativity, the construction of gender identity, and understand why sex/ gender roles are detrimental towards Western women’s movement towards equality within both the public/private sphere. Chapter 1 discusses biology and differentiation of sex through hormones, chromosomes, genes and reproductive organs[23]. Oakley states the belief of emotional instability in women as the result of hormones, lacks
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Oakley cites Williams Masters/Virginia Johnson’s study on the human male/female sexual response from a scientific perspective. The study split the subject’s sexual responses in to 4 phases; excitement, plateau, orgasmic and resolution[78,79] and concluded that both sexes have the same physiological reaction during intercourse, masturbation and fantasy, challenging prejudices that women were submissive compared to men. She used Mead’s study of Trobriand people, comparing cross-culturally the differences in sexual behaviour, finding Western societies categorisation of some sexual behaviours considered ‘deviant’ [83]. Oakley supports the theory to which the differences in sexuality of males/females can be attributed to their anatomies, but in relation with their psychology, mentioning Freudian psychoanalytical theory to understand the differences in sexuality between both men and women[91], suggesting three characteristics that determine the development of sexuality such as exteriority of male genitals, destiny of motherhood and the structure of the family. She mentions Kate Millet’s Sexual Politics (1971), that discusses dynamics of power that produce behavioural distortions, resulting in male domination over females in Western patriarchal …show more content…
Oakley focusses on the 1960’s, how a UNESCO survey revealed a universal opposition to the employment of mothers when children are young, and most jobs were appropriated by men with women limited to mostly domestic roles. She stated that “the fact that industrialised societies tend to play down the role of the father does not make this a universal human necessity. Motherhood may restrict the social and economic roles of women but so may fatherhood restrict the roles of men.”[100]. The study of other cultures/societies, that demonstrated women being powerful members, shows how the assignment of gender roles vary across societies, questioning Western societies position on gender role
Oakley cites Williams Masters/Virginia Johnson’s study on the human male/female sexual response from a scientific perspective. The study split the subject’s sexual responses in to 4 phases; excitement, plateau, orgasmic and resolution[78,79] and concluded that both sexes have the same physiological reaction during intercourse, masturbation and fantasy, challenging prejudices that women were submissive compared to men. She used Mead’s study of Trobriand people, comparing cross-culturally the differences in sexual behaviour, finding Western societies categorisation of some sexual behaviours considered ‘deviant’ [83]. Oakley supports the theory to which the differences in sexuality of males/females can be attributed to their anatomies, but in relation with their psychology, mentioning Freudian psychoanalytical theory to understand the differences in sexuality between both men and women[91], suggesting three characteristics that determine the development of sexuality such as exteriority of male genitals, destiny of motherhood and the structure of the family. She mentions Kate Millet’s Sexual Politics (1971), that discusses dynamics of power that produce behavioural distortions, resulting in male domination over females in Western patriarchal …show more content…
Oakley focusses on the 1960’s, how a UNESCO survey revealed a universal opposition to the employment of mothers when children are young, and most jobs were appropriated by men with women limited to mostly domestic roles. She stated that “the fact that industrialised societies tend to play down the role of the father does not make this a universal human necessity. Motherhood may restrict the social and economic roles of women but so may fatherhood restrict the roles of men.”[100]. The study of other cultures/societies, that demonstrated women being powerful members, shows how the assignment of gender roles vary across societies, questioning Western societies position on gender role