The Future of Gender Stereotypes and Sexuality in America There are many factors that have contributed to the more outward attitudes toward sexuality including the women’s rights movement, contraception, gender equality, advancements in technology and medicine, pop culture, drugs, and the perception of power. It seems like everything has been sexualized to some degree from television and music to clothing. It is not unusual to see sexual ideas and behaviors portrayed in commercials during daytime cartoons. Even children’s clothing has been sexualized as evidenced by a recent trip to Target. Girls tops are much more form fitting that boys, and shorts are much shorter than boys. Society has been desensitized to sexual behaviors and images that
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Gender identity determines more of the roles and attitudes that a person exemplifies. Gender identity has taken on a more diverse meaning. When describing the diversity of gender identity, Milojevik says “The underlying assumption here is that physiologically, anatomically, neurologically, psychologically and culturally there exists a vast diversity among humans and to organize this diversity along one or two dimensions is unrealistic and detrimental.” (Milojević, 2008) No longer can we categorize others’ roles, behaviors, and sexuality by the type of genitalia they were born with. We need to consider the multiplicity of identities in our society when discussing the interactions between these three factors. With the advancement of technology and medicine, there are not only more opportunities for people to “re-assign” their gender to fit their gender identity but it is becoming more and more accepted. The perception long ago that transsexual and transgender people had a disability, and was even substantiated in the DSM, is now disappearing. It is expected that in the future, there will be an increase in acceptance of gender diversity in America, however, at the same time, it can be suspected that there will also be an increase in discrimination against those who don’t fit in with the traditional mindset of what makes someone male/female. Like any society, you have people who are traditionalists
Gender identity determines more of the roles and attitudes that a person exemplifies. Gender identity has taken on a more diverse meaning. When describing the diversity of gender identity, Milojevik says “The underlying assumption here is that physiologically, anatomically, neurologically, psychologically and culturally there exists a vast diversity among humans and to organize this diversity along one or two dimensions is unrealistic and detrimental.” (Milojević, 2008) No longer can we categorize others’ roles, behaviors, and sexuality by the type of genitalia they were born with. We need to consider the multiplicity of identities in our society when discussing the interactions between these three factors. With the advancement of technology and medicine, there are not only more opportunities for people to “re-assign” their gender to fit their gender identity but it is becoming more and more accepted. The perception long ago that transsexual and transgender people had a disability, and was even substantiated in the DSM, is now disappearing. It is expected that in the future, there will be an increase in acceptance of gender diversity in America, however, at the same time, it can be suspected that there will also be an increase in discrimination against those who don’t fit in with the traditional mindset of what makes someone male/female. Like any society, you have people who are traditionalists