Paper #1
Gayle Rubin’s six hindrances on the radical theory of sexuality includes the fallacy of a misplaced scale. Rubin explains the fallacy of a misplaced scale as “sexual acts [that] are burdened with an excess of significance (p. 130)” This is a cultural phenomenon that puts sexual milestones above other important milestones in life. We can often remember who our first kiss was, where it happened, and how it made you feel. We can use this in comparison to the first time you rode a bike, you are not expected to remember what street you were on and how it made you feel. When you talk about “firsts” among your friends you generally reference sexual acts and not the time you rode your bike, got your ears pierced, or ate french fries.
A modern example of the fallacy of a misplaced scale is in the movie The Edge of Seventeen. During one of the opening scenes Nadine a socially awkward teenager and her confident friend Krista, talk about Nadine losing her …show more content…
Losing your virginity is a large milestone, and we can infer that this character is truly joking to cover up her embarrassment for not completing such an important milestone. Without the fallacy of a misplaced scale, this would just be a conversation, not a punchline.
Rubin explains that this hindrance stemmed from religion, specifically citing Christianity. Often, religion impresses that virginity should be saved for marriage as it is viewed as such a precious and sacred act. The example I used above follows along the same lines and keeps the hindrance alive by believing that virginity has more value. This concept is so ingrained we place very little value on sexual acts that don’t seem like they have significance or romance. Having sex on an anniversary with champagne on a tropical island, is seen as more special than having sex at a store in front of
Gayle Rubin’s six hindrances on the radical theory of sexuality includes the fallacy of a misplaced scale. Rubin explains the fallacy of a misplaced scale as “sexual acts [that] are burdened with an excess of significance (p. 130)” This is a cultural phenomenon that puts sexual milestones above other important milestones in life. We can often remember who our first kiss was, where it happened, and how it made you feel. We can use this in comparison to the first time you rode a bike, you are not expected to remember what street you were on and how it made you feel. When you talk about “firsts” among your friends you generally reference sexual acts and not the time you rode your bike, got your ears pierced, or ate french fries.
A modern example of the fallacy of a misplaced scale is in the movie The Edge of Seventeen. During one of the opening scenes Nadine a socially awkward teenager and her confident friend Krista, talk about Nadine losing her …show more content…
Losing your virginity is a large milestone, and we can infer that this character is truly joking to cover up her embarrassment for not completing such an important milestone. Without the fallacy of a misplaced scale, this would just be a conversation, not a punchline.
Rubin explains that this hindrance stemmed from religion, specifically citing Christianity. Often, religion impresses that virginity should be saved for marriage as it is viewed as such a precious and sacred act. The example I used above follows along the same lines and keeps the hindrance alive by believing that virginity has more value. This concept is so ingrained we place very little value on sexual acts that don’t seem like they have significance or romance. Having sex on an anniversary with champagne on a tropical island, is seen as more special than having sex at a store in front of