The History of Sexuality

The most defining characteristics of modern sexuality are elasticity and fluidity. The walls of binary genders and heteronormativity are beginning to break down, and with that, people are continuing to embrace their own personal definition of sexuality. More importantly, people are able to outwardly express their sexuality. This shift is also beginning to do away with the societal norms that kept people in their respective sexual boxes all throughout history. Previously, people were categorized…

Sexuality has always been something that is often changing and expanding. While it is assumed that there is one set binary for the sexuality spectrum, this is untrue and as individuals get more confident in themselves, the spectrum will continue to grow (Elizabeth, 2013). Even with the introduction of bisexuality, many sexualities, such as pansexuality are still being undermined and labelled as a ‘false sexuality’ (Elizabeth, 2013). In a world where heterosexuality reigns, anyone with a…

the emergence of queer identities in non-western nations as “global queering” (Altman 1996). The concept of global queering relies heavily on the notion that queer identities in non-western nations are the result of the dissemination of western sexualities and gender identities into other parts of the globe (Jackson 2009). While it is certainly true that various manifestations of queerness have originated in the west and then emerged in non-western countries, queer identities unique to these…

The World Erotic Art Museum (WEAM) is a unique museum here in Miami because it is the only sex museum in the United States today that illustrates the history of erotic art from different cultures such as from the Greeks, the Chinese and the Hindus. Yet, not only does the museum illustrate the history of erotic art, but it also exhibits many other artifacts that are related to some of the topics that we have discussed in class since the beginning of the semester. For example, one of the first…

The Virgin of Guadalupe, the patron saint of Mexico, is a religious icon and symbol of Mexican nationalism and identity (Benedetti). Through analyzing the image and history of the Virgin of Guadalupe through the theoretical terms, e.g. gender, sexuality, identity, and authority, one is able to understand her meaning and importance to Mexico, the world, and the catholic church. Her importance can be examined through the use of these theoretical terms and how they intersect and connect with…

Sexuality Changes in Society The complication of human relationship is a prevalent discussion topic. Sexuality is diverse and personal, which leads to diversity in opinion. In the essay “Selections from Hard to Get: Twenty-Something Women and the Paradox of Sexual Freedom” Leslie bell contemplates about people’s cognitively conceives sexuality under the influence of sexual freedom. Leslie discusses different girls’ different opinion upon sexuality. Malcolm Gladwell, the author of “The Power of…

become an Antiguan woman. It has no traditional plot, character descriptions, setting, or action. Instead, it only has two voices. From the story, the author strives to demonstrate the issues inherent in mother-daughter relationships, adolescent sexuality, contradiction of female roles, the legacy of colonialism, and life under patriarchy. All these are shown in the short piece, hence illustrating the mastery of the writer. As such, this paper will analyze the story in terms of the themes,…

Sexuality, prior to the writings of nineteenth and twentieth century philosophers such as Freud and Foucault, wasn’t considered a field in the medical world. These men offered scientific answers to topics such as homosexuality and transexuality which were previously thought of as just sexual deviances. Due to the fact that the term sexuality was revolutionized in a medical sense certain historians would argue that, these philosophers and doctors “invented” sexuality by giving it medical backing.…

Closet is the harmful effects a binary view of topics like sexuality and gender could have. The most concerning aspect of the subject of binary viewership is that it applies to more subjects than what was previously listed. Society has an incredibly long history of categorization and lessening people to one of few groups, which only sets up barriers for those who do not fit into them. This process may have worked sporadically throughout history when normalization was common, but in this day and…

gender and sexuality is fluid throughout history. Lipsitz shows that society has created a historical world where people defined two-an-only-two categories of as being normal. She points out how society knew there was fluidity in gender and sexuality because in order “for there to be a system of exclusive and compulsory heterosexuality, two such bipolar groups had to come into existence”. (Lipsitz, 331) Society knowing that heterosexuality and homosexuality existed throughout history decided…