Sociology Now, Census Update

The global politics of birth control has become more evident in light of the global
AIDS epidemic. One of the primary methods to reduce risk of transmission of the HIV
virus that causes AIDS is the condom, which has typically been marketed as a form of
birth control for heterosexual men. Inadequate information about, or access to, birth
control has become, in many countries, a matter of life and death.

Sexuality in the 21st Century

Sexuality is a foundation of identity, just as race or class or gender. And it is a basis
for inequality—the unequal distribution of rewards and punishments, of resources
and recognition. And like race, class, or gender, it is both increasingly important and
decreasingly unequal. Our multicultural society makes these bases of identity ever
more important in identifying who people are. But those same processes, and the polit-
ical mobilization of formerly marginalized groups, lead to reforms that make differ-
ent people more equal.
Attitudes may change more slowly than social movements might hope, but they
change faster than the policies our countries derive to keep things the same. Gay men
and lesbians still face enormous discrimination, but most industrial societies are far
less homophobic than they were just a decade ago. For example, membership in the
European Union requires adherence to policies that prohibit all discrimination against
people based on sexual orientation.
Changing attitudes will eventually lead to changed policies. In some cases, it may
simply be a function of age. While 75 percent of people over 60 oppose legalizing gay
marriage, 75 percent of people under 30 support legalizing it. Movements for equal-
ity may not ever completely succeed in eradicating prejudice and discrimination,
whether based on race, class, gender, or sexuality. But they can reduce homophobia
and remove the legal barriers that individuals face based on their membership in
marginalized groups.

SEXUALITY IN THE 21st CENTURY 343

Chapter

Review

1.What is sexuality? Sociologists distinguish among sex-

ual desire, behavior, and identity, all of which are

learned, along with cultural standards and sexual scripts.

Sexuality is socially constructed; it varies between cul-

tures, over time, by group, and over the life course.

Desire is affected by cultural standards of beauty and is

also a function of social class; different groups assign dif-

ferent meanings to beauty.

2.What are sexual identities? Sexual identities cohere

around a preference and are affected by cultural norms

and identities. Sexual identity is most strongly organized

around the gender to which one is attracted. Heterosex-

uality is most common. Identity does not always align

with behavior, however. In addition, sexual identity is

not always as clear as heterosexual or homosexual; some

individuals identify as bisexual. Sociologists believe sex-

ual identity is both biologically based and socially con-

structed.

3.How do we research sexuality? Scientific research into

sexuality began in nineteenth-century Europe. Early

researchers included Krafft-Ebing, who studied sex

crimes and concluded that masturbation caused perver-

sion. Ellis countered that with his research, saying mas-

turbation was harmless. Hirschfeld believed people were