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Chapter 7, Sexuality and Intimate Relationships

This chapter delves into the social and cultural basis of sexuality, scientific studies of sex, and the sexual practices of Americans. It also explores the functionalist and conflict perspectives on sex and highlights the connection between sex and social issues.

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Chapter 7, Sexuality and Intimate Relationships

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  1. Chapter 7, Sexualityand Intimate Relationships • Is Sex natural? • The Sexual Revolution • Contemporary Sexual Attitudes and Behavior • Sex: Diversity, Social Organization and the Global Context • Sexuality and Sociological Theory • Sex and Social Issues

  2. Is Sex natural? • Sexuality is socially defined and patterned. • People engage in sex not only because it feels good, but also because it is socially meaningful.  

  3. Social and Cultural Basis of Sexuality • Human sexual attitudes and behavior vary in different cultural contexts. • Sexual attitudes and behavior change over time. • Sexual identity is learned. • Social institutions channel and direct human sexuality.

  4. Scientific Studies of Sex • Freud treated the formation of sexual identity as a basic part of personality development. • Havelock Ellis saw sexual dysfunction as the result of psychological problems, and depicted some forms of sexuality, like lesbianism, as pathologically rooted.

  5. The Kinsey Reports • Study based on self-report data from unrepresentative samples. • Influential in describing sexual behavior in the U.S. population. • Findings helped to liberate people from the shame and guilt that many felt about their sexual practices.

  6. Masters and Johnson Studies • The most extensive and thorough study of human sexual response. • Research dispelled a number of prevalent social myths about sexuality.

  7. Sexual Practices of Americans Random sample of nearly 3500 adults reveals several trends: • Young people are sexually active earlier. • The proportion of young people who are sexually active has increased. • Having only one sex partner in one’s lifetime is rare.

  8. Sexual Practices of Americans • A significant number of people have extramarital affairs. • A significant number of people are homosexual. • For those who are sexually active, sex is relatively frequent. • People are not very well informed about sex. 

  9. Sex: Functional or Conflict-Based? • Functionalist theory tends to depict sexuality in terms of how it contributes to the stability of social institutions. • Conflict theorists see sexuality as part of the power relations and economic inequality in society. 

  10. Sex and Social Issues Sex is related to some of the most difficult social problems including: • Reproductive technologies • Abortion • Pornography • Teen pregnancy

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