CSCS1203A Practice frameworks in contexts 2020 S 2
Week 6 Activity200 wordsDue Date 29/8/2020Oppression and privilege sexuality and heteronormativity
Lesbians live in a world that is dominated by oppression and hetero sexism that can lead to a deep sense of shame regarding their sexuality Hines, 2012 p, 23)
Discuss the above statement in a 200 words1 Is sexuality genetic or social construction?2 To what extent does our society privilege heterosexuality ?3 How can hetero normality by oppressiveNoteI will send you the reading if you don't have one for week 6Whether some one is born or becomes gay or lesbian is the basis of the significant divisions in sexuality studies. The debate extends into the broader community where homosexuality is predominantly discussed in the content of policies, religion, morality or human rights. According to Bob Pease, gay existentialist argue that there is genetic, psychic or core essence that make them homosexual, and thus being gay or lesbian is grounded in a stable and fixed, homosexual identity ( Pease 2010 p.129). To assert that I was born homosexual, I have not chosen to be this way' challenges dominant, heterosexual prejudice and discrimination, which sees homosexuality as a choice. The nature' approach challenges the power of Australia's heterosexuality dominated society to normalize heterosexuality and identity homosexuality as a other' which has / can lead to pressuring gay and lesbians to receivetreatment to help; them become heterosexual.Pease explains that gay constructionists argue that homosexuality is socially and historically constructed. Their focus is on the break down the division between the distinct categories of homosexual i.e. that we are either one or the other. what is an alternative?Gay constructivists also challenge construction of heterosexuality as normal, while hemosexuality is define by the dominant view as abnormal ( Pease 2010 p. 129/130). Pease is concern that when posit heterosexuallity and immutable, we maintain a hierarchrical relationship between heterosexuality and homosexuality whereby homosexuality is constructed as deviant; ( Pease 2010 p. 129). In everyday life,privileging heterosexuality can be seen in the question to male ' what does your girl friend/ wife do? or to a female ' would you like to bring your boy friend/ husband to the event/film/party/wedding ? This is a seemingly normal' question in a heterosexual dominated society, but one that clearly assumes people have relationships with the opposite sex. How might we ask these questions in a way that undoes heterosexual privilege?
AS with other forms of privilege, such as race,the focus of much theoretical discussion has been about others'. In the topic discussion that dominant view is that heterosexuality is normalize and homosexuality ' other: Pease turns this focus upside down, to problematic and examine the normal' and therefore invisibility' of heterosexuality and heterosexuality' privilege ( heterosexuality ( Pease 2010 p, 128)