Question

Think about the theoretical perspectives regarding sex and sexuality. Which theoretical perspective do you think provides the most useful insights for society?

Answer 1

• Functionalists consider that every element in the society has a function to perform so they actually stress upon the importance of regulating sexual behaviours in our society as it is important to ensure marital cohesion and family stability.They consider family to be an integral component of our society,and for family preservation they consider sexual behaviours to be important.
• Social norms around family,has encourgaed sexual behaviour within family and have discouraged this behaviour outside family,i.e. pre-marital sex or extramarital sex.the function of encouraging sexual behaviours in marriages to develop an emotional bond between spouses and thereby ensuring procreation within a legal relationship.
• Conflict theorists see the dominance of power in such behaviours as well.For instance,they see same-sex marriages from ideological and economic viewpoints.The dominant groups are obviously heterosexuals who consider traditional marriage between males and females to be more important and consider homosexual or minority group marriages to be an intrusion in our society and dont consider it legal.
• From economic perspective,activists supporting,same sex marriages consider it to make it legal as it would bring benefits,like financial security,medical benefits,and other social security benefits.This theory says that as long as heterosexuals and homosexuals will keep struggling over social and financial resources,this conflict would continue to exist.
• Symbolic Interactionism focuses on the meaning associated with sex and sexuality.People choosing same sex partners are still ridiculed for their choices,especially men since masculinity is a symbolic norm and homosexual preference is considered to abnormal behaviour.
• They are given labels like,queen,fag which are demeaning homosexual men by feminizing them.And this tends to affect how homosexuals perceive themselves,leading to a negative self image due to constant humiliation by the society.
• I think symbolic interactionism provides a better insight into societal attitudes about sex and sexuality.It reflects the discriminatory attitudes and homophobia which still exists today and not respecting people's choices.People still consider the traditional male-female marriage and sexual relationship to be "correct" and same-sex to be "abnormal",which shows despite awareness and education,the discriminations people hold.