Sociological Theory of Sexuality

Chapter 12 in the book Sociology: The Essentials discusses sexuality; a topic that is normally intended to be a private matter, however certain topics that fall into this category, such as abortion, sex trafficking, and gays are often times a controversial issue that must be made public. I found this chapter in the book to be very interesting because it covers many different aspects of sexuality in our society, and the way it affects us.

The three major sociological perspectives take on different views regarding sexuality:

Functionalist theory encourages the nuclear type of family. This point of view believes sexual behavior is functional for society because it "prevents the instability and conflict that more liberal sexual attitudes supposedly generate" (Sociology:The Essentials 294). Functionalist believe that family values produce a sense of uniformity in regards to social order. According to an article from this link
http://socyberty.com/issues/assess-the-usefulness-of-the-functionalist-perspective-for-an-understanding-of-the-family-in-contemporary-society/ the functionalist view of social issues in society are that "every society needs rules about sex, for example for sex to happen it should be during a socially approved sexual relationship inside of marriage.

Conflict theorists on the other hand see sexuality as part of the power relations and economic inequality in society (Sociology:The Essentials 295). They say that sexual violence including rape and sexual harassment is the result of power imbalances between men and women. Conflict theorists say that the international sex trade is linked to poverty, the status of women in society, and economics. Lastly conflict theorists believe sexuality is an expression of great social intimacy.

Symbolic interaction theory interprets sexual identity as learned rather than inborn. This point of view believes that  culture and society shape sexual experiences (Sociology: The Essentials 296). This link to an essay shows a symbolic interaction theorists perspective on sexuality: http://www.jstor.org/pss/1318338

These theories are the major theories used when addressing the topic of sexuality.

A very controversial issue throughout the world is the topic of gays and lesbians. Due to this controversial issue I think it is necessary to address what the Queer Theory is. The Queer Theory challenges the idea that only one form of sexuality  is normal. Queer theory is a perspective that has evolved from recognizing the socially constructed nature of sexual identity. This theory interprets society as forcing these sexual boundaries on people (Sociology: The Essentials 296). Paul H. Fry from Yale shares a very interesting lecture of Queer theory with us, below is the link to this lecture.
http://academicearth.org/lectures/queer-theory-gender-performativity

Sex trafficking is addressed in this chapter. Sex trafficking is a very disturbing issue that is a relatively new term. Sex trafficking is where women are forced into sexual acts. This is sometimes linked to a form of slavery, it can involve debt or bondage. These women can be kidnapped or simply tricked into this situation by terms of promises such as marriage or money. According to a human trafficking fact sheet; http://www.dreamcenter.org/new/images/outreach/RescueProject/stats.pdf 27 million people are in this type of modern day slavery across the world. In addition the site also said that 800,000 people trafficked across international borders everyday. These numbers are so disturbing and devastating. It is unbelievable to me that even though the slavery that existed between African Americans and Caucasians is primarily over there is a fairly new type of slavery that needs to be better addressed world-wide so that we will be able to end this disturbing type of slavery.

This following poems paints a very vivid picture of sex trafficking:

And to the Little Ones

Swiped from her village
sold for a dime by poor parents
to a rich global market
Taka’s 10-year-old bones rattle with fear.
Heart?
bound to earth – chained.
Beaten down to size in small back rooms
Spirit broken by westerners who promise the world
and leave her a lump of mud.
No breath…
No breath…
Can’t breathe in this tomb.
Taka’s humanity
her dignity
her soul
is battered and bartered
on the black market for a dime.
And pundits predict her body will be found
in a ditch in an alley
some – day.