Social Construct of Sexual Identity using the Klein scale

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Social Construct of Sexual Identity using the Klein scale

• The article illustrates how diverse sexual orientation really is by examining how widespread it is across cultures.

• It goes into how our sexual orientation is defined by not only our sexual behavior, but also our emotional attachments, current relationship status, and erotic behaviors and fantasies.

• This information ties into our project as it illustrates our sexual orientation as something that is more fluid than rigid, and can always be changing.

Analysis

Speculations as to why the results favored in the way that they did?

• Social Role Theory

• Script Theory

- “There is no doubt that sexual behaviors are governed by [predisposed] roles and scripts.

• Sexuality is an important component of gender roles

- Potential theory as to why participants may have answered the way they did (fear, embarrassment, living up to the social role and script theory standards)

The social construction of gender is oppressive. This article uses transgender as an umbrella term that encompasses all nontraditional gender expressions and relative sexual orientations. It focuses on ways to eliminate binary gender biases (traditional gender roles), validate the spectrum of gender identities, and empower transgender communities.

Ultimately we wanted to focus on the social construct of sexuality. By doing so we hoped to make it understood that sexuality is not something that is or has to be black and white. Sexuality does not solely reside in the stereotypical Heterosexual or Homosexual sexualities but rather an astounding array of diverse sexuality.

Choosing Sexual Orientation

• Do you choose who you are sexually attracted to, or is it genetically determined?

-Did you choose to be straight?

-Did you choose to be gay?

• There is prejudice against people who are not heterosexual in society

-Parents are even trying to choose the sexual orientation of their unborn child using genetic technologies

There is an underlying fear of not conforming to society even through one’s own sexual orientation

Fritz Klein

· Klein was bisexual and would have people come to his house every week to discuss bisexuality. From this, he developed the Klein Sexual Orientation Grid.

· The grid is based on the Kinsey Scale but more detailed.

Scholarly Peer Reviewed Article Citations

Fun Fact!

• Pupil dilation in sexual orientation (Rieger, 2012)
• Heterosexual-identified men's pupils dilate to images of women, and homosexual-identified men pupils dilate to images of men
• Bisexual-identified men's pupils dilate to both sexes
• Heterosexual-identified women's pupils dilate to both sexes as well
• Reason? The female brain does not differentiate. They don't have as strong of a response for only men, as heterosexual men have for women