I just want your opinion :] (essay for sociology)?

Question

So, I'm writing an essay (only 2-3 pages) for my sociology class, and the topic is sexuality. Under the topic, I am given 2 questions that I am able to CHOOSE from that I would like to answer.

1. Eitzen and Baca Zinn (the authors) state "Variance from the social norm of heterosexuality is not a social problem; the societal response to it is." What do you think the authors mean by that statement? Do you agree or disagree? Explain your response.

OR

2. What is compulsory heterosexuality? What are some of the rights and privileges enjoyed by heterosexuals in U.S. society that are not extended to those who are not heterosexual? Is this similar to other forms of discrimination like that based on race or sex?

I would like to get some teenagers' opinions on which topic YOU would have more to say about, and what you think you would like to say.

Please don't be immature about your responses - if we're old enough to be surfing the net, you can be mature enough to give a mature response.

TY!

Answer 1

1. The authors are stating that homosexuality and bisexuality are normal variants. They might intend to include cross-dressers and transgendered persons, too.
They contend that the societal problem is not caused by these individuals, but by the biases of the heterosexual community.

I agree that homophobia causes more societal problems than homosexuality. But, homosexual and bisexual practices cause societal problems too. I am thinking about the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS in the USA during the 1980's. Conversely, the spread of this disease in Africa is due to heterosexual practices.

Many people claimed that during this period the administration and Congress did not put more money into AIDS research, figuring that it was natures way (or God's way?) of ridding the country of homosexuals.

Answer 2

1 - Social norms change throughout time. What was social norm with regard to sexuality 10 years ago is progressing. Experimenting with pleasure and ones body in a mature and respectful way is a right of adolesence, not a social issue. When societys response is to shun and repress what a person does in private that is the problem.

Answer 3

2- it's talking about gay rights in the politically correct terms and how they are discriminated agents even by our government because they are not allowed to get married or adopt children together and if one partner adopts and is later found out they sometimes take away the children.

Answer 4

I don't think any kind of deviance from the social "norm" is a social problem. Consider sexual deviance as on a continuum from very bad to very good. the centre of the continuum is supposed to be "normal" which is only another word for average. We just do not choose to have the same types of sexual behaviours. You can name any kind of sexuality you like and measure its distance from the "norm", by which i assume they mean to be sexual behaviour as taught by missionaries in colonial times. It just depends on the society from which you come, what will be normal to you.

Answer 5

2 because like the first answer it is talkin bout gay rights and how they(includin me) are treated unfairly and different...it also seems like you could get more info on this topic than the other