| coming out
|
the process of openly defining
oneself as gay or lesbian |
| compulsory
heterosexuality |
the idea that heterosexual identity
is not a choice but is created by institutions that
treat heterosexuality as the only legitimate form of
sexual identity |
| eugenics
movement |
a social movement in the early
twentieth century that sought to apply scientific
principles of genetic selection to “improve” the
offspring of the human race |
| heterosexism
|
the institutionalization of
heterosexuality as the only socially legitimate sexual
orientation |
| homophobia
|
the fear and hatred of homosexuality
|
| minority
group |
any distinct group in society that
shares common group characteristics and is forced to
occupy low status in society because of prejudice and
discrimination |
| queer theory
|
a perspective that interprets various
dimensions of sexuality as thoroughly social and
constructed through institutional practices |
| script |
a learned performance of a social
role |
| sexual
orientation |
the manner in which individuals
experience sexual arousal and pleasure |
| sexual
politics |
the link feminists argue exists
between sexuality and power and between sexuality and
race, class, and gender oppression |
| sexual
revolution |
the widespread changes in men’s and
women’s roles and a greater public acceptance of
sexuality as a normal part of social development |
| sexual
scripts |
the ideas taught to us about what is
appropriate sexual behavior for a person of our gender
|
| social
construction |
a theoretical perspective that
explains sexual identity as created and learned within a
cultural, social, and historical context |
