Explain the significance of the sexual revolution and the sexual counterrevolution

Test 3 Essay question

1.Many people think of sexuality as a biological matter; however, sexuality is largely cultural. Explain the biological foundation of sex—how people become female and male—and then go on to explain why sexuality as a dimension of social life is mostly cultural. Consider the variation in attitudes and behavior towards the cultural character of sexuality over time and from society to society.

2. Explain the significance of the sexual revolution and the sexual counterrevolution. What changed in each case? How do these opposing trends show that U.S. society is of two minds—permissive and restrictive—regarding sexuality? Do you think that our society is becoming more accepting or less accepting of diversity in sexual behavior? Why?

3.Explain the significance of the Muxes of central Mexico for our understanding of gender. Develop a similar argument that takes the existence of transgender people in the United States into account. In other words, what cultural changes would be necessary for our society to recognize the full range of sexual diversity that exists here?

4. How does sexuality play a part in social inequality? Consider factors including prostitution and pornography and their effects on women. Also, consider heterosexism and its effects on the social standing of gay and intersexual people.
5. Identify four sexual orientations. What do we know about the extent of homosexuality in the United States? What is our understanding about the causes of sexual orientation?

6Emile Durkheim made the surprising statement that crime is actually useful and perhaps even necessary for all social organization. Write an essay in which you explain Durkheim’s approach and point to a number of specific ways in which crime (or, more broadly, deviance) is functional for society as a whole.

7. Many researchers agree that, in the United States, most arrests for street crime involve people of lower class position. According to Robert Merton, Albert Cohen, Walter Miller, and Elijah Anderson, why would this be the case? How would a broader definition of crime (to include more white-collar and corporate offenses) change the profile of the typical criminal?
8. The U.S. government provides a great deal of data about crime in the United States. Drawing on FBI data, what can we say about the “typical street criminal” in terms of age, gender, social class, race, and ethnicity? In each case, what can you say to explain the pattern? Do these patterns contain bias? Explain several reasons why we must treat criminal statistics with caution.
9. Every society punishes offenders. Write an essay in which you explain four justifications for punishment. Point out how each justification has come to the forefront at different times in history and explain this pattern as best you can. What evidence is there that punishment actually accomplishes what we say it does
10. Apply each of sociology’s three theoretical approaches to the topic of deviance. What are the basic insights we gain from each theoretical approach?

“Student do all 10 questions.”