Gayle Rubin: A Cultural Anthropologist
Gayle Rubin, a cultural anthropologist by trade, has been around the block a few times and is no doubt on her way to being a household name. Besides her groundbreaking work on the female anatomy and other sex and sexuality related topics, Rubin also authored a number of high profile books and articles on everything from feminist art to sexualized public pedagogy. Among her many scholarly contributions, she is perhaps best known for her 1984 essay Thinking Sex: Notes for a Radical Theory of Sexuality. She was a true believer in the power of social science to transform society from the inside out and this is her ode to the subject.
Thinking Sex Sociology
Thinking sex Sociology is the study of the way society perceives and experiences gender and sexuality. It is an important interdisciplinary field that examines how people develop and use their gender and sexual identities, the social processes that shape those identities, and how different cultural perceptions of gender affect people's lives.
The Power of Sex
Sex is a very personal experience, but it's also a powerful social phenomenon. It determines how we view ourselves and our relationships with others, and it shapes the way we live, work, play, and interact with other people. In fact, sex is a critical part of how people feel about themselves, and it is an essential element in how we form our sense of identity.
Five Ideological Formations
Rubin identifies five ideological formations that influence our perceptions of sex: heteronormativity, homophobia, double standards, the dominant gender schema, and the hierarchical valuation of sexual acts (Rubin, 1984). She discusses these ideologies in detail, highlighting their relationship to one another and the social forces behind them.
The Dominant Gender Schema
The dominant gender schema is an ideology that states that there are only two possible sexes, male and female. It is a fundamental organizing principle of societal structures, such as marriage and property rights. It also underlies the "natural" distinction between men and women.
The Impact of Dominant Gender Schema
This ideology has been used to maintain the power of dominant groups in society, i.e., to control access to positions of power and to determine how people are rewarded for their accomplishments.
Discrimination and Social Norms
It also has been used to justify the discrimination of homosexuals, sex workers, and intersex individuals. This is a very serious problem and has become a major factor in the lives of those who are not conforming to the norms set by society.
Understanding Homophobia
Homophobia is an extreme or irrational fear of gay people, lesbians, and other sexual minorities. It is usually expressed through anti-homosexual laws, censorship of literature, and other means. It is a social problem that has impacted most of the world's societies, and it continues to be an issue in many countries today.
The Power of the Dominant Gender Schema
The dominant gender schema is the basic organizational principle that maintains the power of dominant groups in society, enabling them to control access to positions of power and to define how people are rewarded for their accomplishments. It is also the primary organizing principle of societal structures, such as education, marriage, and employment.
Hierarchy of Sexual Roles
Besides this, the dominant gender schema also creates a hierarchy of sexual roles that defines how people are expected to behave. The top positions on the erotic pyramid are occupied by married heterosexual couples, followed by unmarried heterosexuals and then by homosexuals. The bottom positions are occupied by people who do not fit into any of these categories.
