Social Problems - Chapter 5

Sex

The biological distinction between men and women.

Gender identity

A person’s deeply held sense of their gender.

Transgender

Having a gender identity that differs from a person's biological sex at birth.

Cisgender

A gender identity that reflects the sex assignment a person has at birth.

LGBTQ+ Community

Refers to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning population.

Sexual Orientation

A person's romantic and emotional attraction to another person.

Heterosexuality

Sexual attraction to someone of the other sex; most commonly accepted orientation.

Homosexuality

Sexual attraction to someone of the same sex.

Bisexuality

Sexual attraction to people of both sexes.

Pansexuality

A fluid pattern of sexual attraction that may include females and males but also people of any sexual identity.

Asexual

The absence of sexual attraction to people, regardless of sex or sexual identity.

Homophobia

An aversion to or hostility towards people thought to be gay, lesbian, or bisexual.

Pornography

Words or images intended to cause sexual arousal.

Prostitution

The selling of sexual services.

Sex trafficking

Commercial sex that is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or involving a person under 18.

Abortion

A termination of a pregnancy.

Sexually transmitted infections

Infections spread by sexual contact.

1924

First gay rights group formed in Chicago

1964

The Civil Rights Act banned discrimination

1968

American Psychiatric Association classified homosexuality as “sexual deviation”

1969

Stonewall Riot, defining moment in growth of the movement

1973

DSM classification changed, and homosexuality was considered a simply normal and variation in sexual orientation

1976

Williams v. Saxbe declared that sexual harassment is a type of workplace discrimination

1985

President Ronald Regan created the Meese Commission, concluded porn causes men to be more accepting of violent acts - including rape

2008

Massachusetts first state to rule in favor of same-sex marriage

2011

US military ended ban on homosexuality

2015

US Supreme Court declared, after the case of Obergefell vs. Hodges, that same-sex couples were allowed to marry

2020

US Supreme court banned workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation/and or transgender status