A Historical Analysis of Gender, Sexuality, and Social Change

This set of flashcards covers key concepts, historical events, and critical shifts related to gender, sexuality, and social change as discussed in the lecture notes.

What is the main focus of the report on gender, sexuality, and social change?

The report critically analyzes the evolution of Western conceptions of gender, sexuality, and reproduction from the 19th century through the late 20th century.

Which institutions have shaped the boundaries between 'normal' and 'abnormal' sexualities?

Powerful institutions including medicine, law, and government.

What framework was established during the Victorian era regarding sexuality?

A rigid, gendered framework of morality that defined 'normal' and 'abnormal' sexualities.

What two models define Victorian men and women?

The 'two-body model,' which justifies distinct and unequal social roles for men and women.

What was the Victorian ideal woman defined by?

Her reproductive capacity and purpose for procreation.

How was male sexuality viewed in the Victorian era?

As a powerful, almost uncontrollable force requiring an outlet.

What was widely condemned by medical authorities during the Victorian era?

Masturbation, seen as a cause of physical and mental decay.

What underground activity flourished despite Victorian public censorship?

Pornography.

What was the 'double standard' in Victorian society regarding sexual behavior?

Premarital and extramarital sex was pardoned for men but ruinous for women.

What did the Contagious Diseases Acts impose upon suspected sex workers in Victorian England?

Compulsory medical examinations and detention for carrying venereal disease.

What phenomenon challenges Victorian gender roles as described in the notes?

The existence of 'Female Husbands'—those assigned female at birth living as men.

What significant shift in the governance of sexuality occurred in the early 20th century?

A transition from framing sexual variance as moral 'sin' to viewing it as medical or psychiatric conditions.

How did sexology categorize sexual behaviors?

Creating a spectrum from 'normal' (procreative heterosexual sex) to 'pathological' (everything else).

What term did Michel Foucault associate with the late 19th century regarding identity?

'The invention of the homosexual,' which pathologized same-sex desire.

What did early sexologists not distinguish between, according to the notes?

Gender expression and sexual orientation.

What influential idea was coined by Karl Heinrich Ulrichs?

'Urnings' to describe men attracted to other men, theorizing they had 'a woman’s soul enclosed in a man’s body.'

What was a key concern of reproductive rights movements in the 20th century?

The principle of individual bodily autonomy against state control.

What were some dangerous methods women resorted to before legal abortion?

Using household items like darning needles or injecting toxic solutions.

Who provided a firsthand account of performing illegal abortions in Australia?

Cindy-Lou Lee.

What significant change did the introduction of the oral contraceptive pill in 1960 represent?

It fundamentally separated heterosexual sex from the risk of pregnancy for women.

What were some advantages of the contraceptive pill?

Allowed women sexual freedom without pregnancy fear and empowerment to plan family and careers.

What ethical problem was associated with early contraceptive pill trials?

Marginalized women being used as test subjects without proper disclosure of risks.

What was a slogan of the Women's Liberation movement?

'Control over their own bodies.'

What key legal reforms were achieved through the Women's Liberation movement?

Decriminalization of abortion in places like the UK and landmark Roe v. Wade decision in the US.

How did the experiences of women of color differ in the Women's Liberation movement?

They often felt alienated as their struggles were not adequately addressed.

What struggle was prioritized by many Indigenous women in Australia?

The fight for land rights and self-determination.

What was the cultural shift in gay and lesbian activism in the 1960s and 70s?

From secrecy and shame to public protest and a collective political identity.

What was the Stonewall Uprising?

An uprising against police brutality and harassment in 1969, considered the birthplace of modern gay rights.

What were the primary goals of the gay liberation movement post-Stonewall?

Decriminalization, ending police harassment, public expression, and identity formation.

Which Australian state was the first to decriminalize homosexual acts?

South Australia (1972-1975).

What was the unique struggle of lesbian activists during the gay rights movement?

The right for lesbian mothers to keep their children.

What notorious name was initially given to the HIV/AIDS crisis in the 1980s?

'Gay Plague' or GRID (Gay-Related Immune Deficiency).

How did reactions to the HIV/AIDS crisis in the United States differ from Australia's response?

US response was neglect and moral condemnation, while Australia’s response was proactive and community-focused.

What strategies did the gay community employ to combat the HIV/AIDS crisis?

Grassroots mobilization, education, and direct-action protests.

What were radical direct actions taken by groups like ACT UP?

Engaging in demonstrations to raise awareness about the slow FDA drug approval process.

What does the history of gender and sexuality demonstrate about progress?

It is a non-linear path of hard-won advances followed by backlashes.

What advancements have been made in HIV prevention in modern times?

Medical advancements like PrEP and PEP have altered the landscape of HIV prevention.

How has the understanding of identity evolved since the 1990s?

Shift from 'gay' and 'lesbian' identities to a more fluid and inclusive 'queer' identity.

What percentage of White Southern communities supported interracial marriage in the 1958 poll?

1%

5% of white commutes outside the south approved