gender and sexuality scholars

Taylor (1997)

Gay women have always had a lower social profile than gay men

Michek Dorais (2004)

found that many young men who attempted suicide did so because they struggled with their own sexuality

Cronin (1997)

argues that sexuality was a matter of choice until the 17th century and being heterosexual became the dominant sexuality

Whelan (2000)

questions whether woman are truly free to choose their own identity or whether there is still pressure on young women to conform to sexist patriarchal identities

Wilkinson (1994)

women aspire to professional success and financial independence. family commitments have less importance. younger women are most likely to experience a working mother as a role model.

Mort (1996)

focuses on metrosexual men. concerned with image and invest in personal grooming products. E.g. David Beckham

Mac an Ghaill (1996)

crisis of masculinity. Decline of traditional industries, rising unemployment. work is central to the identity of traditional men. they look to other ways to establish masculinity. e.g. youth gang culture.

Connolly (1998)

studied 5 and 6 year olds in an ethnically mixed inner city primary school. Ethnicity had an impact on how they saw masculinity and femininity.

Connell (1995,2009)

there is no single version of masculinity or femininity in societies like modern Britain. but there is still a hegemonic masculinity which consists of white middle class men.

Judith Butler (1999)

Gender is a performance. Gender requires practice and is not something that comes naturally. It is therefore possible to conform from expected gender attributes

Statham (1982)

found that by the age of 5, most children have acquired a clear gender identity, they know what gender they belong to and understand the appropriate behaviour.