GESS - Exam 4

Porn industry

A global business that makes money by creating and sharing porn, worth about $97 billion a year.

Porn addiction recovery industry

A global business that makes money by helping people who believe they are addicted to porn, as part of the larger $35 billion addiction treatment industry.

Neurosexism

Using brain science to defend gender stereotypes and claim men and women are naturally different in fixed ways.

Brain plasticity

The brain’s ability to change and adapt over time based on experiences.

Sex and gender essentialism

The belief that sex and gender are fixed, unchanging traits that apply to everyone in the same way.

Sexual subjectification

How people develop their personal sense of being sexual—what they want, feel, and believe about sex.

Sexual habitus

The habits, desires, and sexual behaviors we develop through a lifetime of experiences.

Hookup

A one-time sexual encounter that’s meant to be casual and not romantic.

Collegiate hookup culture

College environments where casual sex is seen as the normal or expected way to be sexual, and where it’s supported by social norms and the campus setup.

Ideologically hegemonic

The belief that hooking up is the best or only way to have sex in college (usually with multiple people and no commitment).

Sexually scripted

People follow common "rules" or expectations about how hooking up should happen.

Institutionalized

The college’s setup—including where people live and socialize—makes it easier for hookups to happen, often in ways that also reflect racial dynamics.

Sexual script

The unspoken rules that shape how people behave during sex.

Sexual geography

How sexual opportunities and risks are spread out in a physical space (like a college campus).

Racial sexual geography

How race affects who gets sexual attention or faces risk in different spaces.

Sexual project

What someone is trying to get out of a sexual interaction (like pleasure, status, connection, etc.).

Gendered institution

A system or place (like a school, family, or workplace) that is organized around gender roles.

Gender salience

How noticeable or important gender is in different situations or places.

Hypermasculinity

Extreme behavior that follows traditional "tough guy" rules—often risky and focused on power, even if it’s unsafe.

Exculpatory chauvinism

Making excuses for men’s bad behavior by saying “that’s just how men are,” and using that to justify male dominance.

Patriarchal bargain

When someone accepts gender inequality because they benefit from it in some way.

Benevolent sexism

Saying nice things about women that still suggest they are weaker or need to be protected—keeping them in a lower position.

Emphasized femininity

Acting in a way that fits traditional feminine roles mainly to please or support men.

Hierarchy of masculinity

The idea that some men are seen as more masculine (and better) than others.

sexism

preferring men over women

Androcentrism

valuing masculinity more than femininity

Subordination

Putting women in roles where they’re expected to serve or depend on men.

Sugar relationships

When an older, wealthy person gives money, gifts, or advice to a younger person in return for attention, affection, or sometimes sex.

Erotic capital

Someone’s sexual appeal or attractiveness, which can be used to get things they want.

Economic capital

Money and financial resources that can be used to get goods, services, or power.

Double bind

A no-win situation where you're expected to follow two conflicting rules.

Impression management

Trying to shape how others see you.

Emotion work

Controlling your feelings to fit what’s expected in a social situation.

Neoliberalism

The belief that people should handle all parts of life like a competition, focused on their own self-interest.

Neoliberal sexuality

The belief that people should handle their sex lives like a competition, focused on their own self-interest.

Compulsory heterosexuality

Society pushes people to be straight, treating it as the “normal” way to be, which ends up excluding or punishing other sexualities.

Lesbian continuum

A range of close bonds between women—including friendships and romantic/sexual relationships—that challenge male-centered society.

Man identification

A way of thinking or living where men and their experiences are prioritized over women.

Woman identification

A way of thinking or living where women and their experiences are prioritized over men.

Deep heterosexuality

When a man is not only sexually attracted to women but also deeply respects and values them.

Heterosexual-repair industry

Efforts aimed at convincing people that they should be straight—making men want women and women want men.

Eugenics movement

A harmful and racist idea that aimed to increase births among white people and limit births among others, often tied to the push for traditional, straight relationships.

Misogyny paradox

Society teaches men they should like women, while also encouraging attitudes that devalue or dislike women.

Repressive Hypothesis

the idea that power is exercised through repression - Foucault doesn’t agree

Discourse

all forms of communication

multiplication of sexualities

breaking down sexuality into more and more specific identities

incitement

influencing people by creating desire

relationship anarchy

relationships should be based on mutual agreement, not on social expectations or traditional rules.