Performative Nature of Gendered Sexualities

From hormonal variations to the implications of gender norms sexual attitudes and behaviours of men and women have been explored from both the biological essentialist view of sex as well as the social constructivist (Richardson, 2007). Essentialism views human sexuality is fixed and muted. Sexual behaviours are split into a two sex-model of male and female and are explained through biological predispositions. Conversely, social constructivists say that gender is a fluid identity, which is a product of social interaction (West & Zimmerman, 1987; Butler, 1990; Hamilton, 1996; Fredman, 1996; Bryant & Schofield, 2007). Through these interactions is the performance of gender as a way of being seen in the world.

Michel Foucault’s (1978) “repression hypothesis” explains that structures of power (i.e. Political policies, religion, schools), which are meant to represent individuals, actually regulate and produce their identities. These discourses dictate the gender norms, influence our ways of being and help create our sexual entities.

For the scope of this essay, I will use the research focusing on heterosexual males and females to illustrate cultural creations of gender for male/female sexuality. Following the West & Zimmerman perspective, I will argue that men and women’s sexual attitudes and behaviours are performed to avoid dissonance from gender norms. To better communicate gender norms, I will use Michel Foucault’s (1978) term of discourses to explain how social institutions influence our ways of seeing gender and sexual identity. The expectation for women to be feminine (ie. Passive, emotional and polite) in social interaction translates into lack of sexual initiation, passive participation in male arousal and resistance to their own desires (Vitzhum, 1991; Hamilton, 1996;Crawford & Popp, 2003, Bryant & Schofield, 2007). Likewise, men take on masculine traits in their sexual behaviours (through initiation and active roles during sex) and attitudes (toward casual sex and physical/emotional aspects of sex) (Lorentzen, 2007). Different sexual attitudes and behaviours between men and women are due to the strong influence gendered discourse has on one’s sexual identity and position of power. Through analysing sexual double standards and individual’s resistance to these norms it becomes clear that human sexuality is performed to maintain a social identity in tune with gender norms.

Male sexuality is characterized by masculine traits of physical strength, emotional simplicity, aggression and leadership (Hamilton, 1996; Lorentzen, 2007; Wilkins, 2004) . This translates into what we believe about male arousal being mostly or limited to visual stimulus (ie. Lingerie, pornography, nudity) rather than extensive foreplay or intimacy being necessary (Hamilton, 1996). Men are seen as active, and therefore assumed to be easily satisfied and readily available for sex (Allen, 2007, Lorentzen, 2007).