Kinsey argued in 1948, "It would encourage clearer thinking on these matters [of labeling homosexuals] if persons were not characterized as heterosexual or homosexual, but as individuals who have had certain amounts of heterosexual experience and homosexual experience. Instead of using these terms as substantives (real and apparent entities) which stand for persons, they may be better used to describe the nature of overt sexual relations, or of the stimuli to which an individual erotically responds.".
Here I shall look at this statement regarding sexuality and gender from a sociological perspective on deviance. In this discussion, I will address the following questions: What role does sexuality (and gender) play in society? How are these categories constructed? How are they maintained? What do these categories reveal about important configurations of power in American society?.
The "social construction" of the category of gender has had its roots firmly planted since biblical times: from the creation of the female, Eve for man (so Adam would not be lonely) to the 1800s when women were not allowed (by men) the right to vote. It has been prevalent in marriage ceremonies as brides promised to "honor and obey" their husbands (although the "obey" part seems to be absent recently). The role of the male being dominant or superior to the female is one that insists on transcending time despite modern day efforts for gender equality in society. We (society) constructed this category based on a patriarchal system that places the primacy of masculinity above all else. Gender ensures a distinction between male and female, affirming male dominance over the weaker female. Moreover, the dichotomy of the patriarchy over all else that threaten it must be maintained through continual reaffirmation and reinforcement.
The reinforcement of gender roles and boundaries through societal constructs is shown in Woodhouse's discussion of transvestites or cross-dressers.
