Gender

  Fluidity and mutability of gender, sexual behavior and sexual desire

Bednarska’s story reminds us about the gender gap between abled and disabled people.  In ‘Passing Last Summer’ she explains how her disability hindered the creation of identity. Her condition affected her sexual life since people around her believed that being disabled hindered her from being sexually active. The point is that she was defined with respect to her disability but she is a unique woman who rejected the bodily hatred and accepted herself the way she is. By gaining the bodily acceptance, she developed a sense of desirability and created a strong relationship.

 An important point to understand is that the knowledge gender comes from the mind and the mind constructions are mutable. Science shows that gender and sex are natural things which cannot be changed.  Individuals who changes sex and gender are described by the society as mentally ill or people who have engaged in deviant behaviors since sex and gender is something which cannot be changed (Fradella & Summer, 2016).. However, an important point that everyone should know is that sex and gender is something which can be changed. On the same note, fluidity and mutability are elements of sexual development and this calls the attention on allowing sexual minorities to enjoy their rights.

Sexual fluidity is a situation where individuals are flexible toward sexual responsiveness and they changes sexual desires to same sex or opposite sex individuals. In understanding fluidity and mutuality, it is important to note that sexual mores are socially constructed and the construction creates sexual orientation as well as identity. According to Kaz-Wise et al (2016), gendered minorities develop identity which drives them toward expressing sexual attraction to different genders. In addition, queer increases flexibility and resistance to traditional identities which do not align with sexual orientations. Sexual fluidity is also contributed by affirming hormones especially in masculine thereby leading to high sex drive. Past researches and studies shown that   there unexpected changes which develops identity and behaviors. Note that individuals who experience sexual fluidity have sexual orientation (Katz-Wise et al, 2016). In addition, sexual fluidity is associated with sexual attractions and feelings. Sexual fluidity is associated with dependent capacity or in other words individuals experience nonexclusive attractions.

According to Fradella & Summer (2016), Social constructionism clear explains the meaning of fluidity and mutability by asserting that individuals develop sexuality by being connected to the real world and culture. Social constructionist also states that multiple spaces are constructed with respect to how individuals experiences and interprets the world (Fradella & Summer, 2016). In order to understand both homosexuality and heterosexuality, it is important to focus on the fluidity nature. This will help avoid the marginalization of same sexual desires. Indeed, social constructionism has found that sexual desires create sexual identity such as lesbian and gay identities.

 According to Istar (2013), mutability of sex and gender is a process of developing gender identity and so society should create an environment where diverse experiences, sexual expressions and gender identity are accepted.  In order to understand the construction of sexual and gender identity, Istar (2013) states that gender identity is created first and then gender roles and sexual orientation are formed later. Thus, gays and lesbians and their gender identities help them develop gender roles which are sickly expected. Diamond (2008) adds that sexual fluidity in men and women gains affectional feelings in different life stages. Recently, research has reported that homosexual and heterosexual women are aroused visual images and this is an indication that women have subjective experiences which creates gender difference and variability. What people should understand about mutability and fluidity is that women have sexual orientations and fluidity is influence by different factors.  In addition, fluidity increased erotic feelings and it does not change sexual orientation (Diamond, 2008). However, the truth is that sexual orientation drives individuals toward to opposite or same sex.

 

Focusing on social constructionism, social norms and cultures play a fundamental role in developing sexual orientation. On the same note, cultural ideologies and socialization practices develops sexuality. Other point to understand is that gender identity is created through psychological experience. Also note that gay and lesbian have gender identities like heterosexual individuals (Diamond, 2008). For example lesbian expresses their femininity and gays express their hegemonic role. Other important point to understand based on fluidity and mutability is that women fluidity is influenced by sexual desire, unorientation and romantic love. Focusing on the first factor which is the sexual desire, the author states that sexual desires is triggered by  different stimulus  and mechanism. Men and women have different sex cues due to change in environment   and sex hormones. The difference in  sexual desires helps understand   that homosexuality is environmental given that  same-sexual desires is triggered by  environmental   factors  and this means that sexual-minorities creates their identity due to biological and environmental influence. This is because; they have both Proceptivity and arousability similar to heterosexual individuals (Diamond, 2008).  Proceptivity is a sexual desire triggered by hormones which drives a person toward finding sexual gratification. On the other hand, arousability is triggered by situations and interpersonal experience, such as ideas, images and more. Other point to understand on behaviors is that recent research has found that sexual desires drive individuals toward same-sex attraction (Diamond, 2008).

 

Finally, women in 21 century have the freedom to develop sexual identities and relationships. There is a remarkable change on women’s sexual identities and this change has an effect on social interactions. In life, women experience pure relationship and plastic sexuality according to (Better, 2014). In pure relationship individuals experience natural relationship with others and it existence is maintained by satisfaction. This allows people to embrace change for creating long-term relationships. On the other hand, plastic sexuality develops sexual pleasure and individuals’ gains control over sexualities. An important  point to note is that sexuality is  a way of  expressing  sexual pleasure and developing identities and as  result,  it is something which can be changed  with respect to  individual  and cultural factors (Better, 2014). Women’s bodies play a fundamental role in developing identities and new realities. Same sex sexuality is influenced by different forms such as bisexual and historical changes. However, it is important to note that is there is a difference between sexual fluidity and bisexual since the latter contributes to nonexclusive desires while the former leads to erotic responsiveness. Sexual feelings are triggered by both even through the latter gives rise to missed attractions while the former leads to context-dependent in sexual attraction (Better, 2014).  Love and desire reinforces the mutability of gender and the two factors are influenced by psychological and biological factors. Other point is that sexual fluidity and variations are triggered by intrinsic orientation. The last point to note is that fluidity is constrained by intrinsic and extrinsic aspects which drive individuals toward same-sex attractions.

 

Reference

Diamond, L. M. (2008). Sexual fluidity: Understanding women's love and desire. Cambridge, Mass:

Harvard University Press.

 

Fradella F. Henry & Summer M. Jennifer. (2016). Sex, Sexuality, Law, and (In)justice. Routledge

 

Istar L. Arlene. (2013). Transgender Emergence: Therapeutic Guidelines for Working with Gender-

Variant People and Their Families. Routledge

 

Katz-Wise, S. L., Reisner, S. L., Hughto, J. W., & Keo-Meier, C. L. (2016). Differences in Sexual Orientation

Diversity and Sexual Fluidity in Attractions Among Gender Minority Adults in

Massachusetts. Journal Of Sex Research, 53(1), 74-84.

doi:10.1080/00224499.2014.1003028

 

Better, A. (2014). Redefining Queer: Women's Relationships and Identity in an Age of Sexual

Fluidity. Sexuality & Culture, 18(1), 16-38. doi:10.1007/s12119-013-9171-8