Sociology
of the Body
Introduction
As
a branch of sociology, sociology of the body is dedicated to the study of the
social representation and uses of the human body in the society.
Question 1
What does the
dominant construction of heterosexual sex look like? According to
constructionists, human behaviour is a social construction. One that is heavily
influenced by the environment. From their point of view, human behaviour is not
immutable or innate (DeLamater and Hyde, 1998).
On the contrary, it is shaped by the society throughout their lives. Therefore,
sexuality falls under this category as it is socially constructed and a result
of social cultural conditioning. The prevalent construction of heterosexual sex
is not universal. However, it is subject to cultural variations and historical
changes (DeLamater and Hyde, 1998). Sexual
acts are regarded as dependent solely on the culture and specifically on the
context upon which they occur. As a result, sexuality varies from one culture
to the other.
Question 2
Are men increasingly engaging in beauty practices and what does this mean?
Human bodies have been regarded as products of nature from time immemorial. However, they are also products of culture. Cultures shape and modify human bodies different. According to the modern culture, there is a thin line between jobs done by women and those regarded to be primarily for men (Vannier and O’Sullivan, 2010). As a result, men are engaging in beauty practices and this shapes the modern culture in a different perspective. Practices such as tattooing, scarification and body piercing are a common practice in today’s modern man. This means that the modern society is out of control as the norms that waved and held the society together are no longer observed. Some of this practices are done as an effort of finding a fit in the modern society.
Question 2
Are men increasingly engaging in beauty practices and what does this mean?
Human bodies have been regarded as products of nature from time immemorial. However, they are also products of culture. Cultures shape and modify human bodies different. According to the modern culture, there is a thin line between jobs done by women and those regarded to be primarily for men (Vannier and O’Sullivan, 2010). As a result, men are engaging in beauty practices and this shapes the modern culture in a different perspective. Practices such as tattooing, scarification and body piercing are a common practice in today’s modern man. This means that the modern society is out of control as the norms that waved and held the society together are no longer observed. Some of this practices are done as an effort of finding a fit in the modern society.
In
conclusion, body modification and body image are influenced by the society and
the culture being practiced.
References
DeLamater,
J. and Hyde, J. (1998). Essentialism vs. social constructionism in the study of
human sexuality. Journal of Sex Research, 35(1),
pp.10-18.
Vannier,
S. and O’Sullivan, L. (2010). Communicating Interest in Sex: Verbal and
Nonverbal Initiation of Sexual
Activity in Young Adults’ Romantic Dating Relationships. Arch Sex Behav, 40(5), pp.961-969.
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