Poll

What is your sexual/romantic orientation?

Heterosexual
29 (69%)
Homosexual
6 (14.3%)
Bisexual
2 (4.8%)
Pansexual
0 (0%)
Hetero-romantic asexual
1 (2.4%)
Homo-romantic asexual
0 (0%)
Bi-romantic asexual
0 (0%)
Pan-romantic asexual
0 (0%)
Aromantic asexual
0 (0%)
Unsure / "it's complicated" / other
4 (9.5%)

Total Members Voted: 42

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Author Topic: Sexual Orientation  (Read 120362 times)

CrossEyed7

  • i can make this whatever i want; you're not my dad
« Reply #150 on: February 08, 2013, 09:15:44 PM »
Interesting how there are hardly any non-medical terms for the vagina that aren't considered obscene or pornographic.

But why are they considered that way? Is it because the terms themselves are more obscene, or is it because we think about them differently because of the gender?

Why is calling a penis a weiner considered less obscene than calling a vulva a hairy clam? They're both crude descriptions of what genitalia look like by way of comparing their appearance to that of something more commonly seen. I'll admit that I don't have the biggest genital lexicography, but of the slang words I know for the female reproductive system, I don't see how the words themselves are inherently that much different from the male equivalents. Even a completely innocuous term like "va-jay-jay," which is derived directly from the medical term, tends to have a different reaction than an exactly equivalent term like "peen." It's the social context of the words. A term that describes female genitalia -- particularly the appearance of them -- is considered more obscene/pornographic/disrespectful than a term describing male genitalia with equal detail, because you're not supposed to know what female genitalia look like. You're not supposed to talk about them. Women are supposed to be paragons of modesty and poise and properness, and so removing their fig leaf is a much worse crime than removing mens'. (There's also an assumption of lack of female agency in there -- the one doing the removing of the fig leaf is presumed to be a man, and the possibility of a woman speaking like that is not considered (or, alternatively, she is considered a dangerous harlot).)

Same reason why when you hear about a 40-year-old male teacher having sex with a 15-year-old female student, your reaction is a lot different than when it's a 40-year-old female teacher having sex with a 15-year-old male student. Same reason why male victims of rape and domestic abuse are ignored or mocked, when there's about as many of them as there are female victims (way more if you include prison rape). Same reason there's so much more funding for breast cancer than for prostate cancer, which is just as big a killer. Gender roles. Women need to be protected and coddled and sheltered by their big strong men. Men aren't allowed to be weak. Women aren't allowed to be strong. It cuts both ways.

(Also, cancerous breasts are so much sexier than cancerous prostates.)

It has roots in the sexual economy, where, due to human biology and evolutionary history, men are the consumers of sex and women are the suppliers. This can play out with either gender being in charge -- the women can be treated as commodities in and of themselves, with the men taking all they can carry; or the women can be acting as industries, making sure they are selling their goods to the highest bidders. This is one way in which feminism has unwittingly perpetuated the patriarchy -- whether the sexual economy is being dominated by men or by women, it's still an unequal and highly limiting system.

If you only try to free one gender from their gender roles, the overarching system will stay in place.
"Oh man, I wish being a part of a Mario fan community was the most embarrassing thing about my life." - Super-Jesse

Markio

  • Normal
« Reply #151 on: February 08, 2013, 11:16:12 PM »
(Also, cancerous breasts are so much sexier than cancerous prostates.)

Speak for yourself!

Has anyone else seen The Vagina Monologues?  That's where I first heard the term "cootie-snorcher."  It's actually really funny and enjoyable for women and non-women.  I've constantly heard people criticize the show by saying that it uses its shock factor to get attention, but I think that just demonstrates how simply mentioning female genitalia is automatically considered shocking and indecorous.  The only monologues that are ...not-Sapph-endorsed would be:
  • Reclaim: about women taking back the c-word.
  • The one about the different moans women make during sex
  • My Angry Vagina: just a lot of swearing
I'm pretty sure you can watch individual monologues from the show on Youtube, if you just search for the names of each monologue.  It's totally worth seeing at least once.  After three times the fake orgasms get old and you get tired of hearing audience members think they're clever by saying "Let's do the Penis Soliloquys next!  Aren't I original and upbeat?"  While I would like to see a show where men talk earnestly about their penises (for innocent not-gay reasons), the fact that there isn't a male version is because men have the privilege of being overt with their sexual prowess or experience.  So there's no need to have a show about it.
« Last Edit: February 09, 2013, 10:49:26 PM by Markio »
"Hello Kitty is cool, but I like Keroppi the best."

« Reply #152 on: February 09, 2013, 10:07:57 PM »
Gentlemen (like me) call it the delta of Venus.

ShadowBrain

  • Ridiculously relevant
« Reply #153 on: February 09, 2013, 10:26:40 PM »
Here at the UW, they're making it "The ____ Monologues" so trans folks don't get butthurt.
"Mario is your oyster." ~The Chef

The Chef

  • Super
« Reply #154 on: February 09, 2013, 10:45:26 PM »
Please tell me you're kidding.

Markio

  • Normal
« Reply #155 on: February 09, 2013, 10:52:59 PM »
They're leaving out the word to avoid offending transgender people?  That doesn't make sense: there was once an infamous performance of the show where all the actresses were transsexual women.  People have the right to be offended by the show, but altering the content to appease to critics seems pointless.
"Hello Kitty is cool, but I like Keroppi the best."

Insane Steve

  • Professional Cynic
« Reply #156 on: February 09, 2013, 11:25:31 PM »
Or you can do what Notre Dame did and allow the show to be run, have everyone protest against it, and then cancel it after 1 performance and vow to never allow it again

because you're sooooooo 21th century like that

EDIT: PS the typo in the line above is deliberate, but I'll leave it as an exercise to the viewer to decide whether it is the first two or second two characters that are typed wrong EDGY POLITICAL COMMENTARY
« Last Edit: February 09, 2013, 11:28:14 PM by Insane Steve »
~I.S.~

ShadowBrain

  • Ridiculously relevant
« Reply #157 on: February 10, 2013, 11:19:22 AM »
Please tell me you're kidding.
I fear not. The decision's not gone without some controversy of its own, though.
"Mario is your oyster." ~The Chef

Sapphira

  • Inquiring
« Reply #158 on: February 13, 2013, 10:35:07 AM »
Here at the UW, they're making it "The ____ Monologues" so trans folks don't get butthurt.
That's really pathetic, not to mention doesn't make much sense.


Okay, so I found a pretty decent online test regarding sexual orientation. It takes 3 variables into account: Hetero, Homo, and Ace. The test has some flaws, and it's not by a "professional" or anything, but so far it's the best one I've come across.

My results:
You scored 40 Heterosexuality, 11 Homosexuality, and 82 Asexuality!
You are moderately interested in sex to asexual, but do not appear to be interested in either gender.
The higher your score in asexuality, the less interested in you are in sex.

Percentiles: (I find these more interesting)
Heterosexuality Distribution:   You scored 40% on Heterosexuality, higher than 28% of your peers.
Homosexuality Distribution:    You scored 11% on Homosexuality, higher than 16% of your peers.
Asexuality Distribution:          You scored 82% on Asexuality, higher than 95% of your peers.


I'm curious to know how they calculated that.
"The surest way to happiness is to lose yourself in a cause greater than yourself."

« Reply #159 on: February 13, 2013, 05:18:03 PM »
Did they really have to divide sex and gender?

Edit: You scored 64 Heterosexuality, 19 Homosexuality, and 22 Asexuality!
« Last Edit: February 13, 2013, 05:25:26 PM by Weegee »
YYur  waYur n beYur you Yur plusYur instYur an Yur Yur whaYur

Insane Steve

  • Professional Cynic
« Reply #160 on: February 13, 2013, 10:29:37 PM »
You scored 76 Heterosexuality, 30 Homosexuality, and 22 Asexuality!

I actually don't even know anymore honestly
~I.S.~

CrossEyed7

  • i can make this whatever i want; you're not my dad
« Reply #161 on: February 14, 2013, 12:21:50 AM »
51 Hetero (44th percentile), 43 Homo (70th percentile), 35 Ace (51st percentile).

Did they really have to divide sex and gender?
They actually didn't, as far as I could tell; they were used pretty much interchangeably throughout the test.
"Oh man, I wish being a part of a Mario fan community was the most embarrassing thing about my life." - Super-Jesse

« Reply #162 on: February 14, 2013, 01:45:54 AM »
Lizard Dude scored 84 Heterosexuality, 2 Homosexuality, and 4 Asexuality!

Man you people are gay.

Sapphira

  • Inquiring
« Reply #163 on: February 14, 2013, 01:59:52 AM »
Or maybe you're just a homophobic, sex-crazed maniac. ;P
"The surest way to happiness is to lose yourself in a cause greater than yourself."

Suffix

  • Steamed
« Reply #164 on: February 14, 2013, 02:13:33 AM »
Hey now, we don't call people xenophobes just because they haven't visited other countries.

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