afullmargin (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
afullmargin) wrote2012-03-24 11:40 pm
afullmargin) wrote2012-03-24 11:40 pm
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Assignments make me twitchy sometimes.
So, I'm taking a human sexuality class for my psych major. I've established that compared to my classmates, my knowledge in the area is significantly higher and much more along the "fringe" as far as the textbook, professor, and other students are concerned. I've dealt with this. This particular assignment I want to share because it baffles me on so many levels.
We read a chapter in the textbook (bigendered and heterosexually biased with a strong "hey look, we're progressive for talking about how acceptable homosexuality and gender identity issues are" tilt that so many of them have), watch the second season Glee episode "Never Been Kissed" (my second and likely last episode ever seen of the show) and review the lyrics to Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" and then answer this question using only those sources:
"Why could you argue the “future is now” in regards to not only increased tolerance of alternative lifestyles, and in addition increased acceptance as well?"
As you can imagine, I had difficulty actually answering because I *do not* agree that I could argue that based on the content of the episode and the song. My response became this short essay that I thought I should share for criticism. :) Please feel free to tell me I'm wrong, if you can tell me why.
The argument that the “future is now” intrigues me, in many ways we are living in the throes of a sexually progressive age unlike any other – yet there is still significant intolerance that I believe was presented in far more than the main story arc with Kurt and the bully. Much like what was exhibited on the show we all watched, society still has very inflexible control over what is deemed socially acceptable and unacceptable in terms of expressed sexuality. In order to fully argue that the “future is now” one must first concede the points where this is clearly not the case. In this episode of Glee, we see multiple ‘alternative lifestyles’ – and for the purposes of this response I use the term sparingly to refer to non-traditional heterosexual relationships despite the fact that it is an offensive term that implies there is a ‘typical lifestyle’ counterpart .
The primary relationship I believe we are to address is the homophobia expressed by the football player who is abusive toward and later kisses the stereotypically gay Kurt in an attempt to show the tendency for sexually confused individuals to behave aggressively when confronted with what they fear – being a member of a socially outcast minority. This difficult situation is offset by the positive influence of Blaine who is also gay but attends a school that has a strong anti-bullying stance and a supportive student body that is not present at Kurt’s school. What we see happening at the expensive private school is the ideal – a world where people are accepted as they’re born, harkening back to the idealism of Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” and the refrain; “Oh there ain't no other way. Baby I was born this way.” The fact of the matter is, as shown in the episode, situations where that is the norm are rare, Kurt’s public school experience is much closer to what the typical American teenager is exposed to. While the other students in the Glee club are considered to be accepting of Kurt’s sexual identity it is made clear that they view him with hostility by making jokes about dressing in drag and wanting to be on the girls’ team in the competition. In many ways, the aggressive behavior exhibited by Karofsky is almost preferable to the Glee club’s passive homophobia in that aggressive behavior is acknowledged as being socially unacceptable and would be called out for sooner than the much more subtle passive aggressive bullying exhibited in the form of insults from people that are supposed his ‘friends’. While yes, the fact that that Blaine’s school is accepting and Blain himself encourages Kurt to be strong and stand up to the bully and assert his identity shows a strong leaning toward a future of acceptance and the fact that Kurt is out at school and not afraid to be out indicate a progressive step forward, it is imperative also see the weight of ‘acceptable’ passive homophobia impeding that progress.
Lady Gaga also sings; “No matter gay, straight, or bi, lesbian, transgendered life. I'm on the right track baby, I was born to survive. No matter black, white or beige Chola or orient made, I'm on the right track baby, I was born to be brave.” The implicit meaning of this passage, and the song itself, is that we are all born the way that we are and should be seen and tolerated as individuals and not on the basis of our sexual identity, gender identity, or race which is a remarkably progressive thought that I wish would be exemplified more in the real world. Unfortunately, we still live in a society where much like on Glee it very much matters what you look like and who you love.
What I got from this show was that as long as you are an attractive, heterosexual teenager that non-typical sexual expression is socially acceptable. But if you are deemed unattractive (as the horrifically named and humiliated character ‘Beast’), not presenting a socially acceptable gender identity (‘Beast’s’ masculine characteristics and Kurt’s feminine characteristics) or disabled (Artie’s being “a crip”) then your identity, particularly your sexual identity, is a joke. We are indeed more progressive in terms of accepting ‘alternative lifestyles’ but only in situations where those involved follow the stringent social norms to maintain a socially acceptable identity. Even Lady Gaga has been publicly harassed, mocked, and made an example of what is not socially acceptable for her open sexuality and occasional cross-dressing; clearly while she is comfortable with being “Born This Way”, many do not share the sentiment.
Thoughts?
We read a chapter in the textbook (bigendered and heterosexually biased with a strong "hey look, we're progressive for talking about how acceptable homosexuality and gender identity issues are" tilt that so many of them have), watch the second season Glee episode "Never Been Kissed" (my second and likely last episode ever seen of the show) and review the lyrics to Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" and then answer this question using only those sources:
"Why could you argue the “future is now” in regards to not only increased tolerance of alternative lifestyles, and in addition increased acceptance as well?"
As you can imagine, I had difficulty actually answering because I *do not* agree that I could argue that based on the content of the episode and the song. My response became this short essay that I thought I should share for criticism. :) Please feel free to tell me I'm wrong, if you can tell me why.
The argument that the “future is now” intrigues me, in many ways we are living in the throes of a sexually progressive age unlike any other – yet there is still significant intolerance that I believe was presented in far more than the main story arc with Kurt and the bully. Much like what was exhibited on the show we all watched, society still has very inflexible control over what is deemed socially acceptable and unacceptable in terms of expressed sexuality. In order to fully argue that the “future is now” one must first concede the points where this is clearly not the case. In this episode of Glee, we see multiple ‘alternative lifestyles’ – and for the purposes of this response I use the term sparingly to refer to non-traditional heterosexual relationships despite the fact that it is an offensive term that implies there is a ‘typical lifestyle’ counterpart .
The primary relationship I believe we are to address is the homophobia expressed by the football player who is abusive toward and later kisses the stereotypically gay Kurt in an attempt to show the tendency for sexually confused individuals to behave aggressively when confronted with what they fear – being a member of a socially outcast minority. This difficult situation is offset by the positive influence of Blaine who is also gay but attends a school that has a strong anti-bullying stance and a supportive student body that is not present at Kurt’s school. What we see happening at the expensive private school is the ideal – a world where people are accepted as they’re born, harkening back to the idealism of Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” and the refrain; “Oh there ain't no other way. Baby I was born this way.” The fact of the matter is, as shown in the episode, situations where that is the norm are rare, Kurt’s public school experience is much closer to what the typical American teenager is exposed to. While the other students in the Glee club are considered to be accepting of Kurt’s sexual identity it is made clear that they view him with hostility by making jokes about dressing in drag and wanting to be on the girls’ team in the competition. In many ways, the aggressive behavior exhibited by Karofsky is almost preferable to the Glee club’s passive homophobia in that aggressive behavior is acknowledged as being socially unacceptable and would be called out for sooner than the much more subtle passive aggressive bullying exhibited in the form of insults from people that are supposed his ‘friends’. While yes, the fact that that Blaine’s school is accepting and Blain himself encourages Kurt to be strong and stand up to the bully and assert his identity shows a strong leaning toward a future of acceptance and the fact that Kurt is out at school and not afraid to be out indicate a progressive step forward, it is imperative also see the weight of ‘acceptable’ passive homophobia impeding that progress.
Lady Gaga also sings; “No matter gay, straight, or bi, lesbian, transgendered life. I'm on the right track baby, I was born to survive. No matter black, white or beige Chola or orient made, I'm on the right track baby, I was born to be brave.” The implicit meaning of this passage, and the song itself, is that we are all born the way that we are and should be seen and tolerated as individuals and not on the basis of our sexual identity, gender identity, or race which is a remarkably progressive thought that I wish would be exemplified more in the real world. Unfortunately, we still live in a society where much like on Glee it very much matters what you look like and who you love.
What I got from this show was that as long as you are an attractive, heterosexual teenager that non-typical sexual expression is socially acceptable. But if you are deemed unattractive (as the horrifically named and humiliated character ‘Beast’), not presenting a socially acceptable gender identity (‘Beast’s’ masculine characteristics and Kurt’s feminine characteristics) or disabled (Artie’s being “a crip”) then your identity, particularly your sexual identity, is a joke. We are indeed more progressive in terms of accepting ‘alternative lifestyles’ but only in situations where those involved follow the stringent social norms to maintain a socially acceptable identity. Even Lady Gaga has been publicly harassed, mocked, and made an example of what is not socially acceptable for her open sexuality and occasional cross-dressing; clearly while she is comfortable with being “Born This Way”, many do not share the sentiment.
Thoughts?