SWLF 1005 - Week 8 This week

1
SWLF 1005 - Week 8This weeks key concept in
social welfare sexual diversity and the
elderly/retired

• Two important thoughts as we begin
• Provided a relationship is shared between
  consenting adults, should what one thinks is
  beautiful matter to society?
• In a liberal democracy like ours, where do the
  rights of citizenship begin and end? Ought there
  to be different standards for different citizens?

2
Agenda for this week

• Format for Quiz 2. Decision time? Or would you
  prefer to wait until you get Quiz 1 handed back?
• Left over items for discussion from last weeks
  key concept in social welfare gender
• Our readings this week (Hick 2002 203-215 2004
  221-236) sexual diversity and the elderly
  and retired in perspective.
• Paper 1 handed back (global assessment to follow
  online this week).

3
Recall on controversy in our course

• At the risk of re-stating the obvious, three
  points are worth rehearsing before delving into
  tonights lecture
• Our course deals with controversial subjects, and
  there is little that be done about that
• You are by no stretch of the imagination expected
  to agree with what you encounter in course
  materials, but you are expected to address it
• Any comment is welcome in our course, provided it
  is offered respectfully.

4
Recall gender as a social construction

• Who determines what our gender is?
• Are there social expectations for men and women?
  Why?
• Distinguishing between gender and sex

5
Karaoke time? The Beatles in perspective

• Your task
• Hum or sing along this tune for me if you will.
  
• While chiming in on your rendition of Youve
  got to hide your love away by the Beatles, pay
  special attention to the lyrics.
• What do you think this song is about?

6
Sexual diversity a new phenomenon?

• This week we are talking about sexualities beyond
  the heterosexual model.
• At issue then are citizens with non-heterosexual
  sexual orientations.
• When you think of lesbian, bisexual, gay or
  transgendered sexuality, what images come to mind?

7
This?
8
This?
9
What about this?
10
What? Really?

• Socratesas well as Sappho of Lesbos (c.620-c560
  BC) and Plato (c.427-347 BC).
• And (in the Christian tradition), young King
  David (second King of Israel).

11
What? Really?

• J.M. Keynes someone we know well from this
  course.
• Ma Rainey (1886-1939) the Mother of the Blues.

12
What does this brief historical review tell us?

• That sexual diversity has been common in human
  civilizations for thousands of years.
• That those with non-heterosexual orientations
  have faced trying circumstances over the past
  number of centuries being open about their
  desires.
• That regardless of ones personal opinions about
  sexual diversity, dismissing it as an aberration
  belies historical realities.

13
State repression of sexual diversity

• The word homosexuality is a modern invention.
  The word directly references a uniquely Western
  system of crime, punishment, and reform targeted
  at gay sex
• In areas of Europe (the Netherlands, London,
  France), sexual diversity was viscously
  repressed.
• Laws against sodomy were first introduced in
  Western society during the Middle Ages. But by
  the 1700s, the idea was coming undone.
  Gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgendered subcultures
  were prevelent by the 1800s.

14
State repression of sexual diversity

• The trial of Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) and the
  Scandal on Cleveland Street.
• Discovery of a male prostitution ring in London
  evokes public outcry.
• Wilde was tried (and convicted) for gross
  indecency for his relationship with Lord Alfred
  Douglas.

15
The medicalization of sexuality

• During the latter half of the 19th century
  (1850-1900), the Western medical establishment
  decides to label non-heterosexuals as deviants.
• Much of this came from a growing cottage industry
  of doctors seeking lucrative contracts as
  professional servants. Even masturbation was
  deemed lethal to ones health.
• Doctors put themselves forward as actors able to
  diagnose and cure non-heterosexuals.

16
Sigmund Freud defining sexuality

• Freud (1856-1939) was the founder of
  psychoanalysis. To make a long story short, he
  believed people could address with their
  emotional trauma by talking to a trained
  therapist.
• This idea was rejected by the medical
  establishment, but Freuds successes soon proved
  hard to ignore.

17
Freud on sex (continued)

• In Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality
  (1905), Freud argued that sexuality is a process
  independent of ones sex. Once again, his
  research offends mainstream society and the
  medical establishment.
• Freud denied the hereditarian theory of sexual
  orientation, but was drowned out by his erstwhile
  followers and colleagues. His original vision
  would in large measure be lost, until

18
Gay Liberation Movement

• By the mid-20th Century, as others followed in
  the footsteps of Oscar Wilde, small movements in
  Western cities began to defiantly assert rights
  for sexual diversity, and tolerance of
  non-heterosexuals.
• A critical moment in this struggle came on June
  27, 1969, when the New York City tactical police
  force raided a popular Greenwich city gay bar,
  the Stonewall Inn.
• While raids were not unusual, this incident
  provoked colourful street riots and several
  nights of protest.

19
Stonewall riot (from a film)
20
Stonewall riot (left - actual shot), modern
relevance (photo on the right)
21
1973 a landmark decision

• Under the pressure from growing gay liberation
  movements in major US cities (and elsewhere in
  the world), the American Psychiatric Association
  removes homosexuality from its official list of
  mental diseases.
• Since this time, pride has become a prominent
  word for those championing sexual diversity.
• But hardly implies that gay rights are
  uncontroversial. On the contrary, a number of
  pitched debates have taken place since the
  origins of

22
Biological essentialism / social construction

• Now that we have a handle on non-heterosexual
  history, these buzzwords lobbed in the beginning
  of Hick are easier to explain
• In large measure, they refer to insights first
  publicly arrived at with Freuds analysis.

23
But whats the big deal anyway?

• Canadian society has always had a unique
  approach to subjects of sexual diversity
• In recent decades, we agree not to talk about it!
  
• How has this been approach been followed?

24
Pierre Trudeau and the Charter

• the state has no business in the bedrooms of
  the nation... (1982)

25
Small group activityis this approach enough?

• In your small group, reflect on Trudeaus vision
  for civil liberties.
• Does this vision empower those who arent
  straight to gain the necessary capacities for
  citizenship?
• Use Bielmeiers chapter for evidence to support
  your position.

26
Flies in the ointment for Trudeaus vision

• Trudeaus compromise for sexual diversity
• Concerning hate crimes Aaron Webster (2001),
  Matthew Sheppard (1998). Debate around
  amendments to Bill C-250 (now law)
• Lesbian/gay suicide rates, social dislocation
  involved the case of Mark Hall as evidence of
  struggle over citizenship rights
• Concerning same-sex marriage 7 provinces in
  Canada, now affirming this practice, but federal
  parliament has yet to rule on the matter.

27
Small group exercise you as employer

• Your task
• For the moment, imagine you are an employer
  facing three good applicants for a position in
  your Human Resources department. I will explain
  the attributes of each candidate on the
  chalkboard.
• Who do you hire? What is your reasoning behind
  the decision?

28
The Elderly / Retired

• Once again, humour me with your singing voice if
  you will
• What is your lasting impression of humming a few
  bars of When Im 64?
• The bumps along rather pleasantly, but is there a
  message attached to it?

29
The Elderly / Retired

• What assumptions do we make about the elderly /
  retired?
• What does present research suggest about the
  elderly / retired?
• Are there some elderly / retired people who are
  more vulnerable than others? Why?

30
The Elderly / Retired

• What assumptions do we make about the elderly /
  retired?
• What does present research suggest about the
  elderly / retired?
• Are there some elderly / retired people who are
  more vulnerable than others? Why?

31
The Elderly / Retired

• How does Canadas income security programs for
  the elderly/retired work?
• Why does Hick believe that Canada should be
  applauded for the substantial gains it has made
  in the income security of seniors. (2004 236)

32
Next week

• Week 9 Poverty and social class Hick, 2004
  131-150 171-198.
• This is gut check time. Do not give up after
  Paper 1.