Deck 9: Gender, Sex, and Sexuality

Question 1

Within orthodox Hinduism, Hijras are generally regarded as:

A) Male transvestites.
B) Auspicious persons with special ceremonial roles.
C) Women in all roles except sex.
D) Males, though they retain their female names.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

The key identifying characteristic of hijras is their:

A) Desire to dress in female clothing.
B) Adoption of female social roles.
C) Sexual impotence and in-between sex/gender status.
D) Taking of a female name.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Like hijras, sādhins function in an additional gender role. When a female becomes a sādhin, she:

A) Takes on a traditionally male name.
B) Undergoes an operation.
C) Cuts her hair and begins to dress as a male.
D) Participates in all social functions as a male.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

If a hijra is not properly paid for performing a wedding ceremony, she may:

A) Refuse to perform again in that area.
B) Withdraw the blessings performed at the ceremony.
C) Curse the family with lost virility.
D) Engage in joking behavior that is not normally socially acceptable.

Question 5

The sādhin role requires that the female be a virgin and maintain asexuality. In this way, sādhin-hood:

A) Provides a positive alternative to the traditional female role in Hindu society.
B) Reinforces the dominance of males in Hinduism.
C) Is directly parallel to the Hijra role.
D) Serves a symbolic and religious role during ceremonies.

Question 6

When applied to homosexuality in Peru, caleta designates:

A) A man who never has homosexual encounters.
B) A man whose homosexual encounters are an open secret.
C) A man who has homoerotic experiences in total secrecy and discretion.
D) A man who identifies as bisexual.

Question 7

For Peruvian men who have sex with men (MSM) the institution of secreto a voces means that trusted family members will:

A) Perform the expected script to avoid "sensitive topics."
B) Follow a written script developed in secret by their family member.
C) Remain unaware of the sexual activities of their relatives.
D) Tell others the secret openly.

Question 8

The idea that "God forgives the sin but not the scandal" implies that:

A) The act of homosexuality is less important than the preservation of family honor.
B) Changing guidelines within the Church make homosexuality more acceptable,
C) Even if there is an "open secret" the ultimate judgement for homosexuality rests with God.
D) Family members who participate in secreto a voces are committing a sin.

Question 9

While the secreto a voces can be a useful strategy for protecting gay men and their families from discrimination. One down-side is that:

A) Trusted family members can be discriminated against.
B) The secreto a voces can be associated with sexual oppression.
C) Performing the secreto a voces requires a familiarity with Foucault.
D) Gay men face less discrimination in the US than in Peru.

Question 10

Entendidos, turistas sexuales, and curiosos are all labels used to describe:

A) Closeted homosexual immigrants.
B) Secret-keepers among friends and family.
C) Sexually active bisexuals.
D) Sexual tourists.

Question 11

A performative model of gender suggests that gender is:

A) Biologically determined by genetics.
B) Socially determined through our institutions and interactions.
C) Culturally determined through learned behaviors and traditions.
D) Constantly shaped and reinforced by our actions within a social-cultural framework.

Question 12

One piece of supporting evidence for a performative model of gender is that:

A) People have little choice in how they perform gender, since social regulation is so powerful.
B) People perform gender differently depending on context.
C) Men and women are biologically hard-wired to perform in very different ways.
D) Actors in movies and television sometimes cross gender roles.

Question 13

In the conversation excerpts from "Wine, Women, and Sports," many men are described as gay because:

A) They are known to have sexual relationships with other men.
B) They are perceived as being insufficiently masculine.
C) They are in a class with many other gay men and women.
D) They are intimidating to the speakers.

Question 14

The conversation in this chapter about gays can best be described as:

A) Mostly cooperative, with speakers looking for points of agreement.
B) Mostly competitive, with speakers establishing a strong hierarchy.
C) Neither competitive nor cooperative.
D) Both competitive and cooperative.

Question 15

Cameron argues that the most acceptable form of talk for men is:

A) Gossip about sexual exploits.
B) Sports talk.
C) Discussions of wine.
D) Something that varies according to context.

Question 16

Female virginity inspection has been carried out in Natal and Zululand since:

A) At least the early 20^th century.
B) The 1990s.
C) The onset of the AIDS epidemic.
D) The early 2000s.

Question 17

During the 1920s, missionaries worked to change the responsibility for young girls' sexuality. Before this change, who was most responsible for girls' sexual education?

A) Mothers
B) Older girls
C) Community elders
D) Schools

Question 18

Which answer is true about the practice of "thigh sex" among Zulu youth?:

A) It increased the necessity for virginity testing.
B) It was officially forbidden by the government.
C) It provided girls with a relatively safe outlet for sexual play and learning.
D) It did not protect against pregnancy.

Question 19

Male virginity testing is being considered as an additional group control on sexuality. This process is based on:

A) Reinventing an old initiation rite designed to encourage patience and faithfulness.
B) Examination of the foreskin.
C) Blood tests for the HIV virus.
D) Aid agencies promoting individual personal responsibility.

Question 20

Unlike virginity testing and other public rituals, AIDS prevention programs often focus on:

A) Encouraging faithfulness and patience.
B) Celebrating girls' bodies as beautiful.
C) Individual mastery over the self.
D) Males more than females.

Question 21

According to Springate, queer anthropology may benefit the entire discipline by:

A) Encouraging scholarship on LGBTQ communities.
B) Forcing anthropologists to rethink assumptions about families, communities, and fixed identities.
C) Helping to identify and preserve historic sites.
D) Segregating LGBTQ issues into a separate sub-discipline.

Question 22

How does Dr. Lauer combine her love of dance with her work as an anthropologist?

A) By doing mostly academic work, including work with professors of dance.
B) Through her work with South African ballerinas.
C) By clearly defining a split between public and academic anthropology.
D) By completing a study abroad program in Ghana.

Question 23

For Dr. Lauer, why is the anthropology of gender most important?

A) For studying the historical connections between gender and culture.
B) Because the anthropology of gender is a well-funded area within the discipline.
C) The anthropology of gender is closely connected to dance.
D) Because shifts and conversations in the public culture of gender have real effects on people's lives.

Question 24

A recurring theme in this section is performance. What are the common elements of performance between secreto a voce and the performative concept of gender? How does performance differ between these two cases?

Question 25

Describe the difference between sex, gender, and sexuality. Use examples from the reading in this section to support your description.

Question 26

In section 9.6, Dr. Lauer describes a change in public culture regarding the meaning of gender. Describe this change, and explain how the public culture of gender is connected to the research of anthropologists.

Question 27

Write a 300-word public anthropology essay-the equivalent of a blog post-connecting a current issue from the news (involving sex, gender, or sexuality) to anthropological research. Use evidence from at least two chapters in Part 8 to support your writing.

Question 28

In Part 9.2, how do the experiences of gay men in Peru differ from those of Peruvian immigrants to the US? How might anthropological knowledge help the lives of people in either case?