Deck 11: Michel Foucault: Theorizing Sexuality, the Body, and Power

Question 1

Choose one recent instance in which a public figure (e.g., politician, celebrity) confessed to some previously unknown truth about him/herself. Using Foucault's conceptualization of confession as a ritual of discourse, identify the social and institutional context for the confession, and its apparent effects on the confessing individual and on other interested (or coercive/coerced) parties. Based on your particular investigation, assess the extent to which Foucault's notion of docile bodies is analytically helpful.

Answer 1

One recent instance of a public figure confessing to a previously unknown truth about themselves is when former Olympic athlete and reality TV star Caitlyn Jenner came out as transgender in 2015. This confession took place in the context of a highly publicized interview with Diane Sawyer on ABC News.

Using Foucault's conceptualization of confession as a ritual of discourse, we can identify the social and institutional context for Jenner's confession as being within the framework of media and celebrity culture. The confession had apparent effects on Jenner herself, as it marked a significant moment in her personal journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance. It also had effects on the public and other interested parties, as it sparked widespread discussions about transgender rights and visibility in the media.

In terms of Foucault's notion of docile bodies, we can assess the extent to which it is analytically helpful in this context. Foucault argues that institutions and power structures shape individuals into "docile bodies" through various forms of discipline and control. In the case of Jenner's confession, we can see how societal norms and expectations around gender and identity may have influenced her decision to keep her truth hidden for so long. However, her confession also challenged these norms and sparked conversations about the limitations of these power structures.

Overall, Foucault's notion of docile bodies is analytically helpful in understanding the social and institutional context of confessions like Jenner's, as it allows us to consider the ways in which power and control shape individuals' experiences and expressions of truth. However, it is important to also recognize the agency and resistance that individuals like Jenner demonstrate in their acts of confession.

Question 2

Public opinion polls indicate that young people today - those in their late teens and 20s - are much more tolerant of diverse sexualities and of same-sex marriage than is true of older generations. Why do you think sex in general, and gay sexuality in particular, have been so culturally controversial in modern society? Identify any local instances pointing to the persistence/relative absence of a heterosexist bias in contemporary society? Discuss the context and the probable reasons for its persistence/relative absence.

Answer 2

Sexuality, and particularly gay sexuality, has been culturally controversial in modern society due to a combination of historical, religious, and societal factors. Throughout history, many cultures have held strict beliefs about sexuality, often rooted in religious teachings that promote heteronormativity and traditional gender roles. These beliefs have been perpetuated through generations, leading to a deeply ingrained bias against non-heterosexual orientations.

Additionally, societal norms and expectations have also played a significant role in the controversy surrounding sexuality. Traditional gender roles and expectations have often been tied to heterosexual relationships, leading to the stigmatization of non-heteronormative identities. This has created a culture of intolerance and discrimination towards those who do not fit within these narrow societal constructs.

However, in contemporary society, there are instances pointing to the persistence or relative absence of a heterosexist bias. For example, the increasing acceptance of same-sex marriage and the growing visibility of LGBTQ+ individuals in media and politics indicate a shift towards greater tolerance and inclusivity. This can be attributed to increased education and awareness about diverse sexualities, as well as advocacy efforts by LGBTQ+ rights organizations.

The persistence of heterosexist bias in some areas can be attributed to lingering conservative beliefs and resistance to change. In certain communities, religious and cultural traditions continue to uphold strict beliefs about sexuality, leading to the perpetuation of discriminatory attitudes. Additionally, fear of the unknown and lack of exposure to diverse perspectives can also contribute to the persistence of heterosexist bias in some segments of society.

Overall, the cultural controversy surrounding sexuality, and gay sexuality in particular, is a complex issue influenced by historical, religious, and societal factors. While progress has been made towards greater acceptance and inclusivity, there is still work to be done to challenge and dismantle heterosexist bias in contemporary society. Continued education, advocacy, and representation are crucial in creating a more equitable and accepting society for individuals of all sexual orientations.

Question 3

How might Foucault's conceptualization of bio-power, and of disciplinary knowledge/practices be evident in your college or local community? Identify a specific bio-political issue today; explain why it can be characterized as such; and discuss how it might contribute to the reproduction of (i) stigma, and (ii) social and economic inequality?

Answer 3

Foucault's conceptualization of bio-power and disciplinary knowledge/practices can be evident in college or local communities through various institutional and societal mechanisms that regulate and control individuals' bodies and behaviors. In a college setting, disciplinary knowledge and practices are evident in the rules and regulations that govern student conduct, academic performance, and social interactions. Bio-power, on the other hand, can be seen in the ways in which institutions and authorities exert control over individuals' health and well-being, such as through mandatory health screenings, vaccination requirements, and mental health support services.

One specific bio-political issue today is the criminalization and stigmatization of drug addiction. This issue can be characterized as bio-political because it involves the regulation and control of individuals' bodies and behaviors in the name of public health and safety. Drug addiction is often framed as a moral failing or personal choice, leading to punitive measures such as incarceration and limited access to healthcare and social services. This contributes to the reproduction of stigma by perpetuating the belief that individuals struggling with addiction are morally deficient or dangerous to society. Additionally, the criminalization of drug addiction disproportionately affects marginalized communities, contributing to social and economic inequality by perpetuating cycles of poverty and incarceration.

Overall, Foucault's concepts of bio-power and disciplinary knowledge/practices are evident in the ways in which institutions and authorities regulate and control individuals' bodies and behaviors in college and local communities. The criminalization and stigmatization of drug addiction exemplify a bio-political issue that contributes to the reproduction of stigma and social and economic inequality.

Question 4

Please write 2 or 3 sentences per question.

-Explain the metaphorical significance of the panopticon for Foucault.

Question 5

Please write 2 or 3 sentences per question.

-Identify two mechanisms of bio-power in contemporary society, and explain why they can be so characterized.

Question 6

Please write 2 or 3 sentences per question.

-Explain why, for Foucault, confession liberates as well as subjugates.

Question 7

Please write 2 or 3 sentences per question.

-Explain, using an example, why, for Foucault, silence is a shelter for power.

Question 8

Please write 2 or 3 sentences per question.

-Explain the key contrast between essentialist and constructionist views of homosexuality.

Question 9

Please write 2 or 3 sentences per question.

-Why do queer theorists object to binary categorizations?

Question 10

Please write 2 or 3 sentences per question.

-What does the incidence of trans-sexual surgery suggest about sexuality?

Question 11

One reason why feminists are critical of Foucault's theorizing is because his work:

A) Exaggerates how body practices differ for women and men
B) Illuminates how historical change impacts sexuality
C) Emphasizes sex relations as social exchange relations
D) Ignores individuals' everyday lived experiences

Question 12

For Foucault, the history of modern society is represented by an increase in:

A) Individual surveillance
B) Individual freedom
C) Honest bodies
D) Social solidarity

Question 13

Docile bodies are bodies that can be:

A) Subjugated
B) Transformed
C) Improved
D) All of the above

Question 14

We see disciplined bodies:

A) In prison
B) At school
C) In clinics
D) All of the above

Question 15

The Census of Population can be seen as a technique of bio-power because:

A) Individuals can use it when deciding whether they want to live in less- or more-populated counties/areas
B) Its information is useful in drawing research samples
C) It tracks and categorizes what bodies do
D) It monitors demographic shifts

Question 16

When Foucault argues that society invented sexuality he means that:

A) The current generation is more interested in sexual desire than their predecessors were
B) Social institutions define what are normal sexual desires and habits
C) Modern society is more tolerant of diverse sexual habits than in previous eras
D) Definitions of sexuality serve the interests of the ruling class

Question 17

Foucault discusses the Catholic Church because of his interest in how:

A) Religious worldviews shape institutional practices
B) Religious affiliation creates social solidarity
C) Religious practices control sexual desire
D) Religious values foster sexual abstinence

Question 18

For Foucault, talk of sex is indicative of:

A) The normalcy of sex in everyday life
B) The everyday regulatory control of sex
C) The therapeutic society
D) The power of television in exposing sexual deviance

Question 19

When Foucault says that "Western man has become a confessing animal," he means that:

A) Humans have a natural inclination to tell the truth about their sexual and other desires
B) Confession is a voluntary, therapeutic ritual in contemporary society
C) Confessional discourse and its multiple effects penetrate all spheres of society
D) The freedom to talk about private matters is sign of freedom and social progress

Question 20

Power, for Foucault, is:

A) Hierarchical and unequal
B) Circulatory and fluid
C) Institutionally centered
D) Consolidated in the state

Question 21

Power infuses, and is transmitted and reproduced through:

A) Silence
B) Discourse
C) Knowledge
D) All of the above

Question 22

In Foucault's analysis, power is:

A) Relatively easy to pin down
B) Irrelevant to social relations
C) Always visible to those who are subject to it
D) Relatively difficult to resist

Question 23

A heterosexist bias presumes that:

A) Heterosexuality is natural and normal
B) Sexual preferences can take many equally valid forms
C) Heterosexuality is a fluid social identity
D) All of the above

Question 24

According to Seidman, classical sociological theory:

A) Emphasized the naturalness of homosexuality
B) Ignored the social formation of bodies and sexuality
C) Recognized the causal links between sexuality and individuals' life chances
D) Questioned the naturalness of gender and sexual categories

Question 25

An essentialist view of sexuality emphasizes:

A) Natural biological differences in sexual desire between heterosexuals and homosexuals
B) The absence of biological and social differences between heterosexuals and homosexuals
C) That sexuality is an overarching identity, more important than gender, class or race
D) None of the above

Question 26

A social constructionist view of sexuality argues that:

A) Biological labels are more consequential than social labels
B) Sexual categories and what they mean depend on social and historical context
C) Sexual differences get translated into gender differences
D) Sexuality is a major engine of political mobilization

Question 27

A social constructionist view of sexuality is challenged by:

A) Social historians
B) Cognitive psychologists
C) Evolutionary biologists
D) B and C

Question 28

Queer theory:

A) Rejects the dichotomous categorization of sexuality
B) Affirms the explanatory importance of the homosexual-heterosexual divide
C) Calls for more attention to the minority status of gays vis-à-vis heterosexuals
D) Calls for the affirmation of homosexual over heterosexual identity

Question 29

Queer theory is radical because it:

A) Disrupts everyday conceptual categories
B) Emphasizes the rights of homosexuals
C) Moves beyond debates over essentialism and constructionism
D) A and C

Question 30

One reason why sociologists might be skeptical of queer theory is because it:

A) Focuses exclusively on homosexuality
B) Marginalizes the contextual influence of social institutions
C) Affirms the existence of separate homosexual and heterosexual cultures
D) Is opposed to abstract theorizing