Defining Deviance and Intersectionality and the Polyamorous Relationships

Reflection Assignments
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Defining Deviance and Intersectionality
Many societies around the world have established standards and basic ways of doing various things. These standards have consequently led to their beliefs and values that are passed down from one generation to the next. All members of these societies are expected and supposed to follow these standards, beliefs and values and failure to which they are shunned and discriminated. Some societies even belief that those who don’t conform and adhere to these standards are likely to receive curses and have disappointments throughout their lives. Despite these strong principles and allegiance to defined and historical standards and beliefs, there are individuals who remain adamant on following them and as such, are considered deviant. Deviance relates to all actions and behaviors that are contrary to societal norms and can also be considered as being illegal. Over the years, matters relating to sexuality have particularly been contentious issues. For one, while male circumcision is highly encouraged and practiced all over the world, female circumcision is practiced by very few communities and in some cases, done in secrecy. In this regard, it is considered to be an act of mutilation because it imposes more harm than good on female genitalia. Similarly, issues have been raised in regard to intersectional people. According to Nash (2008), “the interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, class, and gender as they apply to a given individual or group, regarded as creating overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage.". Intersectional individuals and women who embrace female circumcision have one thing in common in that they are discriminated in society.
It is essential to note that the act of circumcision has been practiced in many societies globally since time immemorial. It is considered a rite of passage that sees young boys become men and as such, are ready to be given extra responsibilities. Therefore, circumcision has predominantly been practiced and encouraged on persons of the male gender and associated with various benefits. It is believed that circumcision assists to decrease the risk of urinary tract infections and sexually transmitted diseases. It also not only helps in keeping the male genitalia clean but also protects against penile cancer. Nonetheless, female circumcision is also an aspect that is practiced in some societies, albeit in secrecy. Unlike male circumcision that is done to mark transition from boyhood to manhood, female circumcision is done for completely different reasons. Braun (2005) shares that female circumcision is also known as female genital mutilation and “involves the partial or total removal of external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons”. It is estimated that over 200 million girls have undergone or rather been forced to undertake female circumcision to be accepted in society and by the community.
Considering that experts have shared that female circumcision harbors no health and medical benefits, I strongly believe that the action perpetuates gender inequality. Some of the communities that practice female circumcision believe that the act assists in controlling women’s sexuality. According to these communities, female circumcision reduces the urge to engage in sexual encounters and as such, reduces the risk of early pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases in women (Khazan, 2015). Similarly, there are some societies that believe that an uncut clitoris is not only dirty and ugly but is also capable of growing into the size of a penis and therefore, should be removed. Other communities associate female circumcision with increasing and enhancing fertility and as such, a prerequisite for marriage (Khazan, 2015). These ideologies have been sold so much that there are women in some societies encouraging female genital mutilation. These women believe that being put under the knife is a show of maturity and signifies that they can face all challenges. Despite these views held by different communities, it is essential to note that female circumcision is a deprivation of the human rights of women and girls. Women in many societies are considered inferior to their male counterpart and are impeded from making any decisions even those that affect or involve them. With female circumcision, women have not been given the chance to make not only critical but also informed decisions concerning their bodies and lives. Therefore, rampant gender inequality in society is one of the primary reasons fueling female genital mutilations.
Similarly, intersectional individuals on society also face similar woes as women who are forced to undergo female genital mutilation. As is the case in many communities globally, only male and female genders are accepted. Therefore, any deviation from this norm is considered unacceptable and corrective measures swiftly instituted. For instance, when a child is born with both male and female reproductive organs, the parents are forced to decide on which of the two should be surgically removed. Although the action is necessitated by the need for the child to lead a “normal” life, it does not give them any chance to make their informed decision. Furthermore, just like female genital mutilation, intersexual surgeries can also lead to health complications. They can result in severe pain, excessive bleeding, infections, urinations problems, and even death.
In conclusion, issues pertaining to female circumcision and intersectionality are very contentious and have exhibited hot debates in various quarters. Female circumcision involves mutilation of female genitals and unlike male circumcision, harbors no health benefits. I strongly believe that these two aspects have elicited drama because they are deviant and go against some societal norms.
References
Braun, V. (2005). In Search of (Better) Sexual Pleasure: Female Genital ‘Cosmetic’ Surgery. Sexualities, 8(4), 407-424. doi: 10.1177/1363460705056625
Khazan, O. (2015). What Many People Don't Understand About Female Circumcision. Retrieved 8 February 2020, from /international/archive/2015/04/female-genital-mutilation-cutting-anthropologist/389640/
Nash, J. (2008). re-thinking intersectionality. Feminist Review, 89(1), 1-15. doi: 10.1057/fr.2008.4
Polyamorous Relationships
Many societies have since time immemorial advocated for relationships and marriages between men and women. This aspect is supported also from the fact that God created one woman for Adam to offer companionship and to allow the two to procreate and fill the world. Based on these facts, women are often viewed as sexual objects and limited in terms of making decisions concerning the choice of partners. Society expects individuals to find happiness through intimate relationships with one partner of the opposite gender. However, over the years, the concept of polyamory seems to be gaining significant traction. According to Sheff (2005), “It is the practice of, or desire for, intimate relationships with more than one partner, with the consent of all partners involved”. Polyamorous individuals thrive in open relationships and contradict the societal norm that relational exclusivity is essential for the creation of not only deep and committed but also long-term relationships. While this aspect of polyamory seems acceptable when it comes it men, it is highly contentious when women are thrown into the equation (Ziegler, Matsick, Moors, Rubin & Conley, 2014). Many societies consider it an abomination for a woman to have open intimate relationships with several men. Women are forced to settle in monogamous relationships while their husbands cohabit and engage in extramarital affairs.
I believe that the concept of polyamory is a welcomed relief since many people at some point in their lives are faced with sexual urges for other individuals who are not their partners. Men and women are equally faced with these urges and as such, they should all be given the chance to engage in polyamory (Ziegler, Matsick, Moors, Rubin & Conley, 2014). Similarly, it is impossible for people in relationships to have all things in common between them. For instance, while one partner may enjoy watching football, another loathes the idea and only joins to accommodate the feelings and desires of their partners. With polyamory, partners have a wide range of options. Based on the above example, the football enthusiast can choose to spend their afternoon at the stadium with a partner that not only cherishes them but also appreciates the sport. Overall, there are several key pillars and principles that make polyamorous relationships to succeed. These include openness, trust, honesty, transparency, non-possessiveness, and compersion. Ziegler, Matsick, Moors, Rubin & Conley (2014) note that “Compersion is the idea that you can experience joy when someone you care about is happy, even if you’re not the source of that happiness”. Polyamory provides a significant boost in this regard.
I also support polyamory because it provides women with freedom of choice. It removes the societal pressure that an individual should strive to find a perfect partner that they can grow old together. On the contrary, polyamory allows a person to increase their network with people who not only meet their physical but also emotional needs (Ziegler, Matsick, Moors, Rubin & Conley, 2014). This freedom of choice that characterizes polyamorous relationships help to strengthen them and allows them to last longer. Furthermore, children can also benefits significantly from polyamorous relationships contrary to popular belief. Children who are exposed to multiple-adult families have more people at their disposal to meet their material, intellectual and emotional needs. They have more role models and mature individuals who will mentor them to become responsible people in society (Ziegler, Matsick, Moors, Rubin & Conley, 2014). For instance, a child can seek advice from one of the partners who is a successful financial consultant regarding the career path they should take. Similarly, individuals in a polyamorous relationship can help their children cope with increasingly fast pace of life by providing diverse but essential views.
Polyamory also allows for the sharing of parental responsibility and consequently reduces stress and burnout. Polyamorous have the benefit of dividing the parental roles among themselves and as such, limits overburdening individuals with so much to do. For instance, they can choose to take turns staying at home with the kids. With reduced stress levels, the partners can focus on aspects that make them happy. Reduction of stress also helps in fostering and building love among the partners, which is a crucial component of any relationship. Similarly, polyamory can result in a higher ...