Communications and Media

The article entitled Embodied Meanings, Carnal Practices is concerned about gender relations and sexuality. The authors, di Leonardo and Lancaster discussed about the extra ordinary notions of varied sexuality in which according to them are intricately interwoven within dense cultural fabric. Leonardo and Lancaster asserts there had been changes in the American notion of gender and sexuality in which the authors mentioned about the plight of the Victorian woman image which is transforming to a politically and sexually liberated modern woman. The writers admit that this shift in gender and sexual relations is facilitated by the emergence of the pop culture which is it self part of that change.

According to the authors, the last three decades have been dominated by four linked political and intellectual movements namely the sexual revolution, feminism, gay liberation, and civil rightsrace movements which have altered the perceptions of proper womens and mens lives, of sexual behavior, and of the very substance of the consummate American right, the pursuit of happiness.  The authors noted these movements had paved the way for the emergence of a new sexual culture that replaced the former cultural ideal of good husband, with a new image, a playboy image. Finally, the civil rights movement associated to the Black struggle against discrimination of the white race has spurred recognition and understanding of sexuality and the very perception of human corporeality are understood in terms of appropriate or normal desires which are intimately and intricately inscribed with race. This according to di Leonardo and Lancaster heightened awareness that the personal is political, and that sexuality and power are mutually imbricated.

Critical analysis
The article was apparently a review of the issues espoused by the different movements during the past three decades. The writers attempted to trace the causes of the issues that had become the very reason for the emergence of such movements mentioned earlier. The authors argued that the causes of the issues confronting gender and sexuality are not phenomenal rather they were caused by the shifting world of cultural meanings and social practice. In other words, the sexuality issues raised by the sexual revolution movement and by the gay liberation movement as well the issues raised by the second wave feminist movement were all part of the political, economic, and cultural changes.
This view is has a good arguments in the sense that changes always accompany developments. Apparently, the impact of the industrial and technological developments had brought not only changes in the economic and political atmosphere but in the also in the cultural and intellectual aspect of the society. Thus, the reference of the Victorian woman which was an image of simplicity and virtues character in contrast with the sexually liberated modern woman was a classic demonstration of the impact of the industrial and technological developments.

The role that has woman played during the Victorian era was seen by the modern society as a form of oppression to womens rights, and the mens natural advantage as men were seen as gender inequality. All these however, were a result of social, political, and intellectual development.

While the authors have made a good point in pointing out that the gender and sexuality issues raised by the different movements such as the sexual liberation movement, the gay liberation movement, and the feminist movements, were part of the historical shift, they noted that the changes brought by the existence of the popular culture is far more complex. It is quite easy to agree with author that the changes brought about by the pop culture are far more complicated. To understand what a pop culture is, accordingly, it is simply a commercial culture based on popular taste. Apparently, the sexual revolution and the gay liberation movement that had taken place in America are a shifts in popular culture and aggregate behavior toward more explicit discussions and representation of heterosexuality. From this point of view, it appears that the sexual revolution was not a movement for sexual liberation anchored on grounded principle, but was a drive towards gaining permissibility on the expression of sexuality based on desires and taste.

This is indeed complicated because despite of the societys modernization, the emphasis on the moral integrity continues to be the crucial boundary patronized and promoted by the religious sector, and upheld by the government that keep gays from coming out. The social and political changes encourage gays to come to self disclosure who finds security and protection from harassment, social stigma, religious bigotry, and sodomy laws. The writers view in this context is quite clear and straight forward although the point they were driving was not at all new, but they right to say that the gaylesbian movements has played a major part in redesigning the modern social environment.    Thus, the sexual revolution movement and the gay liberation movement had struggled towards its existence.

Indeed, the authors discussion of the four linked movements that had taken place was a critical analysis of the various issues that each movement has confronted. The ideas presented by the authors were clear and it greatly helps to understand the nature of the issues and events behind each movements. Even the civil rights movements which seemed to be not related with sexuality, the authors are part of the complicated intersections of race, gender, power, and nations as they played themselves out over the centuries.