Ethical Issues In Sociology

Ethics are the scaffold to human morality and the values of society. Diverse perspectives can affect ethical points of view on a variety of subjects, such as society’s values, religious values and the legislative system’s decision on said topic. Gender theory and the right to freedom of expression has become a particularly controversial topic in the discussion of ethics and sociology. While human rights activists and the United Nations support the freedom to express one’s sexuality as a human right, though some religions reject this in favour for their theistic values. Organisations that promote gender theory such as ‘Safe Schools’ have also been rejected by the conservative members of society. The legal rights of those who do not conform to

Along with topics such as race, religion and class, gender has become a commonly discussed topic in sociology. With this comes the discussion of transgenderism and gender identity. Progressive movements and organisations such as third-wave feminism and the United Nations actively support progressive gender theory, pushing for laws regarding the rights of those who don’t conform to a gender binary. The field of gender theory discusses a multitude of topics, with the major subjects being the difference between sex and gender and the social construction of gender. Modern sociology states there is a difference between sex and gender – defining sex as “the biological categorisation based on reproductive organs” and gender as a “social classification based on on’s identity, presentation of self, behaviour and interaction with others” (Crossman, 2017). When someone identifies as a ‘transgender’ person, it means that they were “born with typical male or femal anatomies, but feel as though they’ve been born into the ‘wrong body’” (Intersex Society of North America, 2008). As of 2013, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights founded ‘UN Free and Equal’, a “global campaign against homophobia and transphobia”, though there are no formal treaties regarding transexual rights at his point (UN Free & Equal, 2018). Safe Schools is a

This viewpoint can prove essential in analysing controversial topics in modern conversation, as the Utilitarian ethical approach of the medical field is one that can prove to be a deciding factor in many decisions. Utilitarianism in Lamen’s terms is to ‘provide the greatest balance of good and evil’ (Meeler, 2010). In the medical field, there have been advancements in what doctors can and cannot do as per the majority’s view. Examples of this include the push for legalised abortions and assisted suicides. As there has been an increase in families seeking authorisation to commence hormone therapy in transgender children (Smith & Mathews, 2015), medical practices are changing with this. The case of ‘Re Kelvin’ highlights a landmark in progressive medical practices regarding transgenderism, with transgender children now being permitted to commence preliminary hormonal therapy without the court’s permission (Dunn, 2017). Utilitarianism is rebutted by Orthodox Judaism and Catholicism as Utilitarianism uses humans as a means to an end – to achieve the greatest amount of happiness. According to Galatians 3:26, all that abide by the Catholic teachings are “sons of God through faith in Christ”, and therefore have an inherent worth beyond their actions. The actions of a Catholic or Jew should be done in good faith in the name of God, as his servant as per Deuteronomy 11:13 which states, “love the lord your God,