Transcript lesbianism - HomeworkForYou

Gays, Lesbians, and
Homophobia
Chapter 12
Introduction
• Homosexuality: General orientation for sex
with other members of one’s own gender.
– Male with male relationships (gay).
– Female with female relationships (lesbian).
• Homosexual behavior generally extends
beyond just sexual activities and tend to also
include companionship and affection.
The Development of the Notion of
Homosexuality
• The term homosexuality:
– Became popular in 1869 when Benkert
defined it as:
• A failure to achieve “normal erection” during
contact with a member of the opposite sex.
• However, this definition was rejected by
professional literature because it excludes
alternative criteria's such as love (homophilic)
and attraction (homogenic).
In-Class Question
1. A well-known study of sexuality in the United
States (Kinsey, Pomeroy, & Martin, 1948)
found that 37 percent of men experience
homosexual contact sometime in their lives,
but only 4 percent remain exclusively
homosexual.
a) True
b) False
In-Class Question
1. A well-known study of sexuality in the United
States (Kinsey, Pomeroy, & Martin, 1948)
found that 37 percent of men experience
homosexual contact sometime in their lives,
but only 4 percent remain exclusively
homosexual.
a) True
b) False
Answer: A
The Development of the Notion of
Homosexuality
• A sociologist identifies a true
homosexual as any adult who regards
himself or herself as a homosexual and
who willingly acknowledges the label
before another person.
Homosexuality as Deviant
Behavior
• Historically, attitudes towards homosexuality
have varied.
– Example: Greek and Roman times.
• Society labels homosexuality as deviant by
initiating and reinforcing sexual norms.
• Homosexual behavior is not inherently deviant
but becomes so as a result of a purposive
social process.
Homosexuality as Deviant
Behavior
• Critics of homosexual behaviors mainly
advocate religions prohibitions.
• Such behavior deviates from “normal” family
situations by distorting general sex roles in
society.
Social Dimensions of Homophobia
• Individuals with homosexual orientations
frequently become targets for social stigma
and rejection by members of society.
• Homophobia refers to a fear and dislike of
lesbians and gay men and includes avoidance
of anything associated with homosexuality.
Social Dimensions of Homophobia
• Some link the origins of homophobia to
religious doctrine linked to homosexuality and
to theories of psychological maladjustment.
– The association between strong Christian beliefs
and intolerance of homosexuality.
– Others argue the rejection of homosexuality
strengthened the Christian community at a time of
struggle within that group (Greenberg,1988).
– Religious scriptures may condemn some sexual
behaviors but not all (Geis, 2009).
Social Dimensions of Homophobia
• Studies on homophobia have examined
religious background, strength of religious
identification, and political conservatism.
• Another factor—homosociality—defined as the
social preference, but not necessarily an erotic
attraction, for one’s own gender (Britton,
1990).
Social Dimensions of Homophobia
• Few homosexuals view themselves as
deviants; however, stigmatization from
members of society result in negative effects
for homosexuals such as:
– Feeling guilty for their behaviors.
– Fear of negative sanctions from family members,
friends, and employers.
– Feelings of rejection and isolation.
In-Class Question
2. Laws forbidding homosexual behavior began
with _________ sex codes.
a)
b)
c)
d)
Jewish
Christian
Islamic
Buddhist
In-Class Question
2. Laws forbidding homosexual behavior began
with _________ sex codes.
a)
b)
c)
d)
Jewish
Christian
Islamic
Buddhist
Answer: A
Law and Public Attitudes
• Laws forbidding homosexual behavior began
with Jewish sex codes.
– Formalized by Christian laws that governed Europe.
– These provisions became part of English common
law.
– Homosexual behaviors were punishable by death and
19th century, reforms reduced the maximum penalty
to life imprisonment.
– Many states now apply criminal sanctions only to
public homosexual acts.
Law and Public Attitudes
• In the United States, being a homosexual is
not considered a crime, but criminal
prohibitions that persist apply specifically to
homosexual acts, such as sodomy, fellatio,
and mutual masturbation.
Prevalence and Variations of
Male Homosexuality
• Prevalence of Homosexuality
– Researchers have inadequate data when
estimating the incidence, prevalence, and
increases or decreases of homosexuality.
• Variations of Homosexuality
– There are variations in many social and behavioral
characteristics of homosexuality
– Short-term relationships
– Long-term commitments
In-Class Question
3. In regards to sexual development, the
biological perspective asserts that the
difference between homosexual orientation
and heterosexual behaviors may be linked to
brain structures.
a) True
b) False
In-Class Question
3. In regards to sexual development, the
biological perspective asserts that the
difference between homosexual orientation
and heterosexual behaviors may be linked to
brain structures.
a) True
b) False
Answer: A
Sex-Role Socialization and
Becoming a Homosexual
• Biological Perspective
– Studies on physical brain anatomy
– Studies on DNA
• Studies conducted on the biological
perspective have had preliminarily and limited
findings.
Sex-Role Socialization and
Becoming a Homosexual
• Sociological Perspectives
– Sexuality is a social constructed phenomenon
which is learned through interactions with others.
– Socialization takes place within the context of sex
roles. Sex roles (sometimes called gender roles)
are collections of norms that define socially
accepted male and female behavior.
Sex-Role Socialization and
Becoming a Homosexual
• Sociological Perspectives
– Sexual behavior is always embedded in a web of
normative constraints that set limits on acceptable
objects and people.
– Sexual socialization process sometimes works
imperfectly, and some individuals come to derive
sexual satisfaction from objects and people outside
their groups’ normative structures.
Sex-Role Socialization and
Becoming a Homosexual
• Becoming a Homosexual
– Individuals develop their own sexual orientations by
learning certain practices, or alternatively, by not
learning to favor other alternatives.
– Individuals learn concepts of masculinity and
femininity as part of this sex-role socialization.
Sex-Role Socialization and
Becoming a Homosexual
• Becoming a Homosexual
– An explanation of the emergence of
homosexuality and heterosexuality thus
invokes three concepts:
• Sex-role adoption
• Sex-role preference
• Sex-role identification
Sex-Role Socialization and
Becoming a Homosexual
• Developing a Homosexual Identity
– The acquisition of a gay identity is a subtle and
private process that occurs at different times for
different individuals.
– Primary homosexual behaviors
– Secondary homosexual behaviors
Sex-Role Socialization and
Becoming a Homosexual
• The Coming Out Process
– Coming out involves a public declaration of a deviant,
homosexual identity (Dank,1971) and action to convey
that identity to heterosexuals (Plummer, 1975).
– It involves several elements:
• Recognition of one’s sexual preferences
• Experiences with others in sex-role socialization
• A process of realizing that these elements form part of a
sexual identity
• Resulting behavioral commitments to a homosexual lifestyle
Sex-Role Socialization and
Becoming a Homosexual
• Stages in Coming Out
– This process involves several stages
•
•
•
•
Sensitization
Identity confusion
Identity assumption
commitment
Sex-Role Socialization and
Becoming a Homosexual
• Homosexual Subcultures
– Homosexual subcultures represent collections of
norms and values. Such a subculture creates
conditions that permit or condone homosexuality.
– Members come to learn these norms as part of the
coming out process, and exposure continues in
social situations that involve other homosexuals.
Sex-Role Socialization and
Becoming a Homosexual
• Homosexual Subcultures
– The development of a homosexual
community seems to depend on society’s
intolerance and desire to weaken the stigma
imposed by the outside society.
Sex-Role Socialization and
Becoming a Homosexual
• Homosexual Subcultures
– Miller (1992) asserted certain
characteristics define conditions for the
development of homosexual communities:
1. Some personal freedom and social tolerance
2. Economic independence and social mobility
3. Relatively high status for women
4. Declining power of the family and religion in
defining and determining every aspect of an
individual’s life
Lesbianism
4. The term lesbianism comes from the
name of the _______________.
a)
b)
c)
d)
Roman region of Leban
Greek island of Lebos
Persian peninsula of Lesban
None of the above
Lesbianism
4. The term lesbianism comes from the
name of the _______________.
a)
b)
c)
d)
Roman region of Leban
Greek island of Lebos
Persian peninsula of Lesban
None of the above
Answer: B
Lesbianism
• Lesbians are female homosexuals.
– The term lesbianism comes from the name of
the Greek island of Lebos.
– Greek poetess Sappho led a group of women
in a network of homosexual relationships and
behavior.
Lesbianism
• The Nature of Lesbianism
– Like male homosexuals, lesbians encounter
public stigma and social rejection.
– Laws do not specifically prohibit sexual acts
between women, and few jurisdictions ever try
to apply other laws that may result in sanctions.
– Lesbians exhibit fewer identifiable
characteristics that male homosexuals show,
so they usually become targets for adverse
public opinion.
Lesbianism
• Becoming a Lesbian
– Societal gender roles learned through social
interactions.
– Women drift casually into homosexuality more
than men do by starting with vague romantic
attachments.
Lesbianism
• Becoming a Lesbian
– Most lesbians first recognize their homosexual
feelings in late adolescence or early adulthood.
– The average male homosexual tends to
experience less stable relationships, whereas
the lesbian pursues selective involvements.
Lesbianism
• Lesbian Self-Concept
– Women tend to emphasize emotional rather
than physical aspects of their mutual
attractions.
– The self-labeling process occurs through
friendships which provides a crucial condition
for the development of a lesbian identity.
– Lesbian stereotypes – masculinity and
femininity
Lesbianism
• Lesbian Subcultures
– Homosexual subcultures act as functional
networks organized to give support and a
context for social relationships.
– Lesbians do not immerse themselves in the
homosexual world as much as males do.
• Behavioral patterns of the lesbian proves less
socially alienating.
• Lesbians are able to mask their sexual
orientation.
Lesbianism
• Lesbian Subcultures
– Although lesbians are less likely in need for
subculture support, they still experience stigma
and issues of homophobia and social rejection.
– The gay liberation movement has encouraged
gay males to proclaim and defend their human
rights, which overshadowed similar efforts by
lesbians.
• As a consequence, lesbians have turned to
homosexual subculture to receive certain benefits.
In Class Question
5. Transvestites are males who dress in
clothing generally considered
appropriate for the other gender.
a) True
b) False
In Class Question
5. Transvestites are males who dress in
clothing generally considered
appropriate for the other gender.
a) True
b) False
Answer: False
Transvestitism
• Definition:
• A transvestite is someone (either a man or a
woman) who dresses in clothing considered
appropriate for the other gender for reasons
that include sexual satisfaction (not for
money, entertainment, etc).
• Many regard transvestitism as deviant
behavior because it promotes essentially
antisocial activities.
Transvestitism
• Most women who cross-dress today do so
for fashion rather than to gain public
acceptance as men.
• As a result, women who gain sexual
satisfaction from cross-dressing may do so
without stigma.
• Most male cross-dressers today maintain
secrecy and privacy, although many male
transvestites are married men.
AIDS and the
Homosexual Community
• The Acquired Immune Deficiency
Syndrome
– The number of individuals worldwide with
AIDS in 2008 was estimated to be 33 million
(World Health Organization, 2010).
– All of these people had been infected with
the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
– More than 2.1 million people died of AIDSrelated illnesses in 2007 (World Health
Organization, 2007).
AIDS and the
Homosexual Community
• The Disease and Transmission
– In 1981, a disease then known as GRID (gay
related immuno-deficiency) took the lives of
121 people.
– The following year, the HIV was isolated,
after another 447 people had died from
AIDS.
– Symptoms may show up years after initial
exposure to the virus, and some people may
not develop any symptoms.
AIDS and the
Homosexual Community
• The Disease and Transmission
– Over half of AIDS patients are men exposed
to HIV through unprotected sex with other
men.
– An additional 25 percent are intravenous
drug users who have shared needles with
infected people, and 7 percent fall into both
categories.
– A small percentage of AIDS patients become
infected through heterosexual contact, most
of them males.
AIDS and the
Homosexual Community
• The Impact of AIDS
– At first, many remained unaware of this
problem or classified it as a problem in
certain groups.
– However, societal concern grew after
celebrities admitted to having contracted the
disease.
• Rock Hudson
• Perry Ellis
• “Magic” Johnson
AIDS and the
Homosexual Community
• Political Impact
– In the early days of the outbreak, AIDS
maintained a reputation as a local problem
largely confined to deviant groups and
without much effect on the larger society.
– A 1987 Gallup poll assessing public opinion
indicated widespread public awareness of
the AIDS problem after the death of
celebrities such as Hudson.
Current Controversies over
Homosexuality
• Same-Sex Marriages
• Homosexuality as a Protected Status