Chapter Eleven

1
Chapter Eleven

• Sexual Orientation

2
Agenda

• Clarify Terms.
• Discuss Facts/Trends Associated with Sexual
  Orientation
• Why Are There Different Sexual Orientations?
• Homosexuality Heterosexuality in Other Times
  Places
• Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals Throughout the Life
  Cycle
• Homophobia and Heterosexism
• Differences Among Homosexual Groups
• Homosexuality in Religion and the Law

3
Video Trying Not to Be Gay
4
Discuss Video

• Did this man want to be gay?
• Discuss the negative attitudes he experienced
  about being gay.

5
Terms/Definitions
6
Concepts Associated with Sexual Orientation

• Sexual orientation the gender(s) that a person
  is attracted to emotionally, physically,
  sexually, and romantically
• Heterosexual predominantly attracted to members
  of the other sex
• Homosexual predominantly attracted to members
  of the same sex
• Bisexual attracted to both men and women
• Continued

7
More Terms Associated with Sexual Orientation

• Gay typically a homosexual male
• Lesbian homosexual female
• GLBTQ gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, or
  questioning

8
Other Relevant Terms

• Homophobia strongly negative attitudes toward
  homosexuals and homosexuality
• Heterosexism a presumption of heterosexuality
  in society
• A lack of awareness, not necessarily active
  discrimination

9
Facts/Trends Associated with Sexual Orientation
10
Distinguishing Between Experimentation and
Orientation

• People vary greatly in sexual behavior,
  fantasies, self-concepts, and emotional
  attachments each contributes to sexual
  orientation
• Sexual experimentation and sexual orientation are
  two different things

11
Conceptualizing Sexual Orientation

• Kinsey continuum 7-point scale from exclusively
  heterosexual behavior to exclusively homosexual
  behavior
• First scale to suggest sexual orientation is a
  continuous variable
• It emphasized behavior
• It is static in time
• Klein sexual orientation grid (KSOG) expanded
  Kinseys continuum
• 7 dimensions attraction, behavior, fantasy,
  emotional preference, social preference,
  self-identification, lifestyle
• Each dimension is measured for the past, present,
  and ideal

12
Trends Historical Perspective

• Kinsey et als statistics (1948)
• 37 men, 13 women had at least one adult
  homosexual experience
• 4 men, 3 women were lifelong homosexuals
• 10 of white men were mostly homosexual for at
  least 3 years between 16 55

13
Contemporary Trends

• Laumann et als statistics (1994)
• 4 of women had sex with a woman as an adult
• Less than 2 of women had sex with another woman
  within a year
• 9 of men had sex with a man since puberty
• 5 of men had sex with a man as an adult
• 2 had sex with a man within a year

14
International Trends

• Internationally, same-sex behavior has been found
  in 1-3 of men, and slightly lower rates in women
• Same-sex behavior has remained constant in the
  U.S. over the years
• Most believe 3-4 of males and 1.5-2 of females
  are predominantly homosexual, and 2-5 of the
  population are bisexual

15
Why Are There Different Sexual Orientations?
16
Overview

• Current research has not found any significant
  nonneurological physical differences related to
  sexual orientation
• 2 types of theories
• Essentialism homosexuality is due to biological
  or developmental processes
• Constructionism homosexuality is a social role
• Most theories neglect bisexuality

17
Theoretical Approaches

• Biological Theories Differences Are Innate
• Developmental Theories Differences Are Learned
• Sociological Theories Social Forces at Work
• Interactional Theory Biology and Sociology

18
Biological Theories Differences Are Innate

• Genetics
• Homosexual males 52 of identical twins, 22 of
  fraternal twins, 11 of adoptive brothers were
  also homosexuals
• Homosexual females 48 of identical twins, 16
  of fraternal twins, 6 of adoptive siblings were
  also lesbians
• Closer genetic relatedness in siblings, the more
  likely they shared sexual orientation

19
Biological Theories Differences Are Innate

• Genetics
• Homosexual males tend to have more maternal
  homosexual relatives
• Gay men have more gay brothers than lesbian
  sisters
• Lesbian sisters have more lesbian sisters than
  gay brothers
• Some evidence of gay gene on the X chromosome,
  but no lesbian gene

20
Biological Theories Differences Are Innate

• Hormones
• Prenatal Factors
• Stress during pregnancy increased chances of
  homosexual children
• Evidence of prenatal hormones influencing
  homosexuality is weak
• Adult Hormone Levels
• Current research does not support an effect of
  adult hormone levels

21
Biological Theories Differences Are Innate

• Birth Order
• Gay men
• tend to be born later than siblings
• have older brothers, but not older sisters
• Placental cells may influence later pregnancies
  later borns could develop an immune response that
  influences gene expression during brain
  development
• No related finding for lesbians

22
Biological Theories Differences Are Innate

• Physiology
• Portion of the hypothalamus may be larger or
  smaller in homosexual men, compared to
  heterosexual men
• Some differences in auditory brain regions
  related to sexual orientation in women
• Findings are inconsistent and often weak
• Sexual orientation is due to a combination of
  genetics, biology, and social influences

23
Developmental Theories Differences Are Learned

• Freud and the Psychoanalytic School
• All of us are naturally bisexual
• Male homosexuality is from an unresolved Oedipal
  complex after puberty, desire for mother becomes
  identification with her
• Lesbians cannot have their father reject him
  all men less understood than males
• Bieber gay men had intimate seductive
  mothers, and absent or hostile fathers

24
Developmental Theories Differences Are Learned

• Gender-Role Nonconformity
• Boys who have cross-gender traits are more likely
  to be gay as an adult
• Girls who display male-typical behaviors are more
  likely to be lesbians as an adult
• These are correlational findings
• Many gay men were not effeminate children, not
  all effeminate boys are gay as adults

25
Developmental Theories Differences Are Learned

• Peer Group Interaction
• Children who develop early become sexually
  aroused while still primarily with same-sex peers
• Homosexuals tend to report earlier sexual
  contacts than heterosexuals
• However, Sambian boys, who live with other boys
  and have sex with them until adults, are
  primarily heterosexual

26
Developmental Theories Differences Are Learned

• Behaviorist Theories
• Homosexuality is due to reinforcement of
  homosexual tendencies and/or punishing of
  heterosexual tendencies
• However, society does not provide reinforcement
  for homosexual behavior

27
Sociological Theories Social Forces at Work

• We learn how our culture thinks about sexuality,
  and apply it to ourselves
• The idea of homosexuality differs in time and
  culture
• Individuals come to identify with one type of
  model
• Effeminate boys may be labeled homosexual as
  children and adopt that role

28
Interactional Theory Biology and Sociology

• Biology (genetics, hormones, neuroanatomy) create
  childhood temperaments that influence preferences
  for sex-typical or atypical behaviors
• Gender conforming kids prefer the other sex
• Non-conforming children prefer the same sex
• Exotic-becomes-erotic more arousal with the
  sex viewed as more different than the self
• Not a lot of empirical support

29
Homosexuality and Heterosexuality in Other Times
and Places

• Homosexuality in History
• Homosexuality in Other Cultures

30
Homosexuality in History

• Views of homosexuality have differed throughout
  history
• The Ancient World
• Homosexuality was common
• Sodomy buggery were considered crimes
• Lesbianism was a mystery
• Little religious concern over homosexuality

31
Homosexuality in History

• The Middle Ages
• Little Church interest through the 13th century
• After the 13th century, homosexuality was
  punishable by death
• This view has influenced the western view of
  homosexuality to the present day

32
Homosexuality in History

• The Modern Era
• Many periods of tolerance, many of harsh
  oppression
• The U.S., of Puritan origins, is more
  disapproving than Europe
• In the 19th early 20th centuries, passing women
  operated as men in U.S. society
• Physicians viewed homosexuality as an illness
  until 1973

33
Homosexuality in Other Cultures

• In many societies, same-sex sexual activity is a
  normal part of life
• Same-sex sexual behavior is in every culture and
  in the same prevalence rate, regardless of the
  societys tolerance
• In the U.S., Hispanic Asian homosexuals are
  more likely to cross gender boundaries

34
Homosexuality in Other Cultures

• Latin American Countries
• Thoughts are focused on masculinity femininity,
  not homosexuality heterosexuality
• Not homosexual if taking the active, penetrating
  role, regardless of who is being penetrated
• Men that allow themselves to be penetrated are
  looked down upon

35
Homosexuality in Other Cultures

• Arabic Cultures
• Sex is based on power dominance
• Male homosexuality is taboo
• Little is known about Arabic lesbians
• Asian Countries
• China viewed homosexuality as a western social
  disease
• Buddhism does not condemn homosexuality

36
Homosexuality in Other Cultures

• Sambia, of Papua New Guinea
• Mothers milk is replaced by mans milk (semen)
  to aid a boy in reaching puberty
• At 7, Sambian boys move to a communal hut where
  they perform oral sex on postpubescent boys
  swallow the semen
• After puberty, the boy changes roles and provides
  the semen to the younger boys
• After 18 years, marries is heterosexual

37
Gays, Lesbians, and Bisexuals Throughout the Life
Cycle

• Growing Up Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual
• Coming Out to Self and Others
• Life Issues Partnering, Sexuality, Parenthood,
  and Aging
• Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Organizations

38
Growing Up Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual

• Few models are applicable to homosexual youth
• The societal message is a negative one
• Atypical gender behavior, especially in boys, can
  create anxiety in family, school, peers
• This anxiety may lead them to pressure the child
  that can cause psychosocial problems

39
Coming Out to Self and Others

• Coming out establishing a personal identity and
  communicating that to others
• First need to recognize sexual orientation within
  oneself, then tell family, friends, public
• Sexual orientation awareness usually occurs
  between 8 and 9, although coming out to others is
  typically at 18 for women men
• Continued

40
Coming Out to Self and Others

• Coming out is difficult there is a lot of
  anxiety over possible rejection
• Many have positive coming out experiences
• Positive coming out experiences are related to
  higher self-concepts, lower depression rates, and
  healthier psychological adjustment
• Families also have a coming out process
• Continued

41
Coming Out to Self and Others

• Parental rejection increases isolation,
  loneliness, depression, suicide, homelessness,
  prostitution, and STIs among non-heterosexual
  youth
• About 26 are forced to leave home
• 25 of street youth are not heterosexual
• 29-42 of non-heterosexual youth have attempted
  suicide, 48-76 have suicidal thoughts, much
  higher than heterosexuals
• Continued

42
Coming Out to Self and Others

• About 14-25 of gay men and about 33 of lesbians
  marry the other sex at some point
• May be before they recognize their sexual
  orientation, or because they want to try to fit
  in as heterosexual

43
Discuss Coming Out and Identity Development

• Identity development is an important task for
  adolescents.
• How would the coming out process influence
  identity development?
• Discuss family reactions
• Discuss reactions from close friends
• Discuss peer homophobia
• GLBT youth who are out of the closet experience
  harassment and assault. What can be done to
  protect them?

44
Coming Out in the Workplace
45
Life Issues Partnering, Sexuality, Parenthood,
and Aging

• Looking for Partners
• Many use the internet to search for a partner
• Clubs, support groups, organizations, meeting
  areas are ways to meet people
• Gay magazines contain personal ads and other
  services
• Partners are often introduced by mutual friends

46
Life Issues Partnering, Sexuality, Parenthood,
and Aging

• Same-Sex Couples
• Often homosexual couples are as satisfied as
  heterosexual couples, although they face some
  intolerance from society
• Homosexual couples tend to have greater
  flexibility in their roles, more equal
  partnerships, less sexual jealousy
• Higher satisfaction among lesbian couple
• Gay couples have more harmful behaviors

47
Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals Throughout the Life
Cycle
48
Life Issues Partnering, Sexuality, Parenthood,
and Aging

• Same-Sex Couples
• Limited number of partners available
• Homosexuals are more connected to ex-partners
  than heterosexuals after a break up
• Most Americans support some same-sex relationship
  recognition
• American Psychiatric Association supports legal
  recognition of same-sex marriage

49
Life Issues Partnering, Sexuality, Parenthood,
and Aging

• Gay and Lesbian Sexuality
• No physiological differences in arousal or orgasm
  based on sexual orientation
• Homosexuals tend to have slower, more relaxed,
  less demanding sexual sessions
• More time is spent caressing and sexually teasing
  each other

50
Life Issues Partnering, Sexuality, Parenthood,
and Aging

• Gay and Lesbian Parents
• Many gay and lesbian couples want to become
  parents, and for the same reasons as heterosexual
  parents
• No significant differences in sexual orientation
  for the offspring of homosexual and heterosexual
  mothers
• Lesbians may find sperm donors

51
Life Issues Partnering, Sexuality, Parenthood,
and Aging

• Gay and Lesbian Parents
• Homosexuals cant adopt in FL, MS, UT
• Other states make adoption difficult for
  homosexuals
• Some gay men find surrogate mothers

52
Same Sex Marriage
53
Discuss Video

• What are your reactions to this video?

54
Life Issues Partnering, Sexuality, Parenthood,
and Aging

• Gay and Lesbian Seniors
• 1-3 million of U.S. seniors are not heterosexual
• They face a number of issues survivor benefits,
  lack of health insurance, Social Security,
  assisted living needs
• Specialized retirement homes are being formed for
  gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered seniors

55
Life Issues Partnering, Sexuality, Parenthood,
and Aging

• Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Specific Problems
• Pressures of living in a discriminating society
  lead to a number of problems for non-heterosexual
  youth and adults
• substance abuse
• truancy
• homelessness
• sexual abuse
• lower earning wages

56
Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Organizations

• Social services, political, medical,
  entertainment, and religious organizations have
  been formed to meet the needs of the homosexual
  and bisexual population
• Harvey Milk School in NYC is the first public
  school for GLBTQ youth
• Gay, lesbian, and bisexual media includes
  magazines (The Advocate) and newspapers

57
Homophobia Heterosexism
58
Hate Crimes against Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual
Persons

• Hate crimes are motivated by hatred of someones
  religion, sex, race, sexual orientation,
  disability, or ethnic group
• The most socially acceptable form of hate crime
  is against homosexuals
• Homosexuals are victims 4x more than the average
  American
• Verbal and physical abuse may create
  psychological distress

59
Why Are People Homophobic?

• May be due to
• personality type anything that is not correct
  is not tolerated
• Suppressed homosexual desires
• Insecurity about own masculinity or femininity
• ignorance

60
Hating People for the People They Love
61
How Can We Combat Homophobia and Heterosexism?

• Laws
• 22 states and DC punish hate crimes against
  sexual orientation
• Punishment varies according to state
• Some states may monitor hate crimes, but lack
  efforts to enforce or prevent

62
How Can We Combat Homophobia and Heterosexism?

• The Media
• Gay, lesbian, and bisexual media representation
  is increasing
• TV shows portray positive characters
• Movies/Plays
• Fiction and nonfiction works
• Education
• Much opposition to teaching sexuality, including
  homosexuality, in schools

63
Differences Among Homosexual Groups

• Lesbians Sexism Plus Homophobia
• Bisexuals Just a Trendy Myth?
• Minority Homosexuals Culture Shock?
• Same-Sex Behavior in Prison

64
Lesbians Sexism Plus Homophobia

• Lack lesbian research, compared to gay men
• Lesbian bisexual women tend to have poorer
  health conditions than heterosexual women
• Parental acceptance is very important its lack
  is implicated in the poorer health conditions
• Lesbian workers earn more than heterosexual women
  in comparable careers

65
Bisexual

• Often first identified as heterosexuals
  self-identification as bisexual usually occurs
  later in life than gay or lesbian identification
• Viewed by homosexuals as becoming homosexual or
  playing both sides
• Viewed by heterosexuals as homosexuals
• Some claim it is a myth, denial of homosexuality,
  identity confusion, or an attempt to be trendy

66
Bisexual

• Biphobia suggested to exist in straight, gay,
  and lesbian communities
• Sequential bisexuality sex solely with one
  gender, followed by sex solely with the other
• Contemporaneous bisexuality having sexual
  partners of both sexes during the same period

67
Minority Homosexuals Culture Shock?

• Many ethnic groups dont accept homosexuality
• The homosexual community doesnt readily
  accommodate expressions of ethnic identity
• Can create a feeling of being between two
  communities, rather than part of any one

68
Same-Sex Behavior in Prison

• Sexual contact between inmates is prohibited in
  prisons
• Majority of inmate sexual contact is consensual
  few men are raped in prison
• Majority are not homosexuals and return to
  heterosexuality upon release
• Situational homosexuality found when men spend
  long periods of time together

69
Homosexuality in Religion and the Law

• Homosexuality and Religions
• Homosexuality and the Law

70
Homosexuality and Religions

• Historically, Judaism and Christianity have
  opposed homosexuality
• Welcoming Christian religions United Church of
  Christ, Unitarian Universalist Association
• Liberal conservative views are in Presbyterian,
  Methodist, Lutheran, Episcopalian churches
• The more conservative views tend to be from older
  members, southern churches

71
Homosexuality and Religions

• Homosexuality is a sin in Catholic, Southern
  Baptist, and Assembly of God churches
• Reform Jews are most accepting in Judaism
• Orthodox Jews see homosexuality as forbidden
• No concrete stance in Buddhism

72
Homosexuality and the Law

• All 50 states outlawed homosexual behaviors until
  1961
• Homosexuals face discrimination on the job, in
  housing, health care benefits, tax breaks, Social
  Security, benefits, rights of inheritance
• Some have legally adopted their partners in order
  to procure some of these legal rights