To what extent are lesbian and gay cultures an opposition to heterosexuality itself?

Running Head : LESBIAN AND GAY CULTURES

To What Extent Are Lesbian And Gay Cultures An Opposition To Heterosexuality Itself

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To What Extent Are Lesbian And Gay Cultures An Opposition To Heterosexuality Itself

After more than two decades of social constructionist approaches to sexual identity (e .g , Gagnon Simon , 1973 , biological models of lesbianism and male homosexuality are becoming increasingly popular both in the scientific literature and in the media . Although biological and early socialisation models may present homosexuality as either a

br natural variation or an unnatural deviation from the norm ' of heterosexuality , caused ' variously by brain structure or function genetic or hormonal influences , or early childhood experiences , they invariably assume heterosexuality as a natural , unproblematic category Such an analysis fails to recognise that the category homosexual can only exist in relation to the category heterosexual (part of the social constructionist argument ) and is in direct contradiction to those radical feminist analyses of heterosexuality that present it as neither natural nor normal , but rather as a coercive patriarchal institution

There is now a large body of work predicated on the assumption that lesbianism and male homosexuality are essences - core , fundamental ways of being that are determined prenatally or in early childhood . Key researchers in the field concur on this point : According to Bell Weinberg , and Hammersmith (1981 , adult homosexuality stems from homosexual feelings experienced during childhood and adolescence according to Money (1988 ,

. 124 , the most important formative years for homosexuality , bisexuality , and heterosexuality are those of late immaturity and prepubertal upbringing ' Within this outline identifying oneself as homosexual (which is referred to by the lesbian and gay community as coming out ) is merely a process of learning to recognise and accept what one was all along : Indeed , the very turn of phrase coming out suggests that the lesbian has always been inside awaiting entrance

This thought that homosexuality and heterosexuality are fixed early on and continue relatively binding to change , is reflected in the literature documenting the failure of conversion therapies . It is frequently suggested that essentialism of such theories is a straw man ' upright by the communal constructionists as a foil for their own point of view , but as has been argued elsewhere , such essentialist models of lesbianism and gay male identity development are , in fact , the norm , reflecting and perpetuating popular theories about homosexuality

Are Homosexual Women and Men Born That Way

Do people develop a permanent sexual orientation or identity early in life and then discover what they are as the essentialist believes , or is their sexual identity and even their object of erotic attraction socially created , bestowed , and maintained as the constructionist believes

Homosexist essentialism imposes a gay or lesbian identity on persons who have experienced same-sex attraction and love , often celebrating gay pride and the process of coming out ' Martin Breedlove (1994 asserted in his chapter titled Sex Dimorphism in Humans ' in the 1994 Annual Review of Psychology that it is not possible to take apart...