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Sexual Orientation Definitions • Sexual orientation is defined by whom we are attracted to and have the potential for loving. – erotic and emotional orientation toward one’s own gender, the opposite gender • Sexual identity refers to one’s self-label or self-identification as heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual. Attitudes about Homosexuality • 2006 study indicated 55% of adult Americans believe homosexual behavior is always wrong – proportion of population disapproving has decreased significantly in last 30 years – most Americans’ attitudes reflect homophobia, antigay prejudice, heterosexism • hate crimes against gays & lesbians are common – Franklin’s research conclusions regarding causes/motivations o enforcement of gender norms o peer dynamics o thrill seeking o social powerlessness LGBs as a Minority Group • subject of negative attitudes, false stereotypes • suffer from job discrimination, housing discrimination • victims of hate crimes • differ from other minorities in that they are not easily identified Establishing a Gay or Lesbian Identity • coming out process – acknowledgement to self and others: vulnerable, acceptance or rejection critical to self-esteem – exploration: contact LGB community , develop new interpersonal skills – forming first relationships; short lived, turbulent – integration: functioning member of society, capable of long-term relationship • stages of identity development – identity confusion: assumed heterosexual identity, confused by same gender attractions and behaviors – identity comparison: may be homosexual, loss of comfortable heterosexual identity – identity tolerance: probably homosexual, seeks affirmation – identity acceptance: accept own homosexual identity – identity pride: dichotomize world into (good) homosexuals and (not good) heterosexuals – identity synthesis: no longer hold us vs. them attitude Facts about Lesbians and Gays • lesbian and gay relationships are very similar to straight relationships • most in steady relationships, dealing with same adjustment issues, no difference in frequency of sex • no difference in psychological development of children raised by gay or straight parents • crucial factor is presence of at least one supportive, accepting caregiver • children no more likely to be gay than those in straight families 1 • lesbians and gays seem to be as well adjusted psychologically as straights • remarkable consider antigay prejudice in society o higher rates of depression & suicide among LGBs reflect greater exposure to prejudice, hate crimes, & stress of concealing identity; not that homosexuality indicates mental illness How many people are gay, straight, or bi? • Mutually exclusive categories are meaningless • Kinsey’s continuum from exclusive heterosexuality to exclusive homosexuality • NSFG & NHSLS surveys (adjusted to allow for concealment) • about 90% of men and 90% of women are exclusively heterosexual • about 10% of men and 10% of women have had at least one same gender sexual experience in adulthood • about 2% of men and 1% of women are exclusively homosexual • about 1.8% of men and 2.8% of women claim bisexual identity o Women are more likely to be bisexual and less likely to be exclusively homosexual than men. Among both heterosexuals & homosexuals, women show more flexibility or change over time in their sexual orientation (sexual fluidity). Why do people become gay (or straight)? • Biological theories – genetic factors – prenatal factors – brain factors – hormonal imbalance • Learning theory – people are born sexual, not heterosexual or homosexual – + or – reinforcements (rewards or punishments) in early learning experiences result in predominant homosexuality or predominant heterosexuality • Interactionist theory – includes biological factors and environmental experiences – designed to explain sexual orientation rather than homosexuality • Sociological theories – Labeling theory: acceptance of label becomes self-fulfilling prophecy – Reiss’ explanation of cross-cultural differences o 1. societies that have high maternal & low father involvement w/infants, and that have rigid gender roles, have the highest incidence of male homosexuality o 2. in less gender rigid societies with more permissiveness about sexuality, individuals feel freer to experiment w/same gender behavior & may find it satisfying So, which theory is right? • In summary, we do not know what causes sexual orientation. • Unlike gender identity which is determined in childhood, sexual identity (and orientation) continues to evolve into adulthood for some people. • There is probably not a single cause of homosexuality (or heterosexuality), but rather many causes. • Why isn’t everyone bisexual? 2 Multicultural Differences • Less tolerance of homosexuality among non-white Americans than white Americans – lowest level of tolerance in African American community • Black & Latino men more likely than White men to engage extensively in homosexual behavior while still considering themselves heterosexual (“down low”) • Mexican American men engaging in anal intercourse are more likely than White men to exclusively adopt either the role of inserting partner or receptive partner – The inserting partner is not considered homosexual or stigmatized, but the receptive partner is considered unmanly, feminine, & homosexual. Bisexuality • A bisexual is a person whose sexual orientation is toward members of the same gender as well as members of the other gender. • bisexuality is more common than exclusive homosexuality • bisexuality is viewed with suspicion and hostility by many in the gay community • monogamy is an issue for bisexuals • bisexual men and women usually begin to think of themselves as bisexual in their early to midtwenties • women usually have heterosexual attractions and experiences before homosexual ones • men more likely to have homosexual experiences first, followed by heterosexual ones Importance of late occurring experiences in shaping one’s sexual behavior and identity • unlike gender identity, which seems to be fixed in preschool years, sexual identity seems to evolve in adulthood for some people (especially women) 3