Homosexuality: Why only some intimacies are labeled as homosexuality

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Homosexuality
Discussion
Terms used to refer to homosexuals over the years and their implications
Why some intimacies are applied as homosexuality while others are withheld
Examples of situations where homosexuality has been applied or withheld
Conclusion
Reference List

Introduction

Societies are full of discords regarding same sex intimacies. Natural intimacies are known to exist between partners of opposite sex. This is mainly because over the years, societies have shown discomposure when faced with issues regarding homosexuals.

Societies consider homosexuals as those deprived of moral standings. They also consider such people as perverse and less responsible compared to heterosexuals.

Homosexuality started in the ancient times and has drawn different views over the years. These views depend on different structures and cultures of societies in the world.

For instance, some societies, as has been observed in most boys, have no problem with female homosexuals, but they are homophobic. They consider male homosexuals as outcasts and label them as fag.

In essence, intimacies between men, which are popularly known as gay, have received intense criticism as compared to intimacies between women (lesbians) in the contemporary world.

This paper will discuss situations under which some intimacies have been applied as homosexuality, while others have been withheld (Robinson, 2011, p. 1).

Homosexuality

Homosexuality is referred to as a condition in which an individual experiences sexual desire or behavior towards another person of the same sex. It has varied effects on people as well as the society. The church shuns and labels it as an abomination as well as unnatural act.

Several factors have been proposed as causal to homosexuality in the human population. In addition, most societies consider homosexuality as degrading, in effect, looking down upon those found to engage in such relationships.

This has been proved in the UK and United States, among other countries where physicians have been found to degrade patients who have such relations.

However, its common knowledge that homosexuality has been with us since the origin of humanity. What have changed significantly are the terms used to refer to it in different cultures, times and political eras.

Homosexuality can sometimes be used to refer to the terms of orientation, attraction, identity, or preference. The contemporary world has increasingly used the term orientation as a soft stance on promoting homosexuality.

This is mainly because, without homosexuality, then there would be no options except heterosexuality (Pascoe, 2005, p. 34-48). Over the years, use of the term gay has evolved. In the past it referred to homosexuals, whether male or female homosexuals.

Recent usage has majored mainly on male homosexuals. This shows an emerging bias on considerations for homosexuals as well as their labels.

Various terms have been employed in defining sexual orientations during these periods. These include gay, lesbian, heterosexuals, bisexuals, homosexuals, sodomy, as well as fag, among others.

It has also been noted that the society is increasingly using terms considered as soft on homosexuality. In fact, in comparison, bisexuals have been generally accepted in most societies to homosexuals.

Interestingly, it is a fact that even bisexuals are homosexuals in addition to being heterosexuals. This shows how relenting the society has been towards these groups as the world becomes more liberal.

Moreover, United States and the UK, among other Western cultures have witnessed increased pressure to give homosexuals equal rights as heterosexuals.

These have included jobs in high positions, healthcare services, and military services as well as other significant opportunities in the society (Sussex Publishers, LLC., 2011, p. 1).

Discussion

It is obvious that with increasing liberalization, homosexuals have found some soft grounds in the society. In some places like the United States, they have come out in numbers to press for recognition of their rights to be accepted in the society.

This is tending towards similar happenings witnessed in the biblical story of Sodom, who are said to have moved several steps further in promoting homosexuality and sodomy.

The changes, which have been influenced by political, societal, and economic, among other factors have led to labeling of some intimacies as homosexual, while others have been withheld.

Emphasis have focused on male homosexuals, with clear indications tending towards allowing female homosexuals while at the same time prohibiting male homosexuals.

Most research findings conducted in the United States and UK high schools have conveyed boys as homophobic. In fact, it is suggested by social theorists like Pascoe, among others, that boys use humor to help them integrate since they are homophobic (Hayes, 1998, p. 1).

Terms used to refer to homosexuals over the years and their implications

Several terms have been used to refer to homosexuals. These terms have drawn diverse understandings among different people in various parts of the world at different periods. For instance, fag has been used by most youthful males to ridicule weaklings among them as well as male homosexuals.

This term has never been used by girls as far as homosexuality among them is concerned. Studies in River High that researched behaviors of boys and girls to homosexuality revealed that this term is only common among boys when they ridicule gays. In essence, as opposed to the known masculinity in men, fag refers to them as weaklings and less masculine.

This gives the impression that men who are supposed to be masculine and attracted to the less masculine girls are turning around to their otherwise masculine men.

It then makes sense to call such people weaklings as they take the place of women in sexual activities. This does not mean that women are weaklings; however, they are less masculine as compared to men (Pascoe, 2005, p. 34-48).

Other terms used in reference to homosexuals include gay, lesbians, among others. The former was initially used to refer to both male and female homosexuals; however, it has received much popularity in referring to male homosexuals.

The term gay has received masculinity conception in the contemporary society. This was also observed among the River High students during Pascoe’s research.

The society tends to label male homosexuals as gay as compared to women. Researchers on the other hand believe that gay refers to both male and female homosexuals.

This shows how society has applied homosexuality to male homosexuals, while withholding that of women and bisexuals. Sodomy has also been used when referring to sexual activity between men in the recent past.

In fact, this term has drawn the worst of understandings as it is usually applied in court cases when referring to sexual act without consent (rape case in homosexual).

Another term that has been applied is Lesbianism, which relates to sexual attraction, activity, or behavior between females. This term has continually been accepted in some sections of the society or rather it has not received the harshest of criticism as compared to the other term as like fag, gay or sodomy (Plummer, 2011, p. 222-241).

Why some intimacies are applied as homosexuality while others are withheld

In sharp contrast, the recent past has witnessed continual acceptance of lesbianism in some sections of the society. Society seems to consider male-male sexual interaction as unnatural and despicable compared to female-female sexual interaction.

Research conducted in River High showed that boys are highly homophobic than girls and must employ the use of humor to maintain relationships between themselves.

This shows how much the majority in society prohibit male homosexuals as compared to those that prohibit female homosexuals.

This has led to unequal labeling of homosexuals with the male groups receiving harsher terms like homosexuals, sodomizers, gay and fag, while their female counterparts receive softer terms like lesbianism (Lisa, 2011, p. 1).

Examples of situations where homosexuality has been applied or withheld

Use of the term homosexuality has been utilized mainly when referring to male homosexuals. It has however been increasingly withheld when referring to female homosexuals (lesbians).

In fact, Lesbianism is increasingly getting universal acceptance throughout major cities like New York, among others.

On the other hand, male homosexuals get mole labels such a fag, gay, sodomizers, among others. This can be attributed to males who are highly homophobic, compared to women (Spitz, 1999, p. 1).

Conclusion

Homosexuality has raised different views from diverse societies and social theorists as well as religious groups. The paper has defined homosexuality as the condition under which an individual experiences sexual desire, attraction, or behavior towards another of the same sex.

Several terms have been used to label homosexuality; these include fag, gay, sodomy, lesbianism, and bisexual (individuals who poses both homosexuals and heterosexuals behaviors).

Among the terms listed above, sodomy reflects the worst of those terms as it can be prosecuted in court especially when done without consent of one party.

Interestingly, it mostly refers to male sexual activities. Another term that raises concern is gay, which has predominantly been used to refer to male homosexuals.

In addition, fag is commonly used to ridicule male homosexuals. This shows how much homosexuality has been applied on male homosexuals and increasingly withheld among lesbians. Societies therefore seem to favor lesbianism to male homosexuals (Katz, 1997, p. 45-47).

Reference List

Hayes, L. (1998). Are lesbians more accepted by society than are gay men? CSUN.

Katz, J. (1997). Homosexual and Heterosexual. In A Queer World: The Center for Lesbian & Gay Studies Reader. New York: NYU.

Press Lisa, W. (2011). Why Do Gays and Lesbians Think Society Should Accept Them? Web.

Pascoe, J. (2005). ‘Dude, You’re a Fag’: Adolescent Masculinity and the Fag Discourse. Web.

Plummer, K. (2011). Symbolic Interactionism and Sexual Conduct: an emergent perspective. Human Sexual Relations. Durham: DU Press.

Robinson, A. (2011). Lesbian, gay, and bisexual issues: All viewpoints covered. Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance.

Spitz, K. (1999). Are lesbians more accepted by society than are gay men?. CSUN. Web.

Sussex Publishers, LLC. (2011). Psych Basics: Homosexuality. Psychology Today. Web.

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