The last term is heterosexism which is “the systematic oppression and exploitation of bisexuals, lesbians, gay men, and transgender individuals” (Andrzejewski, 1996, p.54). It is also known as “it is the oppression of any person (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or heterosexual) who does not conform to the stereotypical roles of femininity and masculinity. It refers to pervasive policies and practices which reinforce heterosexuality as the only option for intimate loving relationships, domestic partnerships or families” (Andrzejewski, 1996, p.54). The way that I look at this term is that it is not giving every individual the respect that they deserve to be with whoever they want to be with. I personally did not know that this was taking place until around my junior year in high school because we would …show more content…
Based on the definition of heterosexism there are a couple ways that it affects my life, which is mainly through friends of mine. One of the ways that heterosexism affects me is through my best friend from high school. All throughout high school I honestly thought that he was a heterosexual male by the things that he would say about homosexual individuals. Then over winter break after one semester in college, he was ready to tell me that he liked man. As I was talking to him about why he did not tell me when we were in high school, he told me that he never told me because I was catholic and based on their beliefs, he thought I would not accept him. When I heard this it truly broke my heart, and before he could say another word I gave him the warmest smile and told him that I loved him. As I still talk to him today, he still struggles to tell the truth to his parents because they
In the rural, Catholic village that I grew up in, there were a total of 3-5 gay people ranging in age from teenagers to adults. When we would go out of town and see a presumed member of the LGBT community, I often heard homophobic comments. Most of the residents in my hometown were born and raised there, for at least two generations. Be it that homosexuality used to be considered a mental illness or the fact that everyone is Catholic, the community was moderately homophobic. This played a large role in the formation of my identity over the next several
From the article Homophobia As A Weapon of Sexism written by Suzanne Pharr, she brings up the true weapon of sexism, which is economics, violence, and homophobia. An example of sexism that Pharr really points out is economics in our society and how it affects women and men. As she states that the economics is known to be the root cause of sexism, and that it really causes a lot of oppression. As heterosexism is said to “create the climate for homophobia with its assumption that the world is and must be heterosexual and its display of power and privilege as the norm.” An example of heterosexism would be people that are against women’s liberation, like women’s equality, women’s self-determination, and women’s control of our own bodies and
This is a world that is dominated by heterosexism and according to the book heterosexism is defined as “the view that heterosexuality is the norm and that homosexuality is abnormal” (pg 130). When a straight person starts feeling that their sexuality is the best sexuality there is and does not understand why other people are not straight, they start making those people feel uncomfortable and in return feel uncomfortable being in a place or even talking to a person that is not
LGBTQ is an initialism for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexuality, Transsexuality, and Queer. “Queer” is a nomenclature for unlisted orientations and identities, such as Pansexuality, Asexuality, Non-binary gender, and so on. Through the continued uses of employee discrimination, bisexual/non-binary erasure, prejudices from religious people, and general marginalization has created an atrocious environment for a lot of LGBTQ individuals.
Homosexuality has existed since the beginning of recorded human history and yet, attitudes towards gay and lesbian individuals vary extensively. Some societies tolerate them; others openly welcome and encourage them; and most blatantly condemn them (Bates, 46). Throughout our country’s history, homosexuals have been misunderstood and discriminated against, leading many to acquire an irrational fear of gays and lesbians. Known as homophobia, this fear has prompted heterosexual individuals with a feeling a superiority and authority when using the word “homosexual” interchangeably with the words pervert, faggot, sodomite, and so on. Homophobes typically perceive homosexuality as a threat to society. Nonetheless, the Gay Rights Movement has achieved impressive progress since 1973 when the American Psychological Association (APA) eradi...
In “Dude, You’re a Fag,” multiple boys that were interviewed said they “didn’t like gay people” and were disgusted by gay men but lesbians were “good” (Pascoe). These boys only viewed female homosexuality as “good” because of its place in the heterosexual male fantasy and not because they approved of homosexuality as a legitimate and accepted sexuality (Pascoe). The binary gender system creates a male dominated society that allows for only female homosexuality to exist because even through it goes against the strict normative heterosexuality it can still be a source of pleasure for men. Male homosexuality, however, is not accepted because in a male dominated world it is associated with not being masculine. Through the use of the slur “fag,” people demean and emasculate boys and men (Pascoe). The use of “fag” against someone does not imply that they are homosexual; instead, Pascoe’s study and interview of high school age boys shows that it is used to say that a person is not masculine and therefore not conforming to their gender roles. Even though women can be sexually fluid and have intimate relationships with other women, it is not viewed as legitimate sex because there is no penis involved. Women are allowed by society to have sex with whomever they want, as long as they are still able to perform their gender role as wives and birth givers. In contrast, in
As Fritsch et al. states, “even as ‘queer’ became an established identity in the LGBTQ rainbow acronym, it also worked against the normalization of gender and sexuality by challenging the presumption of a two-gender system” (336). A majority of the queer community had/have conflicting thoughts about whether the term queer must be used as a way to distinguish or rather alienate oneself with from binary system. Many of the people within the community don’t like to separate themselves, believing that by doing so will push them further away from society when in reality this will result in losing their loved ones and friends. Others argued that by doing so they break apart the binary structure and in order everyone in a sense is queer; there is no set standard for what normal is. Moreover, people believe that with trying to embrace and embody the term queer, there will be negative emotions and actions made towards them which puts them at an even higher risk of being victimized. Being in the center staged of the whole movement not only brings conflict but it can in the long run off put people from overall trying to identify with the queer movement or the term queer
In the publication Black Sexual Politics: African Americans, Gender, and the New Racism, author Patricia Hill Collins, she discusses sexism, gender and the new racism. Collins discusses that heterosexuality operates as a hegemonic ideology that influences human sexuality, racism, and psychological processes (Collins 2004 p.37). This placement of heterosexuality at the top, positions it as the basis of understanding sexuality. For example Collins illustrates that the term sexuality itself is used so synonymously with heterosexuality that schools, churches, and other social institutions treat heterosexuality as natural, normal, and inevitable (Collins 2004 p.37). This in turn facilitates stigmatization of individuals who engage
In the 1990's there has been what is called a "normalized movement"(Warner 41). This so-called movement has permeated into all aspects of the Gay and Lesbian movement's agenda. It has become increasingly clear in the realms of the media such as television, movies and magazines. The major objective for the proponents of this movement is to make the homosexual seem "normal." This would be done by not focusing on the sexual nature of the homosexual. Since their sexual behavior is considered deviant by society, any outward expression of it will be looked down upon. So, it has been the goal of some leaders of the movement as well as those who control the media outlets to separate the identity and sexuality of the homosexual as far as possible.
As for homonormativity, the white gay male has power as long as he remains to heteronormative norms of masculinity. For those who do not have a role of power they often suffer consequences of rejection. For example, a black gay man who chooses to act feminine is seen as a risk because he challenges the social norms of homonormativity and heteronormativity. Homonormativity is supposed to be equal rights for everyone in the LGBTQ community, however bisexuals, transgenders, and queers are ignored and unaccepted. People who are already discriminated for their gender and sexuality cannot find equality within their own community because bisexuals, transgenders, and queers challenge the idea that you were born this way. The consequences of inequality
Throughout Western civilization, culturally hegemonic views on gender and sexuality have upheld a rigid and monolithic societal structure, resulting in the marginalization and dehumanization of millions of individuals who differ from the expected norm. Whether they are ridiculed as freaks, persecuted as blasphemers, or discriminated as sub-human, these individuals have been historically treated as invisible and pushed into vulnerable positions, resulting in cycles of poverty and oppression that remain prevalent even in modern times. Today, while many of these individuals are not publicly displayed as freaks or persecuted under Western law, women, queer, and intersexed persons within our society still nonetheless find themselves under constant
The dictionary defines discrimination as the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people or things, especially on the grounds of race, age, or identified sex and sexual orientation. The term LGBT stands for, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. These terms refer to sexual orientation and also gender identity. Every day people of the LGBT community suffer wrongful terminations and oppression in their schools for their sexual orientation or identified gender.
Baker, Jean M. How Homophobia Hurts Children: Nurturing Diversity at Home, at School, and in the Community. New York: Harrington Park, 2002. Print.
When one hears the words “LGBT” and “Homosexuality” it often conjures up a mental picture of people fighting for their rights, which were unjustly taken away or even the social emergence of gay culture in the world in the1980s and the discovery of AIDS. However, many people do not know that the history of LGBT people stretches as far back in humanity’s history, and continues in this day and age. Nevertheless, the LGBT community today faces much discrimination and adversity. Many think the problem lies within society itself, and often enough that may be the case. Society holds preconceptions and prejudice of the LGBT community, though not always due to actual hatred of the LGBT community, but rather through lack of knowledge and poor media portrayal.
...t and understanding they would want in return. People would be the back bone and emotional support for one another. In a precious world such as that, homophobia would not exist because of the kindness and respect of its members towards one another would mean that differences within the community would be valued and celebrated. Homophobic societies deny these differences and are strongly prohibited. The effects on homophobic bullying causes vicious attacks mentally and physically toward those of the gay community as well as straight people who "appears to be gay" or supporters of gay rights. Homophobia forces the ideology of stereotypes and that man are perceived to act "macho" and woman to be "feminine". Homophobia limits our individuality and self-expression to appreciate the diversity and unique traits within our society that are not viewed as the “norm”.