The long fight against discrimination of minorities is inevitable as those with power seem to always overlook the disadvantaged with ease. This struggle is evident through mass genocides, segregation and abusive authority that have occurred that have occurred over the centruies throughout the world. Homosexuality has triggered a similar dilemma as American society detrimentally instills derogatory implications of same-sex relationships in American’s way of life through media and everyday applications. A close examination of "What is a Homosexual” reveals that Andrew Sullivan’s appeal to ethos through exercising a cynical language in his personal anecdote that exposes the plight of homosexuals which reflects from institutionalized social ideology …show more content…
and Social Darwinism. Andrew Sullivan explicitly addresses the connection between society and its influence on homosexuality in the chapter “What is a Homosexual?”, written in 1995.
Heterosexism and Social Darwinism are characterized in the piece as Sullivan provides an overview of his experience growing up as a homosexual during his adolescence by relating colorful anecdotes in the beginning of his chapter. The stereotypes of the typical clichés of jocks, nerds and the flamboyant diva are portrayed as homosexuals who embody these personas to gain some type of “respect” from society and to fit in normally (A. Sullivan 196). The oppressed homosexuals who go through adolescence resort to such means in order to endure the harsh judgments of society instead of being comfortable with their sexuality. He digresses from his examples and explains that he utilize these stories to answer the question “what Is a homosexual?”. Sullivan’s indicative language throughout the piece encourages the audience to acknowledge the oppression and mistreatment of homosexuals as well as urge society to put a stop to implanting ideologies that prevent individuals from attaining the lifestyle they desire and cause …show more content…
isolation. Sullivan’s cynical language highlights humans’ natural inclination to succumb to the desire of consubstantiality, and the need for society to reevaluate their views of homosexuality. He stresses that homosexuals are restricted from openly disclosing their sexual orientations as they’re taught to “disguise” themselves to fit in growing up (A. Sullivan 196). The deliberate word choice of “disguise” allows the reader to probe into the emotions of homosexuals—one where isolation and despair exists; the emotions Andrew Sullivan experienced. In this sense, Sullivan effectively incorporates a cynical language in his piece, as he appeals to ethos to gain credibility from his readers because he is a homosexual who also went through a similar occurrence and thus can be trusted. Also, the audience is informed of the dilemmas homosexuals face from an early age as “no homosexual child…will feel at home” (A. Sullivan 196). Through this pessimistic use of “home”, the term has become manipulated to embody enmity and remoteness. Sullivan also parallels a home to society as the both institutions incorporate ideologies that thwart homosexuals from feeling safe in their own skin. In addition to cynical language, Sullivan’s personal anecdotes underscore the effect of social norms which pressures homosexuals to pursue a persona of others in order to blend into the normal life of a heterosexual. In the beginning of his piece, Sullivan introduces a poignant memory of his first emotional attraction to a “guy I had long had a crush on” to appeal to ethos as this circumstance intended to bring a relatable situation to his audience. However, being a homosexual adolescent prevented him from fully expressing himself as he learns that he needs to suppress his emotions in order to fit into society. Furthermore, he comprehensively illustrate how homosexuals who go into sports are “paradoxically” seeking respect and acceptance from their peers, but knowingly receive rejection and excommunication when they disclose their sexuality (A. Sullivan 196). The fact that homosexuals feel alienated from the world despite attempting to blend in with social expectations is clearly presented throughout his anecdotes. Sullivan believes that there should be laws that give homosexuals equal rights in order to “create a culture” where homosexuality gains “dignity and commitment” rather than derive a filthy and immoral connotation of their sexual orientation (Kristol). Heterosexism ideology parallels the premise of “What Is a Homosexual?” as Sullivan establishes a sense of alienation due to social expectations of intersex relationships. The institutionalized social principles of heterosexual relationship are pressed upon society, which in turn influences individuals to discriminate against homosexuals as a means to “adjust to society” (G. Sullivan 204). This view is enforced through the homosexual adolescents’ need to suppress their “desire” as their thoughts “never leaves [their] consciousness” (A. Sullivan 195). In this sense, society deprives homosexuals from attaining their fullest potential as they are forced to submit to the ideals of social expectations. This idea is clearly identified in Sullivan’s anecdote of the stereotypical jocks and nerds who only embody these personas to adjust to society’s standards of heterosexism. Perhaps these individuals excel in activities like theatre or writing, yet because of their sexuality. The ideas of heterosexism have derived the concept of homophobia to evolve as it is not the correct standard of living according to social norms. Along with heterosexism ideology, Social Darwinism is clearly presented within this piece.
Due to the fact that it is human nature for individuals to adapt to changes and modify one’s shortcomings to fit in within civilization. In “What is a Homosexual”, Sullivan deliberately incorporates Darwinism’s theory to suggest that the homosexuals “survival depends upon self concealment” in a heterosexual institutionalized society (A. Sullivan 195). He manipulatively utilizes the audience’s personal memories of their first crush to imploringly urge readers to recreate their mentality of homosexuals and homophobic behaviors. Simultaneously, he sustains the idea that in order to survive in a world full of heterosexuals, the gay community has been forced to disguising their standings to a “favourable variant” (Halliday 392) . This in turn, underscores the immorality of the situation as it restricts an individual’s mentality from one’s true self as well as a reason to why homosexuals develop a “psychological toll” due to the “negative social attitudes toward homosexuality” (G. Sullivan
207). In conclusion, “What is a Homosexual?” by Andrew Sullivan is utilizes the rhetorical mode of exemplification to emphasize the necessity of American culture to modify their perception of homosexuality and its meaning. He purposely highlights the oppression of homosexuals and their standard of living due to the social norm of heterosexism ideology. Through the use of cynical language and personal anecdote, Sullivan effectively appeals to ethos through epitomizing Social Darwinism and heterosexism ideology within the work to attribute to homosexual’s restrained mentality to be fully comfortable with themselves
The topic of homosexuality has become a constant issue throughout our society for many years. Many people believe that being gay is not acceptable for both religious and moral reasons. Because being gay is not accepted, many homosexuals may feel shame or guilt because of the way they live their everyday lives. This in turn can affect how the person chooses to live their life and it can also affect who the person would like to become. Growing up, David Sedaris struggled to find the common ground between being gay as well as being a normal teenager. He often resorted to the conclusion that you could not be both. Sedaris allows us to see things through his young eyes with his personable short story "I Like Guys". Throughout his short story, Sedaris illustrates to the reader what it was like growing up being gay as well as how the complexities of being gay, and the topic of sexuality controlled his lifestyle daily. He emphasizes the shame he once felt for being gay and how that shame has framed him into the person he has become.
Homosexuals are often faced with “the central psychological developmental task of generativity versus stagnation in self-absorption”. In Harvey’s case, generativity resulted in the adaptive benefit of non-reproduction of cultural evolution which “follows principles similar to biological evolution. Elements of culture (e.g. ideas, skills, faiths, and science) are copied and transmitted to the next generation, from brain to brain” (Stortelder, 2014). This mental process theoretically occurs alongside biological evolution which passes genetics from one generation to the next; Harvey passed his ideology and his passion for human rights to many young people as well as his peers and elders. He was a mentor to many and an inspiration for a countless number of homosexuals and straight people
Andrew Sullivan, author of, What is a Homosexual, portrays his experience growing up; trapped in his own identity. He paints a detailed portrait of the hardships caused by being homosexual. He explains the struggle of self-concealment, and how doing so is vital for social acceptation. The ability to hide one’s true feelings make it easier to be “invisible” as Sullivan puts it. “The experience of growing up profoundly different in emotional and psychological makeup inevitably alters a person’s self-perception.”(Sullivan)This statement marks one of the many reasons for this concealment. The main idea of this passage is to reflect on those hardships, and too understand true self-conscious difference. Being different can cause identity problems, especially in adolescents.
Many may argue that the gay lifestyle was hidden from society until recent years, however, many books argue otherwise. It is surprising to know just how massive and significant gay society was in the beginning of the twentieth century. It is also important to understand how society’s acceptance of the gay lifestyle has changed over time. All four books I reviewed speak on gay society and how it flourished on its own, separate from “regular” society despite existing within it. Much of the content in all books is presented with an oral history methodology. Accounts of interactions between gay individuals are presented and described to validate points made by the authors. Overall, the books help modern readers understand the history of gay society
Discrimination has always been prominent in mainstream society. Judgments are quickly formed based on one’s race, class, or gender. The idea that an individual’s self-worth is measured by their ethnicity or sexual preference has impacted the lives of many Americans. During the early colonial period, a social hierarchy was established with white landowners at the top and African-American slaves at the bottom. As equality movements have transpired, victims of discrimination have varied. In the late 1980’s when Paris is Burning was filmed, gay rights were still controversial in society. The lack of acceptance in conventional society created hardships in the lives of transgender women and gay men.
...were initially skeptical, until gradually, the weight of scientific fact has shifted the opinion to the belief in these views. As seen in the film, Paris is Burning, homosexuality is not much of a choice, but a way of life that not many would chose living unless biologically destined to be. We must trust that the very knowledge of the natural and biological springs of sexual abnormality will bring about the recognition that the syndrome is natural, and may change our perceptions of what is normal. After all, the problem, such as Bornstein stated, is with our intolerance that they do not conform with what we think is 'normal' gender identity and sexual behavior. Though it is our biologically wired mind that makes us intolerable and aggressive to the 'outsider', it is our duty as a society to erase this ignorance by education of the genetically sexual 'deviant' ones.
In a structured society, as one we’ve continued to create today, has raised concerns over the way society uses the term queer. Queer was a term used to describe “odd” “peculiar” or “strange” beings or things alike, but over the centuries societies began to adapt and incorporate the term into their vocabulary. Many authors such as Natalie Kouri-Towe, Siobhan B. Somerville, and Nikki Sullivan have distinct ways of describing the way the word queer has been shaped over the years and how society has viewed it as a whole. In effect, to talk about the term queer one must understand the hardship and struggle someone from the community faces in their everyday lives. My goal in this paper is to bring attention to the history of the term queer, how different
Quite interesting, Nussbaum’s opens up the preface with an example of a gay teenager who describes his experiences when “coming out of the closet”. The teenager admits to being horrified and disgustful towards his own emotions that weren’t passing, as they should. Through this example, Nussbaum distinguishes between the two perspectives that are in our society today regarding homosexuals. The contrast lays “between people who can ‘sort of experience’ what a gay teenager feels and people who simply think of those desires, and no doubt, the teenagers themselves, ‘as being disgusting’”(Nussbaum xiii). She even go...
The article written by Blashill and Powlishta titled “Gay Stereotypes: The Use of Sexual Orientation as a ...
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
This unit has been about what gay masculinity means and the struggles gay men face in society. We looked at how gay men coped living in a world that wasn’t accepting of them. How they dealt with self-hatred and the role that race plays in gay communities. In this essay I will be discussing the self-hearted that was shown in the two movies we saw: The boys in the band and Tongues untied. I will also be taking a closer look at the readings that we covered in this unit. I found it really interesting how these men in order to protect themselves used derogatory terms or jokes towards each other and towards themselves. I felt that these men used jokes as a self defense mechanism, in a sense that there is nothing anyone could say that would hurt them because they were already telling themselves and each other horrible things. I will also be discussing the affect that race has on gay masculinity and, I will be discussing on why society in a way considers gay masculinity as a failing masculinity.
Queerness, no pun intended, but what an “odd, strange, unusual, funny and peculiar” term”. People justify its usage because it supposedly takes away the power from those who would use it in a derogatory manner. Which is to say or equate a person’s sexuality as “peculiar or odd”. Why is gay equal to queer? Or why is queerness considered to be gay. Some would argue that the word “Queer” by definition sets up those associated with the word to be labeled in a manner that sets them aside from “normal”, if such a thing exist. Queer is often associated with sexual lifestyle and ultimately used by many as an insult. The clash of gender, sexuality and race collide with queerness in such a way that creates the illusion of interrogation.
Choosing a sexual preference is considered one of the biggest decisions of one’s life. Among the human race, heterosexuality (the attraction to persons of the opposite sex) is considered normal. However, over the years, homosexuality (the attraction to persons of the same sex) has become more common. The origin of homosexuality dates back as far as the 5th century B.C. Homosexuality became very popular in ancient Greece. The Greeks approved of same-sex relationships. When homosexuality first became popular though, the relationships were rarely sexual. Most relationships were usually between older men and younger boys. These relationships were more of courtship rituals than anything. In other parts of the world though, homosexuality was kept a secret among couples for many years. Unbelievably, it is still hidden today. It is kept a secret because in society, homosexuality is not considered normal. Therefore, to avoid being judged, ridiculed and belittled, homosexuality is conducted in secrecy. Over the years however, homosexuals have grown tired of not being able to do what they believe in, when and where they pleased. Many homosexuals began to fight for their rights to do as they pleased. What non-supporters of homosexuality thought or said about homosexuals no longer affected the homosexual community. Although many people still disagree with homosexuality, our society today has begun to accept homosexuals as a norm.
Jacques Balthazart, in the book, Biology of Homosexuality, examines the historical and cultural context in which homosexuality is expressed and attempts to dissect homosexual behavior and cognition from a biological perspective. He explains that there are behaviors in human sexuality that exhibit greater diversity than the sexual behavior of other animals. This exertion may lead one to conclude that human sexuality, as a result of its biological and emotional components, is more complex than the sexuality of other species. (Balthazart, p.4)
Gloria Anzaldúa firmly writes about her negative encounters with this dichotomy in her piece To(o) Queer the Writer. Her encounters with the movement to self identify highlight the steamroller-like qualities of societal peer-pressure. The expectation to have contemplated one's own sexuality and be willing to share with any person who inquires has become overwhelming. It has become normal to disregard personal privacy and comfort levels to be able to ask anyone what their sexual or gender orientation is, and blanket terms are no longer accepted. As an answer, "queer" is met with a look of expectation for whoever is being interrogated to keep explaining until he provides acceptable mainstream terminology that the interviewee has heard of before. Anzaldúa expresses her distress, and "struggles with naming without fragmenting, without excluding" (Anzaldúa 166). Each label is a box, with strict confinements included. However, everyone who does not identify with the societal norm to be a white Protestant heteronormative individual is expected to choose a label. These loaded self-definitions aren't in place to help explain how someone identifies. Instead, they help decide how society should judge him instead. Instead, the labels are manifestations of what the assumptions and reputations are, behind the boxes. To come to terms with the ominous intersection between religion and queer, each individual