For years attitudes toward homosexuality have varied considerably. Though there has been an increase in approval of homosexuality around the world there are still individuals with homophobic attitudes. Unfortunately, homophobia is common and often plays a significant role in the lives of many homosexuals, lesbians, and bisexuals.
The most extreme form of homophobia is revealed in hate crimes. Hate crimes include assault, robbery, and murder committed because the victim belongs to a certain race, religion, or ethnic group or has a certain sexual orientation (Crooks & Baur, 2013). Though homophobia and hate crimes cannot be justified there are various motives for the two. First, they reflect at the most fundamental level of humankind’s poor record of accepting and valuing differences among people (Crooks & Baur, 2013). Second, homophobia and hate crimes are usually related to traditional gender-role identification. Those persons who hold traditional gender-role stereotypes have more negative feelings about homosexuality than others (Crooks & Baur, 2013). Another element involved in homophobia and hate crimes may be an attempt to deny or suppress homosexual feelings in oneself (Crooks & Baur, 2013).
In a current study done by Blashill and Powlishta they sought out to examine factors that are involved in the negative reactions to gay males. Results indicated significant main effects for gender role and sexual orientation, indicating that males who display femininity, regardless of sexual orientation, are typically viewed negatively (Blashill & Powlishta, 2009). In addition, gay targets are evaluated negatively even in the absence of information about gender role characteristics (Blashill & Powlishta, 2009). In another study done by ...
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...ving the support of your parents, family and friends and knowing they accept you no matter what is great feeling. In addition, being accepted in the gay community can have a positive impact on those persons of the same sexual orientation. Such information is useful to the understanding of human sexuality because we can be so ignorant to things we know nothing about. Individuals with homophobic attitudes may not understand the severity of their comments or behaviors toward homosexuals and thus by informing them we can help to alter their views. They may not completely agree but at least they will be conscious of how they treat others.
In conclusion, although views on homosexuality have improved significantly being homosexual, lesbian or bisexual is still not easy. Until we are able to put our ignorance behind us homophobia will continue to impact the gay community.
In certain countries such as the U.S, people discriminate against others to a certain extent based off their gender, race, and sexuality. Butler states that “to be a body is to be given over to others even as a body is “one own,” which we must claim right of autonomy” (242). Gays and Lesbians have to be exposed to the world because some of them try to hide their identity of who they truly are because they are afraid of how others are going to look at them. There are some who just let their sexuality out in the open because they feel comfortable with whom they are as human beings and they don’t feel any different than the next person. The gender or sexuality of a human being doesn’t matter because our bodies’ will never be autonomous because it is affected by others around us. This is where humans are vulnerability to violence and aggression. In countries across the globe, violence and attack are drawn towards tran...
Stop for a moment and think what if homophobia didn’t really mean what we think it means. What if it really meant the opposite? Michael S. Kimmel’s essay “Masculinity as Homophobia” explains that homophobia is actually the fear of being perceived as gay. Yes, this might come as a shock to some people, but let’s see why this actually might make sense. This essay discusses that men in order to look as manly as possible, they act in very different ways, and sometimes they even exaggerate their behaviors (103). According to Kimmel men are afraid of being humiliated by other men and they would rather jeopardize their health just to preserve their masculinity (105). The author states that society has a great impact on how one should behave in order to be perceived e real men. That’s why I deeply agree with Kimmel’s general idea that homophobia is actually the fear of being
For years homosexuality in the United States of America has been looked down upon by citizens, religions, and even politicians. The homosexual culture, or the LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender), has been demoralized and stuck out and lashed against by the Heterosexual community time and time again. To better understand the LGBT community we must first grasp the concept of Sexual Orientation.
Homosexuality has always played a huge role in society. Views on this topic have changed immensely from the beginning of the greece era to now in modern society. People have become more appalled with this topic because now in society there are stereotypical views on “normal” ways of living. Religious views have also impacted people's decisions and thoughts about it.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals people make up more than ten percent of the population; that means if you are sitting in a classroom of thirty, then more than three of those people are LGBT individuals. However, this overwhelmingly large minority group continues to be one of the least protected by the government as well as most heavily targeted by discrimination and hate crimes. Regardless of the powerful shift in public opinion concerning LGBT individuals during the last twenty years, the laws concerning hate crimes have remained invariable.
What I am going to talk about today is just as absurd. It is like poison that permeates the very fabric of society. I am talking about homophobia, a problem that remains largely unaddressed. With this speech I would like us to reflect on the presence of this issue in society and the threats it poses to humanity. And finally, I will propose possible ways to eliminate this stigma.
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...
Homophobia has been a problem for a very long time, all across the world. For example, during the Holocaust, in which homosexuals were forced to wear the “Pink Triangle”, a pink, upside down triangle, on his or her coat for identification. Of course, the pattern of homophobia is not only shown throughout world history, but American history as well. For example, sodomy laws, laws that rule certain sexual acts as crimes, were established as early as 1963. The penalty for these laws varied from state to state. Some of the punishments include: two to ten year imprisonments or two thousand dollar fines. The cruelty of these homophobic actions should not be accepted any longer. It encourages bullying, denies human beings their civil rights, and continues to foster a mentality of indifference and intolerance towards our fellow man.
Coming out, regardless of what one is coming out as, is incredibly difficult. An important aspect of accepting ones’ sexuality is the support that one gets from others of the same sexuality. “This support comes not only from loved ones … but also from associating with like-minded others in the gay, lesbians, and bisexual communities” (McLean 63). However, even in a group that’s been discriminated against by heterosexuals, there is an outstanding amount biphobia in the LGBT community.
...a. Homophobic behavior can be driven by an individual’s fear, family, religion, culture, political affiliation, societal setting, and personal beliefs. All three articles made suggestions in order to prevent stereotypes and homophobia, and while many people are being educated and changing their beliefs about homosexuality, many more people may never change their beliefs and ideals. Educating people to change their minds takes generations, since many people are not so easily persuaded to think differently. People have been brainwashed to think certain ways. Even though society is beginning to accept homosexuality and homosexuals, society still has not broken the stereotypes associated. Stereotypes today are still prevalent, need to be addressed, and broken so homosexuals can have the same freedoms as heterosexuals and not live in fear of being discriminated against.
It is very reasonable to conclude that research on depression of those who identify as gay, lesbian or transsexual is not accurate; there is an underreporting of people who identify as these sexual orientations because of the fear of being different. It is understood that those apart of the LGBTQ community actively hide their identity in hopes to avoid being rejected or abused (Bird, 2013). Once the reporting issue of having a smaller percentage of the actual representation of the LGBTQ population is put aside, there is evidence that highly suggests that lesbians and gay men are at higher risk for psychiatric disorders than heterosexuals (Cochran, 2001). Even after underreporting, there is still enough information to conclude that sexual discrimination can have harmful effects on the quality of life. Common factors that have been observed in lesbians and gays that can potentially increase depression during Cochran's study are anxiety and mood disorders and decreased self esteem. Cochran and her partner also noted that dissatisfaction with how one is treated beca...
D’Augelli, A.R. (1998). Developmental implications of victimization of lesbian, gay, and bisexual youths. In G.M. Herek (Ed.), Stigma and sexual orientation: Understanding prejudice against lesbians, gay men and bisexuals (pp.187-210). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
An issue that has, in recent years, begun to increase in arguments, is the acceptability of homosexuality in society. Until recently, homosexuality was considered strictly taboo. If an individual was homosexual, it was considered a secret to be kept from all family, friends, and society. However, it seems that society has begun to accept this lifestyle by allowing same sex couples. The idea of coming out of the closet has moved to the head of homosexual individuals when it used to be the exception.
There are individuals that live in fear of showing their true identity to the world because they simply fear that society won’t accept them for having a different sexual orientation. Society advocates that individuals should be able to be proud of who they are, but yet they judge homosexuals for being different. People are taught not to judge others based on their race or religion, so why do they still discriminate against homosexuals? The homosexual subculture is not accepted by society, looked down upon, and misjudged; however, they are human beings and deserve to be treated equally.
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 the 1980s 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.