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Sexual orientation and gender identity in society
Sexual orientation and gender identity in society
Sexual orientation and gender identity in society
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There have been many recent studies performed that focus on stress and how stress affect people physically, emotionally and/or psychologically. Though people who make up being a part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community are considerably lower than the general public; members of the LGBT community face various issues that cause stress that people of the heterosexual community do not face. Some of these include stress due to identity exploration and acceptance of their sexuality, suffering self-esteem issues, lack of support systems; possible victimization due to assault and/or battery; difficulties and limitations of dating, and finding balances within their lives. Little is known about the levels of happiness and internal harmony from the lifestyles of bisexual men because not many studies have been conducted focusing solely on them and due to the fact that their numbers are limited. Therefore, it is crucial to conduct a study that measures the levels of satisfaction in the lifestyles in order to compare the differences in these levels from closeted versus openly gay/bisexual men.
Conducting this type of research would then enhance a better understanding of the effects (if any) stressors, such as being unable to openly express oneself because of one’s sexuality, pose to bisexual men. By targeting bisexual men with ages ranging from 18 to 70 (independent variable), we can compare them by separating those who are closeted to those men who are openly gay or bisexual. Additionally, the stress accompanied by being in the closet or openly gay/bisexual would affect the level of gratification and harmony within their lifestyles (dependent variable). The level of gratification and harmony would be measured on a...
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...e men appear more confident, assist them to be more socially competent and leave them with ease in discussing their sexuality with others.
Conclusion
I am certain that the “gay movement” has in fact benefited many bisexual men with the liberalization in attitudes towards homosexuality, however it is very clear that the world does in fact need more out bisexual people. This statement comes from the importance for bisexual men to find support systems and a sense of community, pride and comradery just like their homosexual counterparts. There have been many bisexual men in history, for example it is even said that Alexander the Great was indeed bisexual, but it is my belief that the suppression of one’s sexual orientation will affect that person in a negative way and as RuPaul well stated, “If you don’t love yourself, how in the hell are you gonna love someone else?”
For my interview portion of this response I interviewed a friend of mine named Nicole who is a bisexual. When I asked her about her fears of coming out her she said that her only fear was being seen as some kind of pervert or sexual predator.” I came out to my friends first, some were shocked but soon it just became something that people just knew and after awhile it became just as relevant as my hair color”. She also stated that after she came out to her friends some of those friends came out to her soon after. She admitted she was treated differently by people because of the discrimination bisexuals get by both hetrosexuals and homosexuals.“People tolerate bisexuals but they are not respected” She said that many people treated her as if she was confused or like she was only pretending to like girls because they believe that would attract men. She explained that most people tend to believe that bisexuality doesn’t exist.
In our world there has and will always have social issues that our society that is damaging our people. One of the proponent issue is in our world is Homophobia. As Homophobia is defined has people that dislike of or is prejudice against homosexual people. Recently our society has started to be more accepting with the LGBTQ community. Homophobia has really affected all people in very negative ways regardless of their sexual orientation. As homophobia is based on someone disliking or being prejudice to another person targeted to people that are homosexual. There are many people that want to fight against homophobia and help protect and support the LGBTQ community. The different sexual orientations of all individuals they have the right to be who they identity them selves as. As homophobia not only affects the LGBTQ community but affects every sexual orientation, seeing that much hate and prejudice toward people it is just sad and disturbing that people still hate on something they have no control over.
Internalized homophobia is when negative attitudes from the primary group, mainly family but also the surrounding community, cause negative homophobic thoughts in a person that has same-sex attraction, but may not identify with it. This kind of internalization creates lack of self worth for those that do not “come out”. Research supports that internalized homophobia contributes to lower self-acceptance, loneliness, depression, and the lessened ability to come out to others. Internalized homophobia has a high impact on lesbians because society’s norms are to be married to a man and reproduce, and this norm is the majority in small, rural communities. Because of this norm, lesbians try to maintain a “normal”, “acceptable” lifestyle, and get married and have children, while fighting within themselves about their identity. “A number of studies have found that the degree of internalized homophobia was inversely related to relationship satisfaction in lesbians” (Spencer, 2007, pg. 258).
Throughout research, there is an understanding of the possibility of there being a relationship connection between past traumatic events of adolescents to changing their life style from heterosexual to homosexual. What is considered an adolescent for this study are adolescents between the ages of 13-17 because once you are the age 18 you are considered a legal adult in the United States. The study will take place looking at the age bracket of adolescents, which live in the United States. In this, the research will be looking at th...
Tori, DeAngelis. "New data on Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Mental Health." www.apa.org/monitor/feb02/newdata.aspx . N.p., 12 february 2002. Web. 9 Apr 2014.
HIV/AIDS is a major risk factor affecting a large portion of the LGBT community, especially gay men. CDC.gov (2013) found that gay and bisexual men of all races continue to be at high risk for developing HIV. According to Krehely (2009) the drug and substance abuse risk factor, as well as mental health issues in the LGBT community often occur and are related to high rates of stress due to the lack of family acceptance of the LGBT lifestyle, systematic discrimination, and the lack of cultural competency in the health care environment. Sexu...
Living life as a transgendered person is not easy. There are very few times when someone comes out as transgender and their lives are still relatively easy to manage. There are a copious...
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...
Kelleher, C. (2009). Minority stress and health: Implications for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) young people. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 22(4), 373-379. Retrieved April 21, 2014, from http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09515070903334995
Despite the large collection of literature of sexuality that has been accumulating, human asexuality has been largely ignored. Asexuality is controversially considered to be a sexual orientation and people who identify as asexual are people who typically do not experience sexual attraction (Asexuality Visibility and Education Network, 2013). Though research on sex and sexual orientations has been done for centuries, the first real suggestion that there might be people who fall outside of the heterosexual – homosexual orientation spectrum came from Kinsey and colleagues in 1948. These individuals were put into a separate category and were identified as having no erotic response to hetero- or homosexual stimuli, but otherwise they were largely ignored by the researchers (Kinsey, 1953). Later, researchers linked asexuality with negative traits and pathologies, including depression and lower self-esteem (Masters, Johnson, & Kolodny, 1986; Nuius, 1983). An issue with these studies, however, is that the researchers defined asexuality in a way that most current asexuals do not agree with. For example, in a study done by Bell and Weinberg (1978), there were references made to asexual homosexuals who simply hid their homosexuality. Many asexuals, otherwise known as Aces, would struggle with this definition because homosexuality implies a type of sexual attraction: attraction to your same sex. Because Aces typically do not feel sexual attraction to anyone or anything, they should not be classified under the same label as a closeted homosexual. Another issue is that none of these studies actually focused on asexuality. Instead, they were added on the side and generally ignored.
A happy wife, two happy kids, a dog, and a big house with a picket fence, and money in the bank. The reasons why these men choose to hide the fact that they are gay or bisexual could be for many reasons. In the African American community being gay is like having the pledge. People of African and Caribbean background believe that being gay is a ticket to death. Being gay is the highest form of disrespect to there families and everyone around. A person being gay give anyone the right to beat them up and make fun of their life chooses. I also know that for Christians man this person would want to hide being gay because it 's unlawful for a Christian man to be doing sinful things such as being gay. There are many verses in the bible that go aganst being gay some are (Leviticus 18:22, "You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination."1Leviticus 20:13, "If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death. Their blood guiltness is upon
Biologically there are differing physical features s as well as brain characteristics, however men and women start out from the same tissue and can perform equally in many of the same tasks. Traditionally males have fulfilled a more dominant role in society than females, but roles are becoming more equal as females engage in careers and activity outside of the home. It was also previously thought men should initiate sex and be in a committed relationship to one woman, however woman have become sexual initiators and discovered they also can enjoy sexual activity and experiences. As a whole society is recognizing the differences between males and females, but also allowing equal opportunity for either gender to peruse their sexuality
Vrangalova, Z., & Savin-Williams, R. C. (2012). Mostly heterosexual and mostly gay/lesbian: Evidence for new sexual orientation identities. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 41, 85-101. doi: 10.1007/s10505- 012-9921-y.
states that “bisexuality is often perceived as an illegitimate and unstable sexual orientation, such that bisexuals are perceived to be confused, experimenting, in transition from a heterosexual to a gay/lesbian identity, or in denial about their true sexual orientation.” This attitude towards bisexuality definitely creates tensions in societies. Furthermore, Feinstein et al. also states “While people have the right to choose what characteristics are important to them when they evaluate potential romantic or sexual partners, a lack of willingness to consider bisexual individuals as potential partners may represent subtle discrimination against bisexuals, especially when such unwillingness is rooted in negative attitudes toward bisexuality.” This “subtle” discrimination has definitely grown since this journal’s published date in August 2016 and only seems to grow. Lastly, Feinstein et al. also discusses about essentialist beliefs about homosexuality which the first addresses why bisexuality is perceived the way it is, that all homosexuals are similar to one another (Feinstein et al.). This ideal is very narrow and categorized all sexualities as “homosexual” when that is not the case. Therefore, this is another reason why bisexuals are seen as almost “mythological creatures,” because our society cannot seem to understand that there is more than “gays” and “straights.” In addition, this also creates a thought process for bisexuals that they must be hidden because if not, they will be ridiculed and shamed for being
Stress is an ongoing dilemma that occurs in each and everyone’s life. It is a factor that is undoubtedly a part of daily living. Due to the trivial problems that occur in people’s daily lives massive amounts of stress can arise. People perceive and manage stress in many different ways. The causes and effects of stress are numerous and one’s ability to manage stress is vital in maintaining healthy living.