In The Social Construction Of Heterosexuality

Heterosexuality is Natural

Since the beginning of mankind, the human species has been able to populate and cover the planet through reproduction. The natural reproduction is between a man and women, so heterosexuality is seen as the popular form of sexuality. However, many people believe that not only is heterosexuality not natural, but is constructed by society. Pepper Schwartz, a professor of sociology at the University of Washington, believes that heterosexuality is a construct of cultural norms. Society creates expectations for how sexuality should be presented and performed, but down to the root of human nature heterosexuality is much more prevalent than any other form of sexuality. I disagree with professor Schwartz, and I believe that

heterosexuality is natural to humans. This is seen in society and the way that it promotes heterosexuality, the animal kingdom’s sexuality, and what Darwinism has to say about sexuality.
In The Social Construction of Heterosexuality, by Pepper Schwartz, she argues that heterosexuality is not natural for humans, sexual attraction is natural but the way that people perform sexual attraction must be taught.

Now I agree that there are people who are born to be homosexual and are naturally attracted to the same sex, but this group is the minority in the world. Schwartz says, “Countless research papers have shown that even infants are programmed into adult sexual niches: we are socially constructed as heterosexual as soon as we are propelled out into the world” (p.187). She is saying that people are not born heterosexual, but are taught to feel this way. This is incredibly narrow, because often times society will define masculinity and femininity, but will not always express who to be attracted to. Even at the age of two, kids understand the differences in sex, so they are not clueless in that aspect. The arguments that parents and society shape the way that people conform to their sexual preferences is not entirely true. I have friends who have the same sex parents, and their sexuality does not reflect their parents. There are times when people are looked down upon for being homosexual, and the fear for coming out is a real thing. Even in school I remember when people who were different weren't included and ostracized. Society may not be fully accepting of homosexuality, because it is not necessarily common, but homosexuality has been more open than ever. The LGBTQ community was once highly mistreated, but today there is equal marriage, discrimination laws, and respect for preferred pronouns. Some governments, like Canada, go as far as trying to make a law that makes it illegal to use improper pronouns. I for one oppose such laws that limit freedom of speech, and fascist legislation, but at least their voices are

heard.
The natural desire for the opposite sex is shown throughout the animal kingdom. This is due to hormones, genes, and environmental factors. If heterosexuality was not natural than there would be overwhelming evidence of animals with same sex partners, but they’re rare. There are only 1,500 species that have been seen to perform homosexual behavior; of those species only a low percentages perform such acts, and even a fewer percentage continue such behavior. The Bonobo apes are different than other apes, as the males and females are fully bisexual species. So science acknowledges that there are cases in which one sex attracts the same sex, but those cases are very marginal compared to the whole. Bisexual behavior is very common, but homosexuality is very rare among the animal kingdom. Even earlier human civilizations reproduced because they had to in order to secure their survival, so same sex was not common. Since humans have to reproduce to survive, that kind of normality is brought up in a culture; negative mindsets towards homosexuality is why it was weeded out, looked down upon, and even cases of persecution occurred. I believe this is what Schwartz is talking about form that original mindset. I don't agree with her entirely, but I cannot deny that homosexuality was not okay until the last 20 years.
Charles Darwin created Darwinism, which is the theory of evolution of species by natural selection. This theory is a large part of biology and evolutionary development, and it can help explain why some species advanced while others died off. To live in a changing environment a species has to adapt; the adaption process is through reproduction. Without reproduction it is easy to state that no species can continue. Reproduction is heterosexual, because it must be between a male and female. If homosexuality was natural than a species would not be able to continue, that is why heterosexuality is natural to the larger population. I believe that homosexuality is accepted and okay, but is not the natural course for humans and their survival. That is why women have vaginas and men have a penis; it’s not necessarily for sexual pleasure, but to have children. We must identify that heterosexuality is good to continue a population, but not demonize homosexuality. Many scientist believe that someone is born homosexual in terms of their hormones, genes, and chemical process. There's also learned traits or events that can alter someone's sexual appeal. Schwartz argues that society pushes people to conform to heterosexuality, but people and animals have been reproducing through heterosexual means since their existence.
The argument about the natural sexuality is not an argument to condemn one form over the other, it simply is to understand the science of human sexuality. Being heterosexual does not make one better than one who's homosexual. Schwartz argues that there's not one who more natural over the other, yet society just favors heterosexuality, so in turn it conforms children to it. Science shows that heterosexuality is naturally dominate, but homosexual is natural as well for millions of people. Science also shows that there is a need to preserve heterosexuality and acknowledges its importance. Schwartz argument has its merits, it's correct that society sets standards for people's sexuality, it decides the perfect body, and how people show their sexuality. However, I do not agree when she says that heterosexuality is not natural. It's seen throughout society, the animal kingdom's sexuality, and Darwinism.