According to Rathus, Nevid, and Fichner-Rathus, (2005) the term homosexuality denotes sexual interest in members of one’s own anatomic sex and applies to both_ _men and women. Homosexual males are often referred to as gay males and homosexual females or referred to as lesbians. Gay males and lesbians have existed throughout history. The historical and scientific perspectives on homosexuality have shaped the way gay individuals perceive themselves in various ways. These perspectives may also be beneficial to heterosexuals' understanding of others in our world of sexual diversity.…
The essay “Masculinity as homophobia” by Michael S. Kimmel talks about how masculinity and homophobia go hand in hand with each other. Trying to prove ourselves masculine, makes us change how we really are, showing a different face than what we want to show. Homophobia is the fear of not measuring up as a real man. We are afraid of being humiliated by other men. All this leads to silence, to a silence that shows that we agree with the things that are done to women, to gays and lesbians.…
Homophobia is negative feelings and attitudes towards homosexuality. It is represented in line four with the rhetorical question ‘are you queer?’ it is representing a sense of hostility towards the homosexuals by asking that question.…
The term “homophobia” brings to mind individuals that hate those who are homosexual. Most of us aren’t ignorant to the fact that homophobia is a problem in America. These homophobic people call homosexuals “faggots” or “dykes” with no regard as to if these people are actually gay or not. We often believe this is as far as it is taken. Carmen Vazquez’s argument in her 1992 essay “Appearances”, slightly changes the definition of homophobia (Goodreads). Her argument is effective because she offers convincing evidence of these events, uses a tone that does not attack those she is standing up against and uses pathos to gain readers emotionally. Vazquez brings the issues going on today that many of us may not be aware of to the readers’ attention; the people who are commonly abused for being lesbian, gay, bi, transgender, or simply appear so. In the paragraph before the essay begins, an important question is introduced: “Have you ever gone for a walk in the…
For many years homosexuals have been persecuted and looked down upon for leading different lifestyles than the so-called "normal," person. Homosexuals live in fear; a fear of opening up and showing the world their true selves. There are many reasons why homosexuals chose and still choose to stay in the "closet." The fact that many people thought lesbians and gay men had psychological problems was one of them. According to the article The Stonewall Riots- 1969, Sigmund Freud's writings on sexuality in the early 1900's and his theories on homosexuality, the public began to think that lesbians and gay men would benefit from medical treatment. Freud's theories primarily stated that homosexuality was something learned in childhood and was basically a choice. A choice that physicians thought they could change through treatments such as castration, hypnosis, surgery, electric shock, drugs and hormones. (Wright)…
Being homophobic is having fear of or contempt for lesbians and gays. Proposition 8 is seen as a discriminating proposition towards to gays and lesbians, because same sex couples are judged by almost all who don’t accept their sexual desires. Not only are homosexuals judged but they are also verbally assaulted, physically harmed, and even threatened by homophobic bullies who have hate against same sex couples. I experienced this discrimination and bullying three months ago. I have a co-worker whose name is Rene and that is gay and I got to be good friends with him over the summer. He described how he…
The definition of sexuality is different for everybody. The sexuality definition of people is formed by the some factors such as culture, religion, sexual orientation etc... Sexual orientation is important factors for the form of sexuality. People have very different sexual orientation. But homosexuality, heterosexuality and bisexuality are best-known and prevail among people. We start to explain the meaning of key words. Homosexuality involves a variety of behaviour related to a same-sex sexual orientation. Although definitions of term often focus mainly on sexual acts and attractions between persons of the same biological sex ( Herek, 2000, p.1). Heterosexuality is attraction to member of the other sex. And finally accoding to LGBTQI (Lesbian,…
I grew up and currently live in a homophobic household. I have heard my mother, father, sister and brother all say something homophobic. Ranging from “thats gay” to “look at those fags”. There was even a point in my life when I was thinking and saying those homophobic things.…
The term homophobia might be fairly new in terms of it being used in a regular day conversation, but the feelings of dislike and fear of gays have been around for too long. Homophobia is a social problem. What makes this problem a social problem? It has affected numerous amounts of people in a harmful way. In society many view gays or lesbians as sinners and treat them like they are inhuman. Most of society has prejudices that they do not realize. They end up treating gays and lesbians unfairly and feel that they are doing nothing wrong. Hate crimes are a huge result of homophobia. Gays and lesbians have their property trashed, are yelled at, and sometimes killed…
According to Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, that is the definition of homophobia. Interesting isn't it? to see homophobia on the same page as hepatitis, herpes, and HIV among others. Before this class I wouldn't have expected to find it there. I mean honestly, what significance could homophobia have in comparison to those other three seriously-taken "real" medical terms? Despite homophobia being a matter of life and death as well, probably the most serious aspect of the disease of homophobia is that it infects a larger number in population than hepatitis, herpes, and HIV combined. Homophobia is probably the most widespread disease on the planet, but why is this so? The dictionary definition describes it as irrational. How can it be that the infected majority of men suffer from a disease akin to other irrational fears that send patients to psychiatric institutions?…
In 2008 a study of 390 gay and lesbian people Victorians found that 1 in 7 reported fear of violence. This fear is justified in that nearly 85 precent of respondents has been subjected to some form of homophobic violence in their life time. Homophobia is a fear of homosexuality; some people are threatened by people who have other sexual preferences than their own.…
Homophobic bullying is a behaviour or language which makes someone feel unwelcome and it discriminates against their perceived sexual orientation or their actual orientation. Young people are especially targeted with homophobic bullying, some major factors as to why this type of discriminative behaviour is influenced, includes; people perceive that you have a particular sexual orientation, because you fit within lesbian, gay or bisexual stereotypes. These stereotypes are based on a societal basis involving traditional gender roles or traits that are inaccurate, for example, girls with short hair. If you defend the civil rights of sexual minorities if you have relatives or friends that are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, or if you are perceived as being different to your peers or those in your local community…
teenager hears at school; yet, for many gay teens these words are a constant mantra they…
For as long as I can remember, homophobia has been a serious issue and an idea that I am outraged by. Particularly in Ireland with our abnormally religious dependent culture, disapproval of homosexuality is annoyingly and unfortunately a very common subject. For me, the word "homophobia" in itself is distressing. First of all, it is not a phobia. Those who claim to be homophobic are not fearful of gay people. You cannot possibly fear the love and emotion between two individuals. If you are apparently "homophobic", it is not because you are frightened in the face of homosexuals, it is simply because you are a narrow-minded, selfish, and unpleasant human being. I cannot comprehend why these alleged "homophobes" are so preoccupied with the love that two people share together. If it does not involve you, why are you phased by it? One thing I cannot and will not stand for is seeing two people be degraded for the life they chose to live. It torments me to imagine children around the world being dismissed and vulgarised by their parents and relatives for falling in love with someone who is of the same sex as they are. The debate surrounding "gay marriage" alone truly…
A survey by the GLSEN, found that 64% of homosexual students had experienced harassment in school. More recently, ABC News reports that a Campus Pride Study found that gay students are more likely to seriously consider leaving school due to discrimination over their sexual orientation. (Guest Author,2011).…