Chapter 9
Sexual Orientation
Sexual Orientation
What is your definition?
What is Sexual Orientation?
Sexual orientation: distinct sense of natural
preference and consistent attraction to
sexual and romantic partners of particular
sex in presence of clear alternatives
Heterosexuality
Bisexuality
What is Sexual Orientation?
Homosexuality
Prevalence of
Homosexuality and Bisexuality
•
Gay/lesbian/bisexual community prevalence
statistics
•
Other statistics
•
Prevalence pockets
Defining Sexual Orientation: Another
Look
Sexual orientation: distinct preferences
consistently made after adolescence in
presence of clear alternatives
3 distinct components:
• Affective
• Behavioral
• Self-identity
Bisexuality
Is bisexuality part of path toward
homosexuality identification and/or a
final destination, especially among
women?
What do you think?
Personal Reflections
How would you react if
someone at work told you
that he or she was
homosexual?
What if your best friend told
you that she or he was
homosexual? Your brother
or sister? Your teenage
son or daughter?
Why?
Sexual Orientation,
Gender Identity and Gender Roles
•
Homosexuals and bisexuals generally have
gender identity consistent with their
anatomical sex
•
Conformity to gender stereotypes does not
accurately predict sexual orientation
The Origins of Sexual Orientation
Neither heterosexuality nor homosexuality
nor bisexuality has single cause
•
Heterosexuality is the “norm” because vast
majority of people are heterosexual
•
Other orientations are normal part of human
diversity
Psychoanalytic Explanations
Recall Freud’s Victorian biases
•
Sexual orientation depended upon how
Oedipal complex was resolved
•
Popular theory but no reliable evidence to
support it
Other Psychosocial Explanations
Social learning theory
Rewarding early
experiences with samesex or bad experiences
with other-sex
individuals
Not all homosexuals or
heterosexuals have this
childhood background
No greater adult
sexuality in boys from
high ratio adolescent
same-sex activity
cultures
Most lesbians have had
pleasurable sexual
relations with men but
still prefer sexual
relations with women
Differing Developmental Pathways
•
Childhood gender nonconformity and
later homosexuality is greater for boys
than girls
•
Developmental pathway to
homosexuality and bisexuality is more
diverse for women
Biological Explanations:
Genetic Factors
Biological Explanations: Anatomical
Factors
Differences between heterosexual and homosexual
men are found in small region of hypothalamus and
major bundle of nerves connecting the two halves of
the brain
So…Are we born with these brain
differences or do our brains change as
we respond to life experiences?
Birth Order (and the Prenatal
Environment)
One Theory
Mother’s
immune system
is triggered by
previous male
fetus  this
affects sexual
differentiation
of brain
The more older
brothers male
child has, the
more likely that
he will be
homosexual
This relates to
about 1 in 7
homosexual
males
Hormones (and the Prenatal
Environment)
Another Theory
Animal studies:
prenatal
treatment with
hormones result
in homosexual
behavior.
Hypothalamus’
of male
homosexuals
respond to
estrogen in the
same way as
heterosexual
women
Other hormonal
effects related
to handedness
and finger
length
How can anatomy be “normal”
but orientation be variant?
After reading your text, how would
you respond to the above question?
Conclusions about Origins of Sexual
Orientation
•
Both biological and social influences
contribute to development of sexual
orientation
•
Biological factors predispose individual to
particular sexual orientation
•
There is stronger evidence for biological
contribution in men than in women
Homosexuality

Hetero: Greek for
different (not to be
confused with Latin
for man)

Homo: Greek for
same
History and Attitudes about
Homosexuality
•
Pederasty
•
Ancient Hebrew Perspectives
•
Christian Historical Perspectives
More Recent Historical Perspectives
Late 1800s homosexuality considered mental illness
1957
Evelyn Hooker; no psychiatric differences
1973
American Psychiatric Association homosexuality not mental illnesses
1993
“Don’t Ask; Don’t Tell” in U.S. military
2010 Reversal of “Don’t Ask; Don’t Tell”
Sexual Prejudice Today
1998 Senator
Trent Lott:
homosexuality
is sickness
2000
Newsweek poll:
46% Americans
still regard
homosexuality
as sinful
2004 elections:
11 states ban
same-sex
marriages
2005 James
Dobson:
SpongeBob is
gay!
Homophobia and Sexual Prejudice
Greater among:
 men than women
 those with stereotypic male
gender-role attitudes,
religious fundamentalist
attitude, little education, and
authoritarian outlook
Hate crimes are increasing!
Minority Stress
Minority stress: stigma, prejudice, and
discrimination that create hostile and
stressful social environment
• Higher prevalence of depression, mood,
and/or stress disorders
• Higher for gay men experiencing sexual
prejudice
Personal Reflections
Do you ever judge others exclusively, or almost
exclusively, by their sexual orientation?
How do you suppose you would feel if others
ignored your accomplishments in school, in
your career, in your sports and hobbies, and
in your community, and judged you on just
your sex life?
Coming Out
•
Admitting orientation
•
Getting to know others like self
•
Telling close family and friends
•
Expressing openness about orientation
Personal Reflections
Gays, lesbians, and bisexuals: Have you told
your family and friends of your sexual
orientation?
Why or why not?
Homosexual Lifestyles and Relations
•
Concentration by gender and city
•
Educational level
•
Love and relationship profile
Gay/Lesbian Romance
•
Often function as “Best friends”
•
Tend to value commitment and romantic love
•
Typically do not create “husband” and “wife”
roles
•
More likely to regard monogamy as
important
Gay/Lesbian Sex
•
Manual touching and oral-genital sex
preferred ways of reaching orgasms for
women and common for men
•
About 70% to 80% of gay men engage
in anal intercourse
Marriage and Parenting
•
Many in heterosexual
marriage
•
Many gays and lesbians
establish long-lasting
relationships
Marriage vs. Civil Union
2003 – Texas
sodomy laws
struck down
2003 –
Massachusetts
recognizes samesex marriage
2008 – 4 states
recognize civil
2003 – 61% oppose unions
same-sex marriage
and 54% oppose
civil unions
Children in Gay Households
250,000 children in
households with same-sex
parents
Children of same-sex parents
do not show:
 gender identity conflicts
 social adjustment
 homosexual orientation
Media Portrayal of Homosexuals
•
•
•
Closeted until recently
Portrayed as stereotypes
More variety and depth in newer movies and
television shows
Visit the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against
Defamation (GLAAD) website for more
information: www.glaad.org
Can (Should) Sexual
Orientation be Changed?
What do you think?
What information from the text can be used to
support your position?
Personal Reflections
Are you comfortable with your sexual
orientation? If not, why not?
What steps can you take to become more
comfortable?
Check out the national and local support groups
– there may be one on your campus.