Scores on exam 2
14
12
Number of Students
10
8
6
4
2
0
F
D
C
Exam Grade
B
A
Bio 27 October 29th
Chapter 9: Sexual Orientation
Some terminology
• Heterosexual: also known as “straight.”
Attraction is to other-sex partners
• Homosexual: also known as “lesbian” for
women and “gay” for men. Attraction is to
same sex partners
• Bisexual: attraction is to both sexes
• Asexual: lack of attraction to either sex
Sexual orientation exists as a continuum
Kinsey’s Continuum of Sexual
Orientation (1948)
Asexuality
• Not part of Kinsey’s scale,
although he acknowledged its
existence
• Different from celibacy in that
asexuality is innate, whereas
celibacy is a choice
• About 1% of the population is
believed to be asexual
– 73% of asexuals have never had
intercourse
– 80% of asexual makes and 77% of
asexual females do masturbate
– Most do not feel distressed about
their asexuality
• Usually lifelong
Bisexuality
• No consensus about what
makes an individual bisexual
(or gay or lesbian)
• Many people have same-sex
sexual fantasies or
experiences, but identify as
heterosexual rather than
bisexual
• Women who identify as
heterosexual are 27 times
more likely than
heterosexual men to
express moderate or more
same sex attraction
• Study showed males and
females of different sexual
orientations videos of
bonobos mating and
masturbating and measured
sexual arousal
• Gay and straight women
experienced arousal from
both gay and straight videos
but only reported arousal
consistent with sexual
orientation
• Arousal in males was more
consistent with sexual
orientation
Sexual Fluidity
• Some people change their
sexual orientation at
different times in their lives
• More common among
women; this may be
influenced by the greater
social stigma against male
homosexuality
• Believed to have a
biological basis
What Determines Sexual Orientation?
Psychosocial Hypotheses
• Focus on role of life experiences, parenting patterns,
or psychological attributes of individual
• Theories:
– The “By Default” Theory: homosexuality is chosen by
people who have negative experiences with the opposite
sex; not supported by data
– The Seduction Myth: homosexuality is caused by
homosexual experience with an older person; in actuality,
most gays have their first sexual experiences with someone
of a similar age
– Freud’s Theory: poor relationship with father or overly
close relationship with mother can lead to male
homosexuality; not supported by data
What Determines Sexual Orientation?
Biological Hypotheses
• Genetic factors
– Homosexuality is heritable
– Identical twin studies show this
– Patterns of finger length suggest that prenatal testosterone
exposure may contribute to male homosexuality
– Gay men also much more likely to be left-handed and have
more older brothers
• Implications if biology is destiny
– May lead to greater acceptance
– 75% of gays and 49% of the general population currently
say they think homosexuality is innate
Societal attitudes towards
homosexuality
Societal attitudes have changed
• Before 1900s: homosexual behavior is sinful
• Early 1900s: homosexuality is a mental illness
– Lobotomy, castration, drugs, and shock treatments have
been used as “cures”
• 1974 APA removed homosexuality from list of mental
disorders
• No differences in psychological adjustment across
sexual orientation
• “Conversion” therapy does not work but gay
affirmative therapy is helpful
– “Gay cures” will be illegal in CA as of January 1, 2013!
Homophobia
• Homophobia: Antihomosexual attitudes,
irrational fear of
homosexual people,
or loathing of
homosexual
tendencies in oneself
– Homophobes more
likely to respond
sexually to
homosexual imagery
Hate Crimes
• Hate Crimes Laws
provide more severe
penalties for crimes
motivated by race, color,
national origin, religion,
or, as of 2009, sexual
orientation
• Prior to 2009, many
states either had no hate
crime laws or had hate
crime laws that did not
include sexual
orientation
Causes of Homophobia and Hate Crimes
• Lack of acceptance and valuing
• Traditional gender role stereotypes
• Extreme manifestation of cultural norms
– Threatened by challenges to traditional gender roles
• Denial of homosexual feelings
High profile anti-gay hate crimes
• Brandon Teena, a 21-year-old transgendered man, was
sexually assaulted and murdered in 1993 (subject of the
movie Boys Don’t Cry)
• Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old gay college student was
beaten and tied to a fence on a cold night where he was left
to die in 1998 (subject of the movie The Laramie Project)
• Barry Winchell, a 21-year-old male soldier, was murdered by
a fellow soldier in 1999 because he was dating a
transgendered woman (subject of the movie Soldier’s Girl)
• Gwen Araujo, a 17-year-old transgendered girl, was
murdered by four men in Newark in 2002. She had had sex
with two of the men, and their lawyers tried the “gay panic”
defense
Sexual Minorities and the Media:
changing attitudes
• Philadelphia in 1993 the
first major Hollywood film
to examine the topic of
homophobia
• Gay characters are now
common in TV shows and
movies
• BUT many actors still do
not feel like they can
“come out” as gay
• Portrayal of gay, lesbian,
and bisexual individuals as
“regular folks” has
contributed to acceptance
Coming Out and Disclosure
• Coming Out
– Self-acknowledgement is the first step
– Self-acceptance is next
• Disclosure
– “Passing” as straight has risks and benefits
– Telling family can be difficult
• Some may be disowned
– Involvement in the LGBT community
– Individuals who are both sexual and racial minorities are less
likely to come out and more likely to face alienation if they do
• “On the DL”
Same-Sex Relationships
• Similar challenges and
concerns as with
heterosexual couples
• More egalitarian than
other-sex relationships
• Differences:
– Gay couples found to use
more humor and affection
during disagreements
– More likely to remain
positive after a
disagreement
– Displayed less
domineering behavior with
one another
Gay & Lesbian family life
• 33% of lesbian couples and 22%
of gay male couples are raising
children
– Some are children from previous
relationships
– Some are born through assisted
fertility techniques
– Some are adopted (laws on gay
adoption vary)
• Study found that children of
lesbian mothers have no
difference in general
development, self-esteem,
gender role issues or sexual
orientation
• American Academy of Pediatrics
has endorsed gay adoption
Gay Rights Movement
• Began in 1969 with the
Stonewall Rebellion
• Goals:
– Decriminalization of private sexual
behavior
• Texas sodomy law overturned in 2003
– Legal protection from
discrimination
• Still no federal law against
employment discrimination, although
many companies have policies and
states have laws
• Military “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
– Legal protection for same-sex
families
• Health care
• Marriage
• Adoption
There is still much progress to be
made
• No federal protection
against workplace
discrimination
• No federal guarantee of
hospital visitation for
partners
• No federal right to
marry or adopt
“Sexual orientation is a choice.”
How strongly do you agree or disagree with this
statement? Support your answer using specific
evidence.
1
2
3
4
5
strongly
disagree
somewhat
disagree
neutral
somewhat
agree
strongly agree