Do you have any recollection or memory of your own self before you were born? Do you remember shifting through a menu similar to that of McDonald’s and selecting the color of your hair? What about the color of your skin, or maybe your height? Of course you don’t. However, if you were given the opportunity to completely change the person you’ve worked hard to mold into what you currently call you, would you take it? Again, you most likely wouldn’t. Your physical body, your thoughts, imagination, personality--all make up the whole you. You didn’t choose to be you, you just are. Sadly, throughout the course of history, we, as a collective society, have scrutinized those who were considered “different” simply because we were scared. No matter …show more content…
Once the masses began to understand why and how these traits exist, however, tables started to turn and acceptance, equality, and tolerance were eventually achieved (Women’s rights and the Civil Rights Movement, to name a couple). We can see this happening today with one of the most controversial traits in society: homosexuality.
When it comes to the issue of homosexuality, there are two main arguments: the first being that it is a willful, unnatural, choice that should be treated as a curable mental disorder. On the other hand, we have those who say it is definitely not a choice, and that homosexuals were “born that way.” Following through with the points stressed earlier, it is seems as though the latter argument would have the upper hand. That is not the case, unfortunately. Why, you ask? The answer is simple: the masses are simply not adequately educated on the issue. a
Before we dive into the vast amounts of scientific research available on the subject, we must first fully understand what homosexuality is. According the Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, homosexuality is defined as “sexual interest in and attraction to members of one’s own sex. [1]” In turn, it is also important to fully understand what sexual orientation is, which Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines as “an enduring pattern of emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attractions to men, women, or both sexes.[1]” Alfred Kinsey of the University of
In the past, homosexuality was considered to be a psychological disorder, up until the APA removed it from its list of mental illnesses. This was due to the fact that homosexuality causes no form of impairment on the individual’s judgment, stability, reliability, or general social and or vocational abilities. This decision made over 30 years ago, has caused a lot of criticism, many believe that the APA’s decision was made due to the amount of influence that the homosexual activism and not according to the scientific data that was collected. There are two possible sides to this assumption about whether or not homosexuality is and should be considered a psychological disorder.
Tracing back to the time period of the Triangular Trade, African-Americans were brought to America as slaves and were treated as the inferiors. Most of them were not granted for the basic human rights that they deserved. After the Civil Wars, the African- Americans were finally freed form the identity of slaves, but still treated unequally. During the 1950s and 1960s, the era of the Civil Rights Movement has occurred, which involved numerous movements that many of the Africans-Americans participated eagerly. Equal rights, educational opportunities, prohibit discriminations, and end of the segregations were the main focus of these movements. Civil Rights Act of 1964 was one of the most important acts that marked the end of the unequal application of voter registration requirement and racial segregation. The most significant events that led to the Civil Rights Act of
The Classical Civil Rights Movement from 1954 to 1965, is only part of the larger narrative of the struggle for freedom for African Americans from Emancipation in 1863 to the rise of the Black Power Movement in 1966. Throughout over a century of fighting, black Americans struggled for economic, political, and social freedoms. The black freedom movement was a struggle for voting rights, education, fair housing practices, labor rights, and access to public accommodations lead by local leaders, and accomplished integrating public accommodations and educations as well as the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The early black freedom struggle started with Emancipation in 1863, the actions during Reconstruction show the root of the Civil Rights Movement
Homosexuality is defined or characterized as attraction towards the same gender either male or female. It came from the Greek language, where “homo” means the same or similar, hence referring to the attraction between two beings of the same sex. Homosexuality is also referred as a clinical term. Most male homosexuals generally prefer to be called "gay men" and most homosexual women generally prefer to be called "lesbians." Homosexuality is one of the three main categories of sexual orientation, alongside bisexual and heterosexual. The longstanding consensus of the behavioral and social sciences and the health and mental health professions is that homosexuality is an example of normal and positive variation in human sexual
As a group of people we have a compulsive need to put people in groups based on their sexuality. Many people having this need can cause a problem be people saying that homosexuals are choosing this life and they combat that with saying they are born this way. It is true they did not have a choice to be sexually and physically whom they find themselves attracted to, yet they have a choice to how they express their sexuality. Homosexuality is not a choice scientist have proven through many studies it is genetically.
The topic of homosexuality is one that makes conservatives and highly religious people shift in their seats. While a percentage of people believe being homosexual is a life choice and done for attention, science demonstrates the transparency in that argument. Sexual orientation is determined by immutable, natural factors such as genetics and hormones. Due to those immutable factors, those who are homosexual should be entitled to the same legal rights and protections as heterosexuals. If being gay is truly a choice, then people who attempt to change their orientation should be able to do so. But most people who are gay describe it as
There are multiple theories people hold on how they believe homosexuality started or is generally caused. However, after multiple studies and ongoing research the likelihood that it is nature, rather than nurture, based is going strong. Although, as of now, there has been no exact consensus among researchers, after examining possible genetic, hormonal, developmental, social, and/or cultural influences, to prove that homosexuality is completely one or the other, but it is usually found that people cannot choose their sexual orientation, but rather only
The nature and nature of homosexuality is heavily debated. Some people believe that homosexuality is biologically determined and others believe it’s base on ones environment. This topic can be argue to be base on both nature and nurture. Studies conducted in the past decades support both the biological and environmental aspect of homosexuality.
The world has come very far with all the dramatic changes we have faced over the years. Wouldn’t you agree? As much change as the world has been through there are still numerous social problems that still exist in society today. Amongst those numerous social problems, sexual orientation and inequality stand out to me. Research from biology, psychology, and sociology is where our understanding of sexual orientation comes from. There are two hypothetical theories researchers have discovered examining the biological basis toward sexual orientation. One concept is the neurohormonal theory, biologist contend that homosexuality is caused by abnormal sex hormone levels in utero. The alternative theory is based on behavioral genetics, determining the source and magnitude of genetic impact on sexual orientation. This theory suggested the concept that gay men were genetically female. Later this theory was proven to be false. Homosexuality was considered as a pathology or mental illness. Not every psychologists agreed with that perspective. A researcher by the name of Havelock Ellis stated that homosexuality was congenital and for that reason it could not be considered as a disease. Sigmund Freud another theorist had the concept that everyone is born bisexual and that either homosexuality or heterosexuality is developed through social and personal experience. Ellis and Freud both concurred that homosexuality was not a mental illness. Despite these researchers’ opinions in 1973,
Science is uncovered origins a lot of things over the centuries and the human created much great inventions and even explored the surface of the moon; however, one question still on everyone’s mind and science may have solved one of greatest mysteries yet which is: how did homosexuality and heterosexuality evolve? Many psychologist, biologist and scientist may agree with sexual orientation is output from a combination of biological, hormonal, environmental and emotional factors and those many factors that influence to a development of human sexual orientation. However, being homosexual or bisexual is not mentally ill or abnormal in certain ways, although sexual minority is part of social problems that makes output from misinformation or prejudicial attitude. Diversity in sexual orientation has been a subject that has been seen in different perspectives by the different people (LeVay, 2010). Today there are the homosexuals, heterosexuals and bisexuals orientated people are forming a part of our society. This paper conduct an overall study of important and strong factors and provides accurate information and explanation for those who want to better understand development of sexual orientation.
Even though there are many studies that are reliable, there are some studies aren't reliable. Researcher Dean Hamer of the National Cancer Institute did a behavioral trait study using a common linkage study where it looks for a link between a behavioral trait and a certain genetic structure. The results for his study concluded that there was a link on the "q28"region of the X chromosome in homosexual males. Then a while
A major reason for the fear and objection towards homosexuality is organized religion. Whether we notice it or not, we as humans follow many everyday concepts from the Bible. Examples would be, to not steal, murder, or commit adultery in marriage. The Bible also states that homosexuality is unethical and should be avoided as other sins. These are all great to follow, if you conform to the rules of the Bible. Religious back up should not be used in order to deem something wrong or unethical. It is essential to understand, to deem homosexuality ethical or not, rational decision-making must occur. One must analyze the pros and cons; if the pros outweigh the cons, homosexuality is ethical, and visa versa. One who explicitly follows an organized religion must follow the rules of a higher power (God). Getting rid of this obstacle will leave room for autonomous decisions on homosexuality, and eventually its place in good ethics.
what ever decision has been made, it has been done so on the basis of
If the argument of homosexual animals is not convincing enough, one must also consider the possibility of genetics. There is research suggesting that certain genetic markers on the x-chromosome are associated with homosexuality: “Using genetic mapping, the team found that a set of five genetic markers at the tip of the long arm of the X chromosome were identical in 33 of 40 pairs of homosexual brothers” (Journal Watch). This does not positively conclude that a person will be gay if he or she has these markers, but it does suggest that there are genetic factors at play rather than sexuality being merely a choice. Much of this research was done in 1993, and: “The same year, a study of twins found a significantly higher correlation of sexual orientation between identical as opposed to fraternal twins” (Bernstein 34). Two people with the same genetic makeup are more likely to both be gay or both be straight than two people with similar but not quite identical genetics.
The realization of the homosexuality in the modern western world as a cultural, sexual and a social category has been a result of complex power relations that surround sexuality and gender. The acceptance of homosexuality in the society has met its fair share of resistance and skepticism. The view that homosexuality can be in the same league as heterosexual has led it to be viewed as a normal behavioral and moral standard (Gallagher & Baker, 2006). Inasmuch as the skeptics may not want to accept the existence of homosexuality studies show that the habit is rampant today with many gay people coming out in the open. Of interest is the political acceptance of homosexuality with passing gay rights so that it can be recognized by law. This move has given homosexuals the ability to engage in legal entities like marriage (Gallagher & Baker, 2006).