The Boundaries Between Romantic Friendship and Erotic Love Essay

Though same-sex relationships have been a prominent aspect of many cultures almost since the beginning of time, there has historically been a significant taboo surrounding the phenomenon in the Western world. "From the Fourteenth Century on, Western Europe was gripped by a rabid and obsessive negative preoccupation with homosexuality as the most horrible of sins" (Boswell 262). The majority of people did not understand or accept the idea, and consequentially did not have an appropriate way of talking about it. Over the years, as various cultures identified and even implemented practices currently associated with homosexuality, there arose a need for common terminology. Until the eighteenth century, it was referred to through the practices

The sexual interactions between males and females had always occurred. It was not a new phenomenon when men and women started participating in premarital sex, necking, petting, or kissing. It was the norm of the society. The emphasis on necking and petting arose from the renaming of the two acts. The older generation tended to have a different definition for these actions than the younger generation. The same actions were occurring, but there was a miscommunication about the definition of the words used to describe those actions.

It was not until the twelfth century that homosexuality started to be condemned. This condemnation proved to live through then until now. Due to the fact that America incorporated these early views into its early laws, even the most bland of today's sex acts were seen as unlawful (“Homosexuality and Mental Health”). Since then, these laws have changed, however, there is still a primarily negative connotation on homosexuals when coming from a church or legal standpoint concerning the masses of America.

Few people today know the true meaning of the word gay. Even fewer use it in its original context. To be gay was once a common and positive expression. When describing one’s mood, it meant that they were feeling lively and carefree. Gay could even be used to describe something that was “brightly colored” or “showy” (Merriam Webster, “Gay”). No one thought twice about it when people said they were “feeling gay” or “the sunset was gay.” However, this word is rarely used in that context in today’s society. Instead, it has taken on a completely different meaning and connotation. While gay had become something of a euphemism for prostitutes and their clients throughout the 19th century, it was ever changing. This change was gradual and began in the 1920s and 1930s. By this time, a “gay man” was no longer just a man that was promiscuous with women, but also one who was

In his sociology paper, Professor Robert Bell (1973, p1) defines mateship as 'the sex segregated involvement of men and it implies both physical and intellectual exclusion of women.' Miriam Dixson (1976, cited by Ken Inglis, 1998, p417), from another point of view, defines mateship as including sublimation of homosexuality. The definitions of mateship and mate cited here are by no means comprehensive and exhaustive.

In “The Myth of Homosexuality” by Christine Downing, there is the discussion of homosexuality and its meaning over the years. Downing begins the article by stating how a myth has classified women-on-women and men-on-men relationships to fall under the same term of homosexuality, but there is much deeper understanding to it than that. The classification under one word has caused a lot of shaping concerning how they are viewed or how they view themselves. In order to look past the surface of what defines the myth, Downing states that we must start with the culture’s myth and it’s origin.

Homosexuality has had a long battle through America, the thought of homosexuality was a mental disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-II Code 302 Sexual Deviation Sub-Section 302.0 Homosexuality. It stays “this category is for individuals whose sexual interests are directed primarily toward objects other than people

The problem of sexuality emerged in the 19th century as biological, social, psychological and moral concern. Homosexual was first defined as a kind person and later changed. With the change of definition of homosexuality led to social anxieties from the threat of

“You’re gay,” a term now used so freely to not only insult peers but to take a stab at the homosexual community. But was this homosexual stigma always prevalent in history? Over two thousand years ago, the ancient Roman state ruled most of the known world. During those five hundred years, emperors rose to power and fell, a republic formed and was destroyed but what perhaps is one the most important aspects of Roman society is free love.

The background of homosexuality in the 1940’s and 50’s was harsh, but people started to be opened toward the rights. There were criticisms toward homosexuality in the early days of Milk. Gay men carried the labels of mentally ill or

Homosexuality Annotated Bibliography Adriaens, Pieter R., and Andreas De Block. “The Evolution of a Social Construction: the Case of Male Homosexuality.” Scholarly Journals, vol. 49, ser. 4, University Press, 2006, pp. 570–585.

Sodomy involving men with men, men with women, and men with animals were made illegal. Same-sex relations between men was outlawed because it discouraged sexual reproduction. But same-sex acts between women were just seen as acts and not yet threatening. Later into the 19th century, we saw a more of a change. The industrial revolution further enforced patriarchal families. Women and children were transformed from “producers to dependents and consumers.” During this time, gender roles were more pronounced in society, which led to a series of issues for the LGBTQ community later during the 19th century.

From the 19th century through the early 20th century, romantic friendships flourished in America. These relationships, found between both men and women and most commonly within the middle class, provided support invaluable to those involved and were distinctively more intimate than comparable relationships preceding and following them that were not explicitly romantic. The unique intimate nature of romantic friendships and their progression and decline provide important clues into the nature of 19th and early 20th century American society and thought, especially in terms of concepts of gender and sexuality.

In the first sentence of "The Invention of the Heterosexuality" it was made clear that heterosexuality was not something that just began. That term has been around since the historic days of Adam and Eve. Back during The Victorian True Love from 1820-1860 sex was more like something that you were obligated to do verses pleasure. To be considered a true woman you were measured by your distance from lust. To be considered a true male you were in less control of your lust for women. During The Late Victorian Sex-Love time period that ranges from the 1860 to 1892 heterosexuality and homosexuality were in the making in America and Germany. More doctors began to study the new medical model of normal love which was once considered the medical

Homosexuality is not a 20th century situation but has been in history from the age of ancient Rome, Greece, Egypt, and even China. The attitude toward homosexuality always has been a variable, depending on the social, cultural and morality, or even the political development (Barnecka et al., 2005). Back in Greek history the concept of relations between two men was seen as the highest form of love, whereas the Judaic view always was against and frowned upon these relations considering it immoral and illegal. However, when the Roman rule was destroyed and the Christians took over Europe, homosexuality was seen as perverse (Woodward, 1997).