The Society Has Made Progress : Economically, Politically, And Now Is More Open Minded

Ideas about sex, gender and homosexuality have been changing rapidly over the past several decades in the United States. There are several obvious reasons for this. The primary one is legal: various legal decisions by the United States Supreme Court have altered existing law on the subject of sex and homosexuality, and substantially affected matters of gender as expressed in law. But there has also been a social shift driven by medicine, largely based on response to the AIDS epidemic at its height in the 1980s and 1990s, but also in terms of other medical matters such as contraception and abortion.

The Progressive Era, lasting from the 1890s until the 1920s, was a chapter in American history that was characterized by social activism and countless reform movements. Political and social reforms were just two of the numerous movements that occurred during this time period. Although many political and social changes were introduced to America during the Progressive Era, there were also many continuities that transpired. The 17th, 18th, and 19th amendments are all examples of social and political changes that took place, but corruption and civil rights for African Americans continued to remain defective throughout and even after the Progressive Era.

Social and labor conditions changed for the better with the hard work and dedication of female reformers. The Progressive Era was a time of change due to many reform groups many being focused on better lives for women and women’s suffrage. Before women were able to get a quality education they usually married because they needed a husband to support them. However, when women were given a better education they tended not to marry because they were independent and did not need a husband to support them. In addition, women before the Progressive Era were expected to wear dresses and corsets which restricted them. Though, after the Progressive Era women gained the right to wear trousers just like any man would wear. Therefore, women’s lives changed

Some of the most important changes from the Progressive Era were the Savers ability to expand the role of the state. Public health increased which decreased infant mortality, playgrounds were made for children to play in, and better school systems were established leading to better educations (Mintz, 2004, p.173). The reduction in infant mortality was due to cleaner living quarters and other health safeguards such as pasteurized milk that was safer to drink (Mintz, 2004, p.176). School systems today still separate children into their respective age groups as to not expose children to things before they are ready.

Sexual orientation is “the clear, persistent desire of a person for affiliation with one sex rather than the other”, otherwise known as sexual preference. (http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com) Prejudice against lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transsexuals (otherwise known as LGBT people) remain widespread in American society. LGBT people have always been a target for discrimination. Like other forms of prejudice, this discrimination is based on a hostile attitude toward a specific group and in this case minority. The current strides in the controversy of the legalization of the same sex marriage is a prime example of this discrimination. Sexual orientation prejudice

The time after the Civil War known as the Progressive Era was a time of change and adaptation for the United Sates, politically, socially and economically. The economy was driven out of the farms and into the cities, where factories and manufactures became the driving force of the American economy almost doubling it from 1877 through 1893, new technologies where de-veloped and the way of life drastically changed. During this time not much had changed for the minorities in America, more specifically for the African Americans, even if they were allowed to vote officials at poling stations would make it nearly impossible for them to vote. Eventually more African Americans took part in politics, but the "separate but equal" doctrine that

However society 's perspective on sexual identity has changed tremendously over the years. It used to almost be a disease that no one wanted to admit to having or have to deal with because that 's not what society viewed as “normal”. It was even said that only homosexuals can contract HIV/AIDS. In some cities, people got attacked physically because of the disagreement on homosexuality. Homosexual denied it their homosexuality because they didn 't want to be judged, but more and more people are admitting to it. Historical perspectives have changed too, especially in the U.S military service when homosexuals were banned from serving until 1993 when the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy was passed which allowed homosexual to serve in the military but not admit to it if they were asked. After World War II gay life flourished in urban areas such as Greenwich village and Harlem.

Bisexual. Gay. Lesbian. These are all words that in today’s society are becoming more and more common to hear. Although just a few years ago hearing these words might have shocked some and angered many, they are becoming a part of today’s norm. People are broadening their views on sexuality and the possibilities open to them. Being bisexual, gay, or lesbian is slowly becoming accepted. On television a few years ago, a comedic sitcom Ellen attempted to make gays even more accepted by casting the main character as a gay woman. Sadly, Ellen failed because viewers weren’t ready for gays to be seen in a comfortable TV setting. The idea was too new and the show was before

Another factor is social changes in our society. Society constantly changes and therefore has to adapt to new developments and norms. Pre 1967 homosexually was illegal in England and Wales and any adults to have homosexual intercourses would of been punished as it was considere and unlawful conduct. Although

According to an opinion widely held, homosexuality is said to be freer today than ever before. It is present and visible everywhere: in the street, in the newspapers, on television, at the movies. It is even supposedly completely accepted, judging by the recent legislative advances made in many countries for the recognition of same sex couples. Certainly, some work remains necessary in order to eradicate the last vestiges of discrimination. But with changing public opinion, it will only be, according to some people, a matter of time, the time needed for a movement begun many decades earlier to achieve its goals.

Within the last decade society has become more open to ideology and lifestyles that years ago were tabo. This is largely due to the fact that the millennial generation may be one of the most laid back and accepting generations of all time. One major lifestyle that was rarely expected was homosexuality within the last decade this issue is no longer in the closet. Most people feel comfortable being open about their lifestyle choice and even show it off. Shortly after the acceptance of gays by society a new issue presented itself and this is transgender people. The community as whole fights for their rights together and it is referred to as LGBTQ. LGBTQ means lesbians, gays, transgender, bisexual, and queer. The LGBTQ community has made great progress in the last decade they have become more open about their community and have gained rights that they should have always had. Even though the community has made progress they still have a long way way to go especially within the workplace.

Homophobia Through the years it would be delightful to believe that society has gotten more accepting of minorities. While in many ways this is true, it is also a false statement as well. The United States has gone through leaps and bounds over the last century. Women were the first to win their rights, and after that African Americans broke through the barriers of oppression.

Some says that a person who has intimate relationships with both men and women doesn’t consider herself bisexual or of any sexual orientation for that matter. I think that today, we are seeing more people displaying an attraction to another individual based mostly on what their personality has to offer, rather then their ‘plumbing’. I find this an interesting concept and I think I do believe that what it boils down to is the love you have for the person despite their anatomy, though I have yet to experience feelings like this myself.One of the main problems that bisexual people face is the idea that bisexuality is not a “real” sexual orientation. This belief is held by not only the heterosexual community but by the homosexual community as well. Many people think of bisexuality as a transition into becoming gay or as a denial of oneself being gay. This belief is damaging not only because it refuses to acknowledge that bisexuality exists, but it also restricts a person’s love and affection to only one gender (either same-sex or opposite) and it refuses to take into consideration that someone could be attracted to or love people of

In the 90's, bisexuals have popped up all over the place, from David Bowie to Angelina Jolie and Ani DiFranco.  I think that the gay and lesbian community is among the least tolerant of bisexuality, many homosexuals have gone through a serious identity struggle and they can't accept this "halfway" homosexuality.  Are we the queer of the queer?  Bisexuals aren't people who can't make up their mind in the same way that people who like both blondes and brunettes aren't called indecisive.  Sexual orientation used to be a black and white thing, you were either gay or you were straight.  During the 40's, Kinsey came up with a sliding scale of sexuality.  Suddenly, you could be somewhere in between, like a percentage.  If that wasn't enough, in the 70's Klien made things even more complicated with a multi-dimensional grid.  Now your sexuality ends up looking like the Nasdaq graph on a bad day!  But even up until the late 70's, there wasn't a single book written on bisexuality.  It's come a long way in the last 20 years.

What is bisexuality? Synthesizing the predominant theories of bisexuality, Smiley (1997) suggested the following definition: Bisexuality is a sexual orientation in which an individual: experiences a combination of sexual and affectional attractions to members of both sexes; engages to varying degrees in sexual activities with both sexes; and self-identifies as bisexual in a way that is consonant with personal, social, political, and lifestyle preferences (Smiley, 375).