Sexuality and Sexual Orientation

Gender, Sex, and Sexuality SOCI 1306 Sexuality and Sexual Orientation The ability to feel and be attracted to others sexually is what defines a person's sexuality. Because attitudes towards and behaviours related to sexuality are influenced by culture and society, sociologists find it particularly intriguing to study sexual attitudes and behaviours. Every civilization has a distinct interpretation of sexuality and sexual activity, as you will see in the Relationships, Marriage, and Family chapter. These interpretations include views on premarital sex, the age of sexual consent, homosexuality, masturbation, and other sexual behaviours (Widmer 1998). The physical, mental, emotional, and sexual attraction to a specific sex (male or female) is what defines a person's sexual orientation. The classification of sexual orientation typically falls into one of the following categories: asexuality, which is the lack of sexual attraction or desire for sexual contact; pansexuality, which is the attraction to people regardless of sex, gender, gender identity, or gender expression; omnisexuality, which is the attraction to people of all sexes, genders, gender identities, and gender expressions that take the person's gender into consideration; and queer, which is an umbrella term used to describe sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. Some classifications could speak more of a romantic than a sexual attraction. Asexuality, on the other hand, refers to a lack of sexual desire; an aromantic, on the other hand, does not sense romantic attraction. Additionally, some sexual orientations may not specify gender, even if people who identify as belonging to such orientations may find themselves drawn to a certain gender. Demisexuality, for instance, describes a person who develops an emotional attachment before experiencing sexual attraction; the term itself does not differentiate between gender identities, although the individual may experience attraction depending on gender (PFLAG 2021). It's critical to recognise and comprehend that many of these orientations are on a continuum, and that sometimes there isn't a word that perfectly captures how someone feels. Although certain labels, such graysexual or grayromantic, have been created to address this, using them is entirely up to the individual (Asexual Visibility and Education Network 2021). Individuals who find themselves drawn to persons of the opposite gender are commonly referred to as "straight," whereas those who are drawn to people of the same gender are called "lesbian" or "gay" depending on their gender. The term "gay," for example, should not be used to characterise all sexual and romantic orientations, as was previously established. There are, after all, many more. The abbreviations LGBT and LGBTQ, which stand for "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender" (and "Queer" or "Questioning" when the Q is added), are appropriate terms. Other times, individuals and groups could add "I" to stand for Intersex people (see below), "A" for Asexual or Aromantic people (or occasionally for "Allies"), one "P" to stand for Pansexual people, and occasionally another "P" to stand for Polysexual people. In conclusion, some individuals and groups use a plus symbol (+) to denote other potential identities or orientations. The terms "gender" and "sexuality" are not universal and might signify various things to different individuals; each person must define them for themselves (UC Davis LGBTQIA Resource Centre 2020). Ultimately, even if one is not entirely familiar with all of these terms, one can still be supportive of others who share those orientations or others. In fact, advocacy and support groups suggest that it is far better to own up to one's ignorance than to assume the worst or wrongly label someone (GLAAD 2021). The United States and many other nations are heteronormative society, which means that many people believe heterosexual orientation is biologically determined and is the default or typical form of orientation, even if the descriptions above show a great degree of variability. Even by those who do not intentionally wish to hurt LGBTQ people, heteronormative society's influence can cause LGBTQ persons to be considered like "others," despite the apparent rise in understanding and acceptance of various sexual orientations and identities. Significant discomfort may result from this (Boyer 2020). Implicit biases are the root cause of these heteronormative expectations and behaviours, which may be particularly damaging to children and young people (Tompkins 2017). Research on the precise moment at which a person becomes aware of their sexual orientation is scarce. People often become conscious of their sexual orientation between middle childhood and early adolescence, based on current scientific understanding (American Psychological Association 2008). People can remain celibate and yet recognise their sexual orientation, and they may have quite diverse experiences finding and embracing their sexual orientation. They do not need to engage in sexual activity to be aware of these emotional, romantic, and physical attractions. Research has indicated that a certain proportion of individuals may begin to experience emotions of attraction or orientation at the age of nine or ten, even in cases where these sensations are not sexual in nature (Calzo 2018). Some people who have reached puberty may be able to disclose their sexual orientation, while others may not be ready or may not want to do so because it goes against the historical standards of society (APA 2008). Lastly, some individuals discover their real sexual orientation in their 30s, 40s, and beyond. There is no universal agreement among scientists as to the precise causes of a person's sexual orientation. Studies on potential genetic, hormonal, developmental, social, and cultural impacts on sexual orientation have been carried out; however, no one factor has been found to be associated with sexual orientation (APA 2008). One of the first people to see sexuality as a continuum as opposed to a binary view of homosexual or straight was Alfred Kinsey. From totally heterosexual to exclusively gay, he developed a six-point rating system. Take a look at the following figure. Kinsey states that "males do not represent two discrete populations, heterosexual and homosexual," in his 1948 book Sexual Behaviour in the Human Male. It is not appropriate to separate the universe into sheep and goats. All components of the living universe are continuous, as stated by Kinsey in 1948. While many of Kinsey's specific study results have been challenged or refuted, it is generally acknowledged that he has had a significant impact on future research. Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick's further research built upon Kinsey's ideas. To contrast with "homosexual," she created the term "homosocial," which refers to nonsexual same-sex relationships. Sedgwick noted that women experience greater mobility in American society, whereas men are exposed to a distinct division between the two ends of this continuum. The way American women show homosocial feelings—a nonsexual admiration for individuals of the same sex—through physical contact, such as hugs and handholding, serves as an example of this. On the other hand, American men avoid expressing these kinds of feelings since they go against the heteronormative belief that a man's sexual desire should only be felt by women. Studies indicate that women are less likely than men to defy these expectations as males are more likely to face societal condemnation for having intimate relationships with other men (Sedgwick 1985). Many people may doubt their sexual orientation before coming to terms with it themselves due to the intensely personal nature of sexual orientation and the prejudices that society has against particular orientations. In a similar vein, certain behaviours may lead parents to doubt their children's sexual orientation. It is abundantly evident from perusing the numerous websites and discussion boards devoted to individuals asking concerns that sexual orientation is not always obvious. Emotions such as guilt, accountability, rejection, and unease can greatly complicate the process and hinder personal development. For instance, a woman married to a guy who knows she is asexual, or a man married to a woman who knows he is drawn to males, may find it very difficult to accept and communicate their sexuality to others. There are obstacles and challenges just as difficult at younger ages. Adolescence, for instance, may be a challenging and uncertain period overall, and feelings of nonconformity or of a different or shifting orientation can only make matters worse (Mills-Koonce 2018).