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Understanding Sexual Orientations: From Heterosexuality to Asexuality

Explore the continuum of sexual orientations, including homosexuality, bisexuality, heterosexuality, and asexuality. Discover the factors that determine sexual orientation, such as genetics and societal attitudes. Learn about same-sex relationships, LGBTQ+ parenting, and the progress of the gay rights movement.

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Understanding Sexual Orientations: From Heterosexuality to Asexuality

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  1. Chapter 9Sexual Orientations

  2. A Continuum of Sexual Orientations • Primary erotic, psychological, emotional, and social orientation • Homosexual • Orientation toward same sex • Gay men and lesbians • Bisexual • Orientation toward both same and other sex • Heterosexual • Orientation toward other sex • Asexual • No sexual attraction toward either sex

  3. Age at First Same-Sex Attraction

  4. Kinsey’s 7-point Continuum • 0 = exclusive contact with and erotic attraction to the other sex • 7 = exclusive contact with and erotic attraction to the same sex • Men are more likely to be found on far ends of scale • Women who identify as heterosexual are 27 times more likely than heterosexual men to express moderate or more same sex attraction

  5. Kinsey’s Scale

  6. Bisexuality • More women identify as bisexual than men • Rates of bisexuality have tripled in past decade • Types of bisexuality • Real orientation • Transitory orientation • Homosexual denial

  7. Sexual Fluidity • Variability in attraction at various times and situations • For women • Sexual fluidity is more common • For men • Sexual fluidity is much less common

  8. What Determines Sexual Orientation?Psychosocial Theories • Focus on role of life experiences, parenting patterns, or psychological attributes of individual • Attempt to explain the “cause” of homosexuality • Theories • “By Default” Theory • The Seduction Myth • Freud’s Theory • Parenting patterns or early childhood experiences; no research to support

  9. What Determines Sexual Orientation?Biological Theories • Focus on biological causes for sexual orientation • Genetic factors • Homosexuality as familial • Identical twin studies • Homosexuality and gender nonconformity • Implications if biology is destiny • May lead to greater acceptance • Genetic engineering, tolerance for “defective” orientation, and intolerance for choices

  10. Societal Attitudes • Cross-cultural attitudes vary greatly • Judeo-Christian attitudes have varied

  11. Societal Attitudes • Shift from sinner to sickness: early 1900s • 1974 APA removed homosexuality from list of mental disorders • No differences in psychological adjustment across sexual orientation • Sexual reorientation therapy does not work but gay affirmative therapy is helpful

  12. Homophobia • Anti-homosexual attitudes • Irrational fear or self-loathing • May legitimize hate crimes directed toward sexual minorities • Hate Crimes Laws

  13. Causes of Homophobia and Hate Crimes • Lack of acceptance and valuing • Traditional gender role stereotypes • Extreme manifestation of cultural norms • Denial of homosexual feelings

  14. States With No Hate Crime Laws

  15. Sexual Minorities and the Media • Effects of increasing exposure • Portrayal of gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals as “regular folks” • Individuals cannot determine sexual orientation of individual shown on a video

  16. Lifestyles • “Gay Lifestyle” may focus on sexual aspects between same-sex partners • “Lifestyles” of LGB individuals are as varied as those of heterosexuals – representing all social classes, occupations, races, religions, and political persuasions

  17. Coming Out and Disclosure • Coming Out • Several steps involved • Self-acknowledgement • Self-acceptance • Disclosure • Passing: risks and benefits • Telling family can be difficult • Involvement in the LGBT community • Double minority • Individuals who are both sexual and racial minorities

  18. Same-Sex Relationships • Similarities with heterosexual couples • More egalitarian than other-sex relationships • Sex Differences • Lesbians more likely than gay men to be monogamous and value emotional intimacy

  19. Family Life • Variations • Same-sex couple • Same-sex couple with children • Single individual with children • Same-Sex Parenting • Adoption laws • Children of LGB parents do not differ from those of heterosexual parents

  20. Gay Rights Movement • Began in 1969 with Stonewall Rebellion • Goals • Decriminalization of private sexual behavior • Legal protection from discrimination • Legal protection for same-sex families • Health care • Marriage • Adoption

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