Historical and Scientific Perspectives

on Homosexuality 1

Historical and Scientific Perspectives on Homosexuality

Patricia Hill

Axia College University of Phoenix

Historical and Scientific Perspectives on Homosexuality

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on Homosexuality 2

How do you think historical and scientific perspectives on homosexuality may have

shaped the way gay individuals perceive themselves? I think that historical and scientific

perspectives on homosexuality may have shaped the way gay individuals perceive themselves in

various ways. In the past when people spoke about the homosexuals, it was always discrete,

quiet, and as one says in the closet.

As time evolves, history also evolves, and history changes. Everywhere you turn there are

gay individuals, and couples. Homosexuals are evolving everywhere. In the news, on talk shows,

websites, and even competing on dance shows. In the historical perspective, it was just an

absolute sin, and so all homosexuals stayed down low.

Historical and Scientific Perspectives on Homosexuality has shaped the future of the

homosexuals for a very long time. Back in the Western culture over 2,500 years in ancient

Greece, for example, men frequently formed sexual relationships with adolescent males. “How

can we know anything about the sex lives of Greeks who lived 2,500 years ago?” quips (J.

Michael Bailey 2003).

In history society spoke about homosexuals as geeks, so this is how they were perceived

back in the early century. In the cross cultural perspective, it appeared to be normal, so I think

that scientific perspectives on homosexuality may have shaped the way gay individuals perceive

them self in a way that it was okay to be gay for certain ages of the male and adolescents.

Studies show that male–male sexual behavior has been practiced in many preliterate

societies. In their review of the literature on 76 preliterate societies found that in 49 societies

(64%), male–male sexual interactions were viewed as normal and deemed socially acceptable for

some members of the group. The other 27 societies (36%) had sanctions against male–male

sexual behavior.
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on Homosexuality 3

Nevertheless, male–male sexual activity persisted. Little is known about female–female

sexual activity in non-Western cultures. Evidence of female–female sexual behavior was found

by Ford and Beach in only 17 of the 76 societies they studied. Perhaps female sexual behavior in

general, not just sexual activity with other females was more likely to be repressed (Bailey

2003).

Now I think historical and scientific perspectives on homosexuality may have shaped the

way gay females individuals perceive themselves because back in history they didn’t experience

much of this behavior from females. So today female are definitely stepping up and out because

of the repression in the cross -cultural days.

The perception of Cross-Species Perspectives is a bit different, because many of us have

observed other animals engaging in sexual behaviors that resemble male–male or female–female

contacts among humans, such as mounting others of their own sex. So to me the perspective

today is somewhat normal.

When two animals are having sex, I think that it is normal, because I automatically would

think that it is a male and female, but never once thought of them being gay animals. When

heterosexuals think about homosexuals, they tend to focus almost exclusively on sexual aspects

of male–male and female–female relationships.

But the love relationships of homosexuals, like those of heterosexuals, involve more than

sex. Homosexuals, like heterosexuals, spend only a small amount of their time in sexual activity.

More basic to a gay male or lesbian sexual orientation is the formation of romantic attachments

with members of one’s own sex.

These attachments, like male–female attachments, provide a framework for love and

intimacy (J. Michael Bailey 2003). My analysis in experiencing coming out and adjusting as a

gay individual was somewhat difficult. I have never been around gay individuals and neither is
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anyone in my family history that I know of. I was going through a divorce at the time when I met

Constance.

I am a Nail-Technician and I was struggling with my financial situation, plus my husband

had just moved out. So when she introduced herself to me I was so naive, because I never

noticed how she was carrying herself. However she said that she and her girlfriend wanted an

appointment with me.

So when they missed their appointment, of course I called, however she became a close

friend. I realized after a six months what s going on and by that time I had fallen in love with her.

I didn’t know how to bring this information public with my family; anyway she gave me a

birthday party.

We invited everyone but my family, but my family showed up and they met her. They

liked her so much I guess because they all saw how much she loved me and how happy I was. It

was so hard for me in the beginning, because I didn’t want anyone to know, I had a hard time

going out in the public with her.

Every time we would spend a substantial amount of time together, we would go out of

time. Today I have a complete and different perspective on homosexuals, and I, because it does

not matter what society thinks, or feel. Finally, how have historical and scientific perspectives

reflected on my sexual orientation?

I look at every individual in a different perspective, especially a homosexual, because

not knowing their lifestyle; I judged them from what I heard and not known facts. Today it

doesn’t matter what society’s perspective is of me. I am proud of who I am and I am most

definitely proud of who I love.

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References:

Human Sexuality in a World of Diversity, Sixth Edition, by Spencer A. Rathus, Jeffrey S. Nevid,

and Lois Fichner-Rathus. Published by Allyn and Bacon.

Copyright © 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc.

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