Sex Orientation Issues - Literature review Example

Name Tutor Course Institution Date Introduction Human sexuality and gender has undoubtedly attracted significant attention across all divides irrespective of the arguments therein. While both the term sex and the term gender have been quite interchangeable historically, it is a clear fact that gender identity as well as sexual orientation plays a significant role in the description of who individuals are. With regards to this, a lot of research work has been focused on consolidating information regarding gender and sexuality while placing special emphasis on feminist, lesbian, gay and queer studies. Considering this, some noteworthy questions that are likely to surface here include “Can heterosexuals be queer? Can straight women be lesbians? Can straight men be gay?” In light of this, this particular paper seeks to answer these important questions directly and in a satisfactory manner. Can heterosexuals be queer? In simple terms, the word queer is used to refer to something that is strange, or essentially unusual. Queer theory has three connotations that are widely explored by queer practitioners. These connotations are associated with the ideas that relate to the sexual orientations. In particular, queer practitioners are specifically concerned with the study of the identity of people who are sexually attracted to the same gender, or what is popularly referred to as homosexuality. Queer theory is relatively a new discipline that stemmed out of lesbian and gay studies. Gay and lesbian studies are fundamentally focused on the natural as well as unnatural same gender sex behavior, with regard to homosexual behaviors. On the other hand, queer studies expand these boundaries. In this case, it explores any form of sexual activity that is popularly perceived as unusual. Homosexuality is indeed the major prospect of queer theory. It is a behavior and an act that defies any sense of morality attached to sexuality It is arguably true that in most cases, it is the homosexual behaviors that are considered deviant in contemporary societies. In other words, people considered to be queer are those that fall out heterosexual realm. This defines the people with sexual orientation that defy the society’s expectation of the homogeneity between physical sex and gender. Heterosexual, known as bisexuals in some cases, is the belief that any form of sexual relation is only normal when practiced between two people of the opposite sex or gender. This is what is popular accepted in any social setting. To point out clearly, it is the form of sexual behavior that conforms to the expectation of various societies. It is a bit controversial to think that someone could be heterosexual and a queer at the same time. However, it is actually conceivable that one can be heterosexual and a queer. In this case, the term queer is examined in a wide perspective and outside the box of sexuality. Emergent application of the word queer also involves radical notions that regard gender. In either way, it is important to note that the term queer originates from the opposition to binaries of sexuality, as well as subsequent subversions. Such binaries of sexuality referred to in this case are homosexuals, heterosexuals and genders such female and male. To have a better understanding of how heterosexuality can be associated with queerness, it is important to analyze the conceptualizations of queerness. It is important to note that queer is a general term that covers wide matrix of sexual preferences. By a popular consensus, and as mentioned earlier, queer involves gay men and lesbians (Sullivan 2003). It is important to observe that queer studies extend beyond the scope of gay and lesbian studies. It extends to involve transgender, bisexuals, any form of sexual transgressive and radical sexual communities. Smith (1997) observes that the term transgender has been redefined to include elements of queerness. In this sense, the term transgender essentially refers to any person who is willing to admit their own gender ambiguities. This may include all forms of sexualities, classes, ethnicities, races, ages, religions and states of the body. In this case, it is evident that queer discipline is associated with a broad range of social encounters and experience that relate to human identities. For instance, issues regarding race affect anybody subjected to it within the society. In this case, it hardly matters if one is homosexual or heterosexual. The point is that one can be heterosexual or homosexual yet a racist. In this case, it is quite unnatural or an odd behavior to discriminate against anybody along any line of social difference. Cohen observes that such racial discriminations are still being leveled against the gay communities. This vividly explains that heterosexuals can as well be queers (Caluya 2006). The encounters that one undergoes through life can significantly change individual perception. By the end of the day, queerness revolves around the perception that is given to something. Here, one may argue that immediately something is described as normal, then there is another category that is automatically set up in its opposite and defined as deviant. In a similar manner, homosexuality is perceived as deviant and has been labeled abnormal partly because heterosexuality is conforms to the expectation of various societies. However, this is not justification of homosexuality. It is to point out that perceptions can altered by experiences and encounters. The question in this case is the way someone would be perceived in the instance that opinion of an individual about homosexuality changes. The person does not necessarily need to be a gay or a lesbian upon the alteration of their mindset concerning these matters. For instance, a male thespian may spend a lot of time with gays. In some cases, such a person may also spend time practicing with lesbians. In the long-run, the perception of such an individual concerning gays and lesbians may significantly change. If questioned, such an individual may admit the acceptance of such sexual behaviors. However, is evident that such altered opinion may not conform to the expectations of the society as a whole (Jagose 1996). Can straight women be lesbians? The proper starting point here is to state that nobody is actually always born gay or lesbian. Again, culture and social experiences play a vital role in shaping an individual’s sexual preference. Foremost, it is true that the world is quickly changing. Such transformations are significantly being observed within various social factors and such changes are political, economical and social. For instance, queer studies can be viewed as the emerging form of political academics that have only existed since mid1980s. The essence of such studies challenges the ideologies of normative sexualities. On this point, it is arguably true that the narrative of love and finding someone to spend time in pursuit of sexual contentment are equally being transformed alongside these changes. Traditionally, people approached the subject of finding love with various ideas. Some of these ideas include parenting, self-worth and spending life together forever. These ideologies are significantly being transformed. In other words, people do not view the essence of marriage the same way as decades ago. This implies that even the straight women can find comfort in spending intimate time with another woman even while married. One critical question that mandate whether straight women can be lesbians is what is to be included or excluded under the category of lesbianism. The social classification of behavior that is considered as lesbian acts has been bias all along. To say the least, the science too has had it all wrong. In this case, pegging gayness as a product of genetics is the kind of the biased approach. Essence of this argument is to establish not the criteria, but the behavior the render someone as a lesbian. According to Cohen (2001), this requires monolithic understanding of the heterosexual behaviors. The starting point is to examine critical examination of the radical politics constructed on the identities. It is important to note that such identities are invested with normative powers that vary in degree. Culture, in this instance, plays important role in determining social identity of lesbians than genes. There are no clearly defined behaviors that identify one as a gay or lesbian. Essentially, many people engage in homosexual behaviors. To stress it further, such people are not necessarily the people who are identified politically or culturally as gay or lesbians. For instance, in the culture of the United States, young women licking the breast of each other at a party, the act is hardly referred to as lesbianism. Such scenes are commonly referred to as young girls gone wild. However, this does not make excuses for the elements of lesbianism in such circumstances. Neither do such mild definitions make the situation any lenient or better. The fact still stands out that they are queer sexual behaviors. This implies that even straight women engage in lesbian acts yet are hardly considered so. Simply, this is because such acts fall outside the jurisdiction of behaviors that are culturally and politically included under the subject. The contemporary society is highly empowering women. This gives room for autonomy and freedom of choice. It is with intention that various social systems elevate this sense of self worth in women. These empowerments are largely incorporated under the wide umbrella of feminism. However, as the social systems advocate for the confidence of the feminine gender, so are the preference of their sexual partner or orientation empowered (Johnson 2007). Straight women who actively seek leisure and sexual pleasure may at one point realize that they cannot obtain the desired pleasure from the opposite sex. With so much freedom barked by empowerments, they are at liberty to divert to the attraction of members of the same sex. While still under the topic, it is worthwhile to examine the social drivers that are likely to convert straight women to lesbian behaviors. In this case, one is justified to argue that technology plays an important role in shaping the mindset and attitude of many people. The ease of accessing information has been elevated by technological inventions than several decades ago. In addition, various forms of entertainment have emerged or have been improved due to technological advancements. Most television shows and movies are available now than years back. As Johnson observes, sows such as The L Word openly talk about sexuality, particularly gays and lesbians these days. For instance, the scene named Making the Camera Wet features Jenny and Mark among others. In the episode, Jenny openly reveals sexual orientation to Mark. She tells Mark that she is a lesbian. After that, she goes ahead to make some erotic gestures that are likely to invoke sexual desires within the audience. Strikingly, she gestures her fingers to Mark, another male actor with the intention of wanting to have sex with him. In this instance, it is important to observe the double standards of Jenny. She has two sexual opposite sexual orientation in the sense that though she is a lesbian, she wants to have erotic moments with Tim. This can also be viewed the other way round, that she is a straight woman with lesbian instincts. Therefore, this is an indication that women can be straight and lesbians at the same time. Still dwelling on the parameters of technological improvements, people can now easily access pornographic literature through their mobile devices. For instance, such information can be obtained through smart phones, tablets and personal computers. The wider pool of information is not limited or restricted to any particular group of people. Some of the porn literatures feature lesbians having intimate moments together. It is true that audiences of such information tend to develop a degree of eagerness that in some cases quenched by trying out what they see. In the long-run, the straight women who watch such videos featuring women making out together are likely to become lesbians themselves. Can straight men be gay? Again, just their female counterparts, no man is born a gay. One can argue that we live in a world of learning and exploration after all. According to Halperin (2012), being a gay is a process that can be learnt. Those willing to travel that path can easily be taught to master the tricks and carry on. More importantly, Halperin (2012) point out that sexual desire is not the summit of male gay desire. Today, being a gay does not mean much to the societies. This implies that gays are increasingly being accepted in various societies these days than they were decades ago. The tolerance for the same sex behaviors have increased in the recent past. Johnson elaborates that the term gay has become a mere designation rather than an expressive or a descriptive one. It has become more conventional these days. These higher degrees of tolerance within the contemporary social settings make it easy for the gay men to present themselves as members of a race or community and are accepted within the social systems. This implies that straight men can easily become gays since there is less resistance now than was the case decades ago. Conclusion In conclusion, it is indeed clear that heterosexuals can be queer, straight women can be lesbians and straight men can be gay. From the analysis, homosexuality is queer behavior. However, queerness is not just limited to the gay or lesbian communities. It is very much possible for heterosexuals to be queer as well. In this case, the broader sense of the term queer is examined. Queerness is used to refer to wide range sexual binaries such as homosexuals, heterosexuals and genders such female and male. In this instance, it is easy to observe that one can be straight and a queer at the same time. The same principles can be used to examine the incidences of straight women becoming lesbians and straight men becoming gays. The aspects of lesbianism and gay behavior involve wide range of factors that do not necessarily refer to the extreme sexual behaviors. The analysis has provided substantial amount of evidence to substantiate the positions. Bibliography Caluya, G. 2006, The (Gay) Scene of Racism: Face, Shame and gay Asian Males, Vol. 2(2). Cohen, C.J. The radical Potential of Queer Politics, ed. By Blasius, M. 2001, Sexual identities, queer politics, Princeton University Press, Princeton. Halperin, D.M. 2012, How To Be Gay, Harvard University Press, USA Jagose, A. 1996, Queer theory: an introduction. New York University Press, New York. Johnson, M. L. 2007, Third wave feminism and television: Jane puts it in a box. Tauris, London. Smith, C. 1997, How I Became a Queer Heterosexual, Retrieved from http://www.culturalresearch.org/qhet.html [June 6, 2015]. Sullivan, N. 2003, A critical introduction to queer theory, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh. Read More

To point out clearly, it is the form of sexual behavior that conforms to the expectation of various societies. It is a bit controversial to think that someone could be heterosexual and a queer at the same time. However, it is actually conceivable that one can be heterosexual and a queer. In this case, the term queer is examined in a wide perspective and outside the box of sexuality. Emergent application of the word queer also involves radical notions that regard gender. In either way, it is important to note that the term queer originates from the opposition to binaries of sexuality, as well as subsequent subversions.

Such binaries of sexuality referred to in this case are homosexuals, heterosexuals and genders such female and male. To have a better understanding of how heterosexuality can be associated with queerness, it is important to analyze the conceptualizations of queerness. It is important to note that queer is a general term that covers wide matrix of sexual preferences. By a popular consensus, and as mentioned earlier, queer involves gay men and lesbians (Sullivan 2003). It is important to observe that queer studies extend beyond the scope of gay and lesbian studies.

It extends to involve transgender, bisexuals, any form of sexual transgressive and radical sexual communities. Smith (1997) observes that the term transgender has been redefined to include elements of queerness. In this sense, the term transgender essentially refers to any person who is willing to admit their own gender ambiguities. This may include all forms of sexualities, classes, ethnicities, races, ages, religions and states of the body. In this case, it is evident that queer discipline is associated with a broad range of social encounters and experience that relate to human identities.

For instance, issues regarding race affect anybody subjected to it within the society. In this case, it hardly matters if one is homosexual or heterosexual. The point is that one can be heterosexual or homosexual yet a racist. In this case, it is quite unnatural or an odd behavior to discriminate against anybody along any line of social difference. Cohen observes that such racial discriminations are still being leveled against the gay communities. This vividly explains that heterosexuals can as well be queers (Caluya 2006).

The encounters that one undergoes through life can significantly change individual perception. By the end of the day, queerness revolves around the perception that is given to something. Here, one may argue that immediately something is described as normal, then there is another category that is automatically set up in its opposite and defined as deviant. In a similar manner, homosexuality is perceived as deviant and has been labeled abnormal partly because heterosexuality is conforms to the expectation of various societies.

However, this is not justification of homosexuality. It is to point out that perceptions can altered by experiences and encounters. The question in this case is the way someone would be perceived in the instance that opinion of an individual about homosexuality changes. The person does not necessarily need to be a gay or a lesbian upon the alteration of their mindset concerning these matters. For instance, a male thespian may spend a lot of time with gays. In some cases, such a person may also spend time practicing with lesbians.

In the long-run, the perception of such an individual concerning gays and lesbians may significantly change. If questioned, such an individual may admit the acceptance of such sexual behaviors. However, is evident that such altered opinion may not conform to the expectations of the society as a whole (Jagose 1996). Can straight women be lesbians? The proper starting point here is to state that nobody is actually always born gay or lesbian. Again, culture and social experiences play a vital role in shaping an individual’s sexual preference.

Foremost, it is true that the world is quickly changing.

Read More