Effects of Society on the Development of a Homosexual - Research Paper Example

Effects Of Society On The Development Of A Homosexual Introduction Homosexuality, the tendency of an individual to be attracted sexually, emotionallyand romantically toward another individual of the same sex, has long been condemned and criticized by society, on the whole and individual members as well. The aspect of homosexuality is even unacceptable and immoral in many traditions, cultures and societies, pushing those who experience such feelings to the edge of severe emotional breakdown. Homosexuality being one of the three types of sexual orientations is now believed to be caused by physiological factors rather than psychological factors. However, the general attitude that the society has toward gay men or lesbian women continues to be negative. Most homosexual individuals do not get the support or acceptance that an individual of regular sexual orientation would get. This perhaps is the reason why most homosexual individuals are subject to a high degree of trauma and mental stress in the process of accepting and living with their sexual orientation. Majority of society believes that homosexuality is a choice, causing them to be judgmental toward those who experience same sex attractions. This paper discusses the effects of society on the development of a homosexual, analyzing the problems faced by them through different stages of life. Childhood and adolescence of a homosexual In the beginning stages of life or during childhood, there are no traces or hints that would reveal sexual orientation, meaning it would simply not make sense to try and analyze the emotions and feelings experienced by a homosexual in the stages of childhood. Studies on the causes of homosexuality have not shown any connection between sexual orientation and history of sexual abuse. This would rule out the possibility that sexual abuse in early ages could be accounted in the process of understanding the causes of homosexuality, thereby making an analysis of the childhood face unnecessary and rather pointless. Sexual orientation would not be evident, nor will it be talked of or noticed at such an early age. The individuals would not realize it until later, while some others even live in conflict with their sexual orientation, unable to accept it or admit it. The stage where the individuals begin to feel or rather realize that there might be some difference in how they regard themselves as a sexual being or the attraction that they feel towards a person is early adolescence. It is in this stage that slight changes occur in their emotions and feelings when compared to those who are heterosexual or straight. By this time however, the society has instilled in the individual that it is unacceptable, immoral or uncommon to be a homosexual, leading the individual to develop conflicting emotions within themselves. The role of society in the emotional confusion that the individual is subject to is very prominent. It is seen that from an early age, individuals are subject to conversations and discussions on a wide range of topics on TV or other forms of mass media and even among friends. The society gives an overall idea that homosexuals, no matter how much support they gather are simply not treated the same way as the others in most situations and that they may easily be subject to emotional damage. This causes an initial sense of repulsion toward the idea of being interested or attracted to another member of the same sex. At the early adolescence, individuals tend to try not to think of their sexual orientation and prefer to take for granted that they might be straight. However, they do feel a sense of inclination toward the same sex but try to overcome it due to the pressures of the society. Almost all religions condemn homosexuality and the Bible even states clearly that it is a sin. "Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable" (Leviticus 18:22 cited bible.cc). Further, one part of the society is learning to be tolerant of alternative forms of love and marriage while another part is constantly against it, causing the homosexual to wish to not consider the natural attraction that he/ she might experience toward another individual of the same sex. The church and some human fundamentalists are strongly against the view of homosexuality, causing homosexuals to try to overcome their natural attractions at the stage of early adolescence. The stage where homosexual individuals suffer a great deal of emotional stress and trauma is the adolescence. It is the stage where individuals are learning to handle their emotions and feelings, which is so much harder when they are subject to a society where a certain sexual orientation is considered immoral, sinful, uncommon, and unacceptable. The individual struggles with himself/ herself in an attempt to handle the feelings that they might feel towards another individual of the same sex. During the phase of adolescence, it becomes harder to overcome the feeling or to ignore the feeling as they might have during early adolescence. The fear that revealing this to the society or even close friends would make the society view them differently or that they would be judgmental is what causes homosexuals to worry, making them go through a tough struggle between what they are and what the society wants them to be. In some cases, the sexual orientation might be evident from outward behavior, leading to further more complications in their life. It would take a great deal of courage to withstand the bullying and the ill treatment that most homosexual teenagers face in environments such as school, college or play. Most homosexuals feel that this is a very rough phase for them in the case that their sexual orientation was discovered. Like individuals of other sexual orientation, homosexuals too feel strongly about other individuals and feel strong attraction towards some people. This is a hard thing to deal with since they are subject to a society where they may not express themselves as freely as straight individuals would or are allowed to. Further, most individuals have the problem of facing the reality and deny to themselves their sexual preferences. They tend to cover up attractions that they might have towards other individuals and continue to share lives with straight people. Most homosexuals, studies has shown, have been, or are in a relationship with a member of the opposite sex and say that they do not have the strength to face the world for what they truly are. This particularly, is a difficult decision for a gay person to make. Many individuals live in constant denial of what they are as they do not understand how to handle to situation, especially when they are only adolescents, a phase where they are only learning to deal with their desires. For most individuals, the coming out process, which is the process of identifying themselves as homosexuals, comes at the age of 11 and above, when they begin to feel attractions. However, for many others it happens as late as at the age of forty. Role of society in development of a homosexual adult The next phase of a gay person’s life is early adulthood, there comes a time when it becomes necessary to make decisions, make sacrifices and come to conclusions. It is a phase where individuals have a better knowledge of what they are and what the society expects of them. As they grow mare mature, it becomes clearer to them that even if there were supporters, life would never be the same living as a homosexual. Life would undoubtedly be more complex, having to deal with family, friends and the society on the whole about their sexual orientation. While some might provide support, other might show evident disapproval of the same. At an age where responsibilities might increase and individuals might have to take up jobs and move towards making a decent living, supporting themselves, it becomes almost impossible to think of the social problems that they might have to face in course of accepting or admitting it. This leads to most homosexuals deciding to try living as a heterosexual individual. Many gay people have been married and have eventually divorced, understanding that they cannot suppress their natural urges for very long. This of course causes a lot of emotional trauma for the individual as well as the person that they might have been in a relationship or in a marriage with. It is often that we come across people who are homosexual and have been in a marriage before. Many celebrities have also gone through this phase. In the early adulthood phase it becomes a painful decision to make, social and emotional stress building upon them rapidly. Many individual give in to the pressure of the society and ignore their sexual orientation. The society constantly pressurizes the individual to get in a relationship with a member of the opposite sex. Many social and religious conservatives in North America, their organizations and supporters are even heavily promoting the restriction of rights and protections for sexual minorities. (Robinson, 2009). Most families that may be aware of their son/ daughter’s sexual orientation might still try to persuade the individual to live life as a normal individual. It is commonly seen that most families are very upset when they discover that their son or daughter might be attracted toward the same sex. The society has been taught to believe that it is immoral and wrong to allow the practice. In the movie ‘Heavenly Creatures’ by Peter Jackson is based on a true story and stars Melanie Lynsky and Kate Winslet as two girls in their late teens who develop a very strong emotional bond. In the movie, one may see clearly the view that the society has about homosexuals. (imdb.com). The movie being retold from the diary of the girl is a depiction of the real events, giving clear insight into the laws that brutally separated the two. Further, it shows the depth of the strong disagreement that the individuals in the society have toward the concept. Later stages of adulthood are often more complicated than previous stages of life for homosexuals, especially if they have been in a relationship or a marriage. It becomes so much harder for the individual to face the society that has not been aware of their sexuality through the years. The society is even more critical about an individual that chooses to leave the family on having admitted or accepted their sexual orientation. Many individuals even resort to a form of therapy, known as reparative therapy, to deal with their sexual instincts. This is considered to be a decision based on the pressure that the society places on the individual, pushing them to the extent where they wish to seek professional help. Critics of "reparative therapy" pan the study as flawed and argue the technique is only effective in getting people to resist their instincts. (Spitzer, 2003). The levels of despair that the society can drive a homosexual to is unimaginable and there are instances where individuals decide to commit suicide, unable to deal with their sexual orientation or to face the society that in general condemns them. The view of the society is constantly seen to play an important part in the development of a homosexual, the general negative idea that the society has about them being a main reason why many of them do not open up and face the reality about their selves. Now that the society has begun to show more tolerance towards gay people than before, individuals are beginning to feel freer to come out of the closet and accept their orientation. England especially has been supportive of the cause by legalizing gay marriage and this has been widely celebrated by homosexuals, giving them the civil rights that they have always been denied and condemned for wishing of. Darren Hayes, the ex-front man of the band Savage Garden, admitted that he was gay after a very long period of speculation, only on having had the support of his friends, family and the law under which he was permitted to marry. This certainly proves that the effect that the society can have is very strong. Darren Hayes said of the issue, I feel lucky to live in an era where my relationship can be considered legally legitimate and I commend the UK Government for embracing this very basic Civil Liberty. (Gorgan, 2006). However, most people who have been in a marriage are still found to be in a fix, in situations where they are forced to face their children and the questions raised about the reason behind the breaking of the marriage. Homosexuality in the later stages Homosexuality in alter stages of life is an issue that is not usually very prominent because most people either sacrifice their natural urges or come out with the truth in the middle ages at the latest. Those who have crossed the middle age without accepting their sexual orientation might have crossed the phase where they feel strong sexual urges or attraction. It becomes more of a partner based family and the individual who has lived life with another person of the same sex might have come to agree with it. However, some people are seen to regret not having overcome the fear that they had toward facing the society that is against homosexuality. The men that have crossed middle age and still are constantly wishing to leave their partners and live life as a gay person are very few. The percentage may be very less, although they certainly do exist. The society clearly has played a role in preventing the individual from facing the fact that he/ she is homosexual. They might have spent their whole life in an unsatisfactory relationship with a member of the opposite sex, having been mere victims of the society. Further, many individuals even resort to celibacy as they do not have the strength to face the world as a homosexual. Conclusion The effect that the society has on the development of a homosexual is very strong. The attitude that the society has toward members of the particular orientation greatly determines the course of their personal life, the amount of trauma that they undergo and the pressures that they are forced to undergo, wither openly or secretly. Many individuals who resort to celibacy have admitted that it was an option that seemed to save them from the criticism of the society to an extent. Teenagers are often bullied and take drastic decisions, unable to handle the emotional and mental pain. On analyzing the different stages of the life of a homosexual, it becomes evident that the society plays an important part in the development and shaping of a homosexual. Both criticism and support matter only when received from the society by large. In recent times, homosexuals are receiving more support from a considerable percentage of the society, giving them more room to come out and admit their sexual orientation. There are support groups and laws that give them rights. This certainly has improved the state of homosexuals, by giving them an opportunity to live a more peaceful and calm life. From the study presented in this paper about the effects of the society in the development of a homosexual, it becomes clear that society plays an important role in the decisions made by the individuals, thereby determining the course of their personal life. Reference bible.cc. Leviticus 18:22. Retrieved April 28, 2010 from http://bible.cc/leviticus/18-22.htm Gorgan, E. (2006). Darren Hayes married Gay Partner. Retrieved April 28, 2010 from http://news.softpedia.com/news/Darren-Hayes-Married-Gay-Partner-30078.shtml imdb.com. Heavenly Creatures. Retrieved April 28, 2010 from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110005/ Robinson, B. A. (2009). Lesbian, gay, and bisexual issues. All viewpoints covered. Retrieved April 28, 2010 from http://www.religioustolerance.org/homosexu.htm Spitzer, R. (2003). Cure for homosexuality? Study: Some gays can become predominantly heterosexual with psychotherapy . Retrieved April 28, 2010 from http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=34943 Read More