By Kenneth J. Zucker, Susan J. Bradley
Excerpts from page 5:
It is important to uncouple the conept of sexual orientation from the concept of sexual identity. A person may, for example, be predominantly aroused by homosexual stimuli, yet may not regard himself or herself as a "a homosexual," for whatever reason. Sociologists (particularly those of the "social sripting" and "social constructionist" schools) have articulated this notion most forcefully, arguing that the incorporation of sexual orientation into one's sense of identity is a relatively recent pphenomenon, is culturally variable, and is the result of a complex interplay of sociohistorical events (e.g. Boswell, 1982-83, 1990; Chanucey, 1994; Epstein, 1987, 1991; Escoffer, 1985; Gagnon % Simon, 1973; Greenberg, 1989; Interdisciplinary Centre for the study of Science, Society, and Religion, 1989; McIntosh, 1968; Weeks, 1985, 1991). For example, several historians have pointed out that the word homosexual was first used as a noun only in the middle of the 19th century; it was coined by a German man known as Karl Maria Kertbeny (born Karl maria Benkert) in 1869 (Bullough, 1990; Herzer, 1985). Anthropologists such as Herdt (1980, 1981, 1984, 1990a), who have described ritualized, age-structured homosexual behavior in non-Western cultures, note that such behavior is not at all tied to a homosexual sexual identity, but rather is a rite of passage to mature adult heterosexuality. In contemporary Western culture, there are many individuals (e.g., married men) who are primarily or exclusively sexually responsive to same-sex persons, yet do not adopt homosexual or 'gay' identity (see, e.g., Ross, 1983). There are also individuals who engage in extensive homosexual behavior but who are not predominantly aroused by homosexual stimuli or do not consider themselves to "be" homosexual (e.g., male adolescents who have sex with men for money).
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:::A person may, for example, be predominantly aroused by homosexual stimuli, yet may not regard himself or herself as a "a homosexual," for whatever reason.:::
ReplyDeleteThe western opponents of the concept of 'sexual orientation' have not been able to present their case strongly enough, only because they lack the concept of 'third gender.'
They failure to understand why men refuse to take up the homosexual identity, inspite of a predominant attraction for males has rendered their opposition to the concept of sexual orientation totally impotent.
The reason why men do not take up the homosexual identity is because, it is not a sexual identity -- rather it is a 'third gender' identity for feminine males, deprived of manhood. It is wrongly defined in the west as 'men who like men,' however, the stigma that goes with the 'gay' remains the stigma of third gender, and a man can consciously and subconsicously feel that 'gay' means 'third gender' and is not suitable for him, as a male with a strong stake in manhood.
Similarly, the 'straight' identity actually is for males with manhood, which has been wrongly defined by the western third genders, as 'men who like women.' When men display a sexual interest in women, they are primarily asserting their manhood, rather than a real interest in women -- well, most of the time.
And this forces the manly male whose primary sexual interest is towards men, to hang on to the 'straight' identity even if he has to sacrifice or hide his sexuality for men -- because, manhood is much more important than sexual needs -- or any other human need. For manhood, men have been sacrificing their most precious needs.