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