THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION

Sexual orientation is defined as a preference for a sexual emotional relationship with an

individual of the opposite sex (heterosexuality), the same sex (homosexuality), or both
(bisexuality).
Some people believe that homosexuality like heterosexuality is present from birth (an
ascribed characteristic) and cannot be changed even if the individual receives therapy or
counselling. Some psychologists approach homosexuality with the perspective that it is
linked to childhood experiences and mental processes. Early approaches considered
homosexuality to be a form of maladjustment. Psychologist Daryl J. Bem believes genetic
factors and gender roles interact in childhood to produce sexual orientation. He stated that
children are raised to feel like children of their own sex and different from children of the
opposite sex. According to Bem, the best predictor of sexual orientation is the degree to
which children conform or do not conform to their gender.

FUNCTIONALIST PERSPECTIVE
The functionalists focus on the relationship between social structure (organized pattern of
social relationships that together constitute society) and sexual orientation. Social norms and
laws are established to preserve social institutions and maintain stability in society.
Homosexual conduct is punished in many societies because it violates the social norms
established by those societies and thus undermine the stability of those societies. According
to sociologist David P Aday, Jr, marriage and family structures are structural arrangements
that contribute to the continuity of our contemporary society whereas homosexuality
undermines that arrangement, in that if it is allowed to go unpunished or exist unchallenged,
then it may undermine the norms and laws that underpin monogamous marital sex, some of
which result in the production of offspring to repopulate the society. Critics suggest that the
functionalists support the status quo and ignore the need for new definitions of marriage and
family.

CONFLICT/MARXIST PERSPECTIVE
Conflict theorists focus on the tensions in society and the differences in interests and power
among opposing groups They believed that people who hold the greatest power can have
their own attitudes, beliefs and values about sexual orientation represented and enforced,
while others are not able to. Therefore, norms pertaining to compulsory heterosexuality
reflect the beliefs of dominant group members in society who hold high-level positions in the
government, military, and other social institutions. According to Marx, conflict over values is
an essential element of social life and the less powerful often challenge the laws imposed on
them by those in positions of power. Critics argue that conflict theorists fail to recognize that
some people who are wealthy and powerful are gay or lesbian and do not take any action to
reduce discrimination based on sexual orientation.
SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONIST PERSPECTIVE
Interactionists view heterosexual conduct as learned behaviour and focus on the process by
which individuals come to identify themselves as lesbian, bisexual, gay, or straight.
According to Symbolic Interactionists, most people acquire the status of heterosexual without
being consciously aware of it because heterosexuality is the established norm, and
heterosexuals do not have to struggle over their identity. They argue the same is not true for
people who identify themselves as bisexual or homosexual. According to Schur, 1995, some
sociologists suggest that sexual orientation is a master status (the most significant status
possessed by an individual because it determines how that individual sees him or herself and
how he or she is treated by others). According to Symbolic interactionists there are several
stages in the process of someone accepting him or herself as gay, lesbian, or bisexual. They
believe that people experience confusion with their identity which stems from a situation
where they feel different from others and struggle to admit they are attracted to people of the
same sex. The second stage of this process is seeking out those persons who are gay or
lesbian and the third stage is when they try to integrate and accept being labelled a
homosexual by pursuing a way of life that conforms to that label.