Heterosexuality

Heterosexuality is a sexual orientation characterized by romantic or sexual desire for, or sexual attraction toward, members of the opposite gender as distinguished from bisexuality and homosexuality.

In addition to referring to a sexual orientation, the term heterosexuality is also used for sexual behavior (or sexual activities) between people of the opposite sex. Many animal species (those which have sexes and internal fertilization), including humans, reproduce by heterosexual intercourse.

Heterosexualism is a system inwhich sexual attraction is to (or sexual relations with) persons of the opposite sex (ed. though other may not adhere to this system and this does not necessarily exclude them). [1] It is an ideology that specifies that arousal from members of the opposite sex is the valid expression of human sexuality (and has the capablility of functioning adequately). (Compare with Heteronormativity.)

Terminology

Hetero- comes from the Greek word heteros, meaning "different" (for other uses, see heterozygote, heterogenous), and the latin for sex (that is, gender). The term "heterosexual" was coined shortly after the word "homosexual." During the 1860s, Karl Maria Kertbeny developed the term heterosexual (as an opposite to homosexual). [2] The word is sometimes shortened to "hetero" or "het," and can refer to both men and women, to sexual behaviour, to sexual orientation, and to sexual identity.

Heterosexuality is colloquially referred to as being straight, although straight can also, though less often, mean anyone whose sexuality could be described as orthodox. For example, people who practice BDSM (bondage and discipline, domination and submission, and sadism and machochism) sometimes use the term to refer to anyone who does not (though the terms vanilla or vanilla sex are more common).

Although the use of the term "straight" is used often to denote a heterosexual person, this term appears in early or mid 20th century gay slang as in, "to go straight", or stop being gay. One of the first coinage of this reference was in 1941 by the author, G. W. Henry. Henry's book concerned conversations with homosexual males and used this term in connection with the reference to ex-gays. Though not originally intended to refer to heterosexuals, it has evolved over time such that this is its primary usage. [3] Note also that a related meaning of drug addictions in which straight is "not intoxicated" (ie. sober).

A slang term for heterosexual is "breeder", which is mostly used by non-heterosexuals. The term primarily originates from the fact that most heterosexual couples can "breed" or increase the population (while homosexual couples cannot). Although sometimes used playfully, it often has a negative or derogatory connotation. [4]

Causes of heterosexuality

Sexual orientation and it's causes have been the subject of much attention and research. However, research on sexual orientation has not usually focused on the causes of heterosexuality. This is largely because heterosexuality has often been viewed as "normal" and non-heterosexuality as deviant; this view among many people, but there is a growing trend towards seeing sexuality as fluid and as covering a range. This is due in part to Kinsey's work.

There has also been a realization that any attempt at understanding the causes of sexual attraction will be more successful if the mechanisms that underlie sexual attraction, in particular what causes many people to feel sexual attraction primarily towards members of one particular sex, are understood.

According to American Psychiatric Association (APA), there are numerous theories about the origins of a person's sexual orientation, but most researchers agree that "sexual orientation is most likely the result of a complex interaction of environmental, cognitive and biological factors," and that genetic factors, play a "significant role" in determining a person's sexuality.[5] The APA believes that sexual orientation is not chosen and cannot be changed.

A broad array of opinion holds that much human behavior ultimately is explainable in terms of natural selection. From this point of view, the reason why humanity as a whole exhibits a strong statistical tendency towards heterosexuality is that heterosexual intercourse has the potential for producing offspring and homosexual intercourse does not; explaining homosexuality is seen by some as one of the major challenges faced by evolutionary approaches to human behavior. Others argue that many homosexual people procreate -- indeed, most historical figures who are considered homosexual procreated. In fact, the idea that gay people do not have children is a modern concept based on the modern conceptions of sexual identity which developed from the late 1800s to the 1960s.

Prevalence of heterosexuality

Heterosexuality is considered to be the most common sexual orientation. Heterosexuality is also considered to be a social norm in many societies.

Heterosexuality usually implies an exclusive or predominant sexual orientation toward persons of the opposite gender. In some studies, however -- notably Dr. Alfred Kinsey's Sexual Behavior in the Human Male (1948) (ISBN 0253334128) and Sexual Behavior in the Human Female (1953) (ISBN 025333411X) -- analysis of self-rated sexuality on a continuum from exclusively heterosexual to exclusively homosexual along with analysis of behavior and identity seems to show that the majority of people are at least somewhat bisexual, although usually one sex is preferred. According to Kinsey, only a minority of people, approximately 5-10%, can be considered to be fully heterosexual. [6]

Just as sexual activity with a person of the same sex does not necessarily indicate homosexual orientation, sexual activity with a person of the opposite sex, in and of itself, does not necessarily demonstrate heterosexual orientation; it is, however, considered heterosexual behaviour. Not all people who are attracted or have sexual relationships with members of the opposite sex identify themselves as heterosexual: people who do not identify primarily as heterosexual sometimes engage in heterosexual behaviour. These may include people who are not open about their sexual orientation, sex workers, erotic actors, and others. Similarly, some people frequently have sex with members of the same sex yet still see themselves as heterosexual.

References

1. " Heterosexualism". HyperDictionary.com, Webnox Corp. (Cited February 13, 2004)
2. Wikholm, Andrew, "Words: Heterosexual". Gay History.com. (Cited February 14, 2004)
3. "Straight, Ex-gay". Descriptors for Sexual Minorities. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, H2G2. BBC. (Cited February 14, 2004)
4. "Breeder". Urban Dictionary.com (Cited February 14, 2004)
5. "Answers to Your Questions About Sexual Orientation and Homosexuality" American Psychiatric Association. (Cited February 9, 2004)
6. "Heterosexual Sex". World Sex Explorer. (Cited February 14, 2004)

See also

• Human sexuality : Sex, Homosexuality, Bisexuality, Asexuality, Lifestyle, Sexual morality, Sexual norm, Situational sexual behavior, Sexual revolution, Sex-positive, History of heterosexuality
• Marriage : Bridegroom, Bride, Erotophobia
• Other : Heterosexism, Reparative therapy, Ex-gay, Gender and sexuality studies, Cruising for sex, Group sex, Ménage à trois, Masculism, Dating game show, Monogamy, Infidelity
• Lists: List of Isms, List of lifestyles, List of sexology topics

Books

• Kinsey, Alfred C., et al., "Sexual Behavior in the Human Male". Indiana University Press. ISBN 0253334128
• Kinsey, Alfred C., et al., "Sexual Behavior in the Human Female". Indiana University Press. ISBN 025333411X

External links

• "IOHR". International Organization of Heterosexual Rights.
• "Confidential Heterosexuality". Heterosexual Experience Stories. Raw Psychology Productions.
• "Straight Pride Wear". Straight Pride.com.
• "Straight Pride USA". Straight Pride USA.com.
• Keel, Robert O., "Heterosexual Deviance". (Goode, 1994, chapter 8, and Chapter 9, 6th edition, 2001.) Sociology of Deviant Behavior: FS 2003, University of Missouri - St. Louis.
• "Heterosexual partner rights raise questions". The News' View, Yale Daily News Publishing Company. January 27, 2004.
• Coleman, Thomas F., "What’s Wrong with Excluding Heterosexual Couples from Domestic Partner Benefits Programs?". Unmarried America, American Association for Single People.

Referenced By