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Development of Human Sexuality: Quiz 5
University of Guelph FRHD*2100 DE
87
Health Care
Undergraduate 2
06/15/2017

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Term
Aaron Devor
Definition

née Holly Devor

Argues that transgender people should be included in discussion of sexual orientation. Reasons that since transgender people are the most visible minority among people engaged in same-sex practices, that they face many of the same issues and concerns as gays, lesbians, and bisexuals.

Term
Activating effect
Definition
Effects of sex hormones that influence sex drive levels, but not sexual orientation. Testosterone has an activating effect on sexual desire in adulthood.
Term
Adjustment
Definition
Results of meta-analysis comparing the mental health of heterosexuals and non-heterosexuals indicated that lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals were more than twice as likely as heterosexuals to attempt suicide, as well as more likely to be diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and dependence on alcohol and other substances. Likely due, in part, to societal oppression. Those who felt highly connected to families and schools were far less likely to commit suicide. Most homosexuals are well-adjusted, particularly if they accept their orientation and are open about it. Gay people who live with partners in stable, intimate relationships were about as well-adjusted as married heterosexual couples. Most who are in close relationships are satisfied with the quality of those relationships.
Term
Alexander the Great
Definition
An example of a famous gay person in history.
Term
Alfred Kinsey
Definition
With colleagues, recognized that boundaries between homosexual and heterosexual orientation are sometimes blurry. Found evidence of a continuum of sexual orientation among people they surveyed, with bisexuality representing a midpoint between exclusively heterosexual and exclusively homosexual orientations. Believed that exclusive heterosexual and homosexual orientations lay at opposite poles on a single continuum. Developed the Kinsey continuum. Reports suggested that close to 10% of the USA population was gay or predominately gay; a number which dramatically exceeds today's estimates. Half of people who reported male-male sexual activity limited it to the ages of 12 - 14, and another third had experiences before age 18 then never again. Research showed that sexual behaviour patterns can change.
Term
Angus Reid
Definition
Conducted a public opinion survey in 2010. Found that 61% of Canadian adults approved of same-sex couples' continuing to have the right to marry, and another 23% approved of same-sex couples' forming civil unions. Younger Canadians were more likely to approve of same-sex marriage. 81% of people born between 1980 and 1995 said same-sex couples should continue to be allowed to marry, compared to 53% of people born between 1946 and 1964, and 43% of people born before 1946.
Term
Anthony Bogaert
Definition
From Brock University. Argues that asexuality should be considered a sexual orientation. Defines asexual as people who have a lack of sexual attraction to anyone or anything; low in heteroeroticism and homoeroticism. They may be romantically attracted to others. Notes that this definition is narrow in scope, not taking into account whether someone is romantically attracted to another person, or is engaging in sexual activity.
Term
Anthony Bogaert and Luanne Jamieson
Definition
From Brock University. Analyzed several factors to determine which ones might predict the age of coming out among gay and bisexual men. Found that men who are attractive, and men who believe in a just world are more likely to come out at a younger age, and those with more feminine behavioural traits in childhood tend to delay coming out.
Term
Asexual
Definition
People who have a lack of sexual attraction to either sex. Most have low interest in any kind of sexual stimulation. May be romantically attracted to others. Anthony Bogaert argues that it should be considered a sexual orientation. In one study, 1% of respondents indicated that they had never felt sexually attracted to anyone at all, and one-third of these people were currently in relationships. More research is needed in this area. Research that has been conducted suggests that asexuality is not pathological, and shouldn't be seen as a sexual dysfunction. Asexual people can live happy lives.
Term
Barret
Definition
Found that parents, children, neighbors, and friends of lesbians may deny, compartmentalize, or struggle with their knowledge the same way the women do themselves.
Term
Barry D. Adam
Definition
From University of Windsor. Conducted a study of Ontario men. Found that for gay men, the concept of being gay centred on the possibility for emotional involvement and relationships with other people who felt the same way, rather than only on sexual behaviour. Interviewed gay men in couple relationships in Toronto about sexual inclusivity. Monogamy was most common among younger men and men in new relationships. Most couples had sexually open relationships. They wanted the emotional security of a committed love relationship and the experience of sexual pleasure with other men. The primary partner was deemed the most important, and rules for conduct were negotiated.
Term
Bell and Weinberg
Definition
In a classic study, found variations in adjustment in the gay community that seemed to mirror variations in the heterosexual community; gay people who live with partners in stable, intimate relationships were about as well-adjusted as married heterosexual couples, and older people who lived alone with few sexual contacts were less well-adjusted, regardless of sexual orientation. Differences in adjustment were more likely to reflect individual's lifestyles than their sexual orientation.
Term
Biphobia
Definition
Negative attitudes and feelings towards bisexual people, including intolerance, hatred, and fear. There may be belief that bisexuals use their label to deny that they are gay, or are really mostly heterosexual and just experimenting sexually. A survey of 600 college undergraduates confirmed that biphobia can be found in heterosexual and homosexual populations.
Term
Biology
Definition
To some degree, sexual orientation is influenced by biological factors, and these factors appear to be stronger for men than for women. Factors likely play a role prior to birth.
Term
Bisexual orientation
Definition
Erotic attraction to, and interest in romantic relationships with both men and women. Many have a somewhat stronger attraction to one sex over the other. Some believe that claims to bisexuality are a "cop-out" used by people to deny that they are homosexual, or view it as a form of experimentation. Many bisexuals and researchers assert that bisexuality is an authentic sexual orientation. Bisexuals can maintain erotic interests in and romantic relationships with members of both sexes. Has its own developmental patterns. Some bisexuals live in ways that satisfy their dual inclinations, others are pressured to commit themselves one way or another. Some homosexual people mask their sexual orientations by adopting a bisexual lifestyle (such as getting married to the opposite sex, but having sexual relationships with members of the same sex).
Term
Bonita Decaire and Deborah Foster
Definition
Believe that because of sexism, lesbians have more in common with other women than with gay men when it comes to power inequality and discrimination.
Term
Brain structure
Definition
Similarities have been found between the brains of lesbians and heterosexual men, and between gay men and heterosexual women. Preliminary research also suggests that a segment of the hypothalamus may be smaller in gay men.
Term
Butch
Definition
A lesbian who assumes a traditional masculine gender role.
Term
C.J. DeLuzio Chasin
Definition
From University of Windsor. Notes that there is considerable diversity within the asexual community, and that future research needs to account for varying levels of romantic and sexual attraction, and sexual desire among people who identify as asexual.
Term
Canadian law
Definition
Decriminalization of same-sex behaviour between consenting adults occurred in 1969. Since then, other pieces of legislation have benefited gay men and lesbians. EGALE has lobbied for changes to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Canadian Human Rights Act.
Term
Castration anxiety
Definition
In psychoanalytic theory, a man's fear that his genitals will be removed. An element of the Oedipus complex. Implicated in the directionality of erotic interest. Freud believed that a failure to overcome castration anxiety played a role in gay male orientation; the man won't be able to tolerate sex with women because their lack of a penis will arouse unconscious castration anxiety.
Term
Coming out
Definition
Due to social condemnation and discrimination, gay men and lesbians often struggle to come to terms with their sexual orientations. A two-part process: coming out to oneself, and coming out to others. Can create a sense of pride and ability to form satisfying relationships. Given stigma historically associated with homosexuality, it is not surprising that some gay, lesbian, and bisexual people have a hard time recognizing and accepting their sexual orientation. Sexual minority youth growing up in hostile environments have extra challenges. There is often a ten-year gap between initial attraction to members of one's own sex (at age 8 or 9), and disclosure of one's orientation to other people (around 18). Accepting one's identity can be sudden or gradual. Males are more likely to become involved in same-sex sexual activity before they label themselves as gay. Lesbians are more likely to label themselves as such before pursuing same-sex relationships. Younger cohorts tend to come out earlier than older ones. Many people are reluctant to come out. Attractive men, and those who believe in a just world are more likely to come out at a younger age. Men with more feminine behaviour traits in childhood tend to delay coming out. Disclosure is fraught with risks. Negative reactions are often anticipated from family members, but actual reactions vary. Many parents report initial reactions are highly emotional, involving shock, denial, guilt, and shame.
Term
Cross-species perspectives
Definition
Biologists have observed male-male and female-female sexual behaviour in at least 450 animal species, in every part of the world. May be a display of dominance and submissiveness that seems sexual; difficult to infer sexual motivation.
Term
Cultural perspectives
Definition
Sexual activity between males is sometimes considered a rite that marks initiation into manhood.
Term
Current attitudes
Definition
There is far greater acceptance of equal rights for gay people in Canada today than at other times in history. Can be attributed in part to exposure to gay individuals. Canadian population remains segmented in attitudes towards moral acceptability of homosexuality. Shift is a result of people who were more or less neutral towards greater acceptance. People who oppose homosexuality have become firmer in their beliefs. Most Canadians accept same-sex marriage.
Term
Dave Vervoort
Definition
From University of Guelph. Conducted an online survey of gay fathers, almost all of whom lived in Canada or the USA. Most had full or joint custody of their children. When coming out to children, fathers reported that children's responses were generally more positive than they'd anticipated. 10% of the children were clearly upset about the disclosure, more so with older children.
Term
Deborah Foster
Definition
A therapist from Alberta. Provided a comprehensive analysis of the research on lesbian families. Notes that most lesbian families have formed as a result of the birth mothers' having children in previous heterosexual relationships. Found that children raised in lesbian families develop typical gender identities and gender roles, develop typical peer relationships, exhibit normal emotional and behavioural development, and have fewer issues regarding sexual identity, but are not more likely to grow up gay or lesbian than children raised in heterosexual families. A key factor is that lesbian families tend to be equalitarian, nurturing, and empathetic, producing children at least as well-adjusted as those raised in heterosexual families.
Term
Devandra Singh
Definition
With colleagues, relates gender nonconformity in lesbians to the butch-femme dimension and biological factors. Compared self-identified butch and femme lesbians on various personality, behavioural, and biological measures. Found that butch lesbians were more likely than femme lesbians to recall gender-atypical behaviour preferences in childhood, and they have higher waist-to-hip ratios and testosterone levels, both more typical to men. Findings support validity of butch-femme distinction, and that distinction may be caused by differences in exposure to prenatal androgens.
Term
Dizygotic (DZ) twins
Definition

Fraternal twins

Siblings who develop from different fertilized ova. Share 50% of heredity, like brothers and sisters.

Term
Doug VanderLaan and Paul Vasey
Definition
From University of Lethbridge. Compared gay, lesbian, and heterosexual couples with respect to the strategies they used to "retain their mates". Gay and heterosexual males were typical of their gender, whereas lesbians were less so. Men and lesbians were less concerned than heterosexual women about their partners' economic status, physical appearance, partners' spending time away, and were less likely to threaten to end relationships over infidelity. Gay men were more likely than straight women to denigrate potential competitors.
Term
Evolutionary perspective
Definition
Strong male-male and female-female alliances have advantages for group survival, binding group members together emotionally.
Term
Femme
Definition
A lesbian who assumes a traditional feminine gender role.
Term
Ford and Beach
Definition
Found that male-male sexual interactions were viewed as normal and deemed socially acceptable for some members in 64% of preliterate societies (in a sample of 76). The other 36% had sanctions against male-male sexual behaviour. Evidence of female-female sexual behaviour was found in only 22% of the societies; perhaps female sexual behaviour in general was more likely to be repressed.
Term
Gary Kinsman
Definition
From Laurentian University. Argues that by challenging heterosexuality as the societal norm and affirming their right to sexual self-determination, gays and lesbians are also helping other groups achieve greater sexual freedom.
Term
Gay activism
Definition
By challenging heterosexuality as the social norm, and affirming their right to self-determination, homosexuals are helping other groups to achieve sexual freedom.
Term
Gay bashing
Definition
Violence against gay, lesbian, or bisexual people. A form of homophobia.
Term
Gender nonconformity
Definition
Not behaving in a way that is consistent with the gender role stereotype associated with one's anatomic sex in a given culture. Gay men and lesbians are more likely to report childhood behaviours stereotypical of the other gender.
Term
Genetics
Definition
There is considerable evidence that homosexual orientations run in families, using twin studies. Evidence suggests that the marker is X-linked.
Term
Glenn Meany and B.J. Rye
Definition
From Wilfrid Laurier University and University of Waterloo. Conducted a study of human sexuality textbooks. Concluded that each of the textbooks provided adequate, accurate information about sexual orientation, and promoted more positive attitudes towards gay, lesbian, and bisexual people.
Term
Henry Adams
Definition
With colleagues, showed men sexually explicit videos of male-female, female-female, and male-male sexual activity and measured sexual responses with a penile plethysmograph. Subjects were also asked to report how sexually aroused they were, and evaluated for their attitude towards gay men.
Term
Heteroerotic
Definition
Of an erotic nature, and involving members of the other gender. Homosexual people may experience sporadic heteroerotic interests.
Term
Heterosexism
Definition

Heterosexual bias

The tendency of society to view the world in heterosexual terms; assuming that heterosexual relationships are "normal". This perspective devalues other kinds of relationships. Homosexuals are often as concerned about heterosexism as homophobia, because it is so pervasive in society.

Term
Heterosexual orientation
Definition

Straight

Erotic attraction to, and preference for romantic relationships with members of the other gender. Kinsey reported that most people scored a 0 (exclusively heterosexual).

 

Term
Homoerotic
Definition
Of an erotic nature, and involving members of one's own gender. Heterosexual people may experience occasional homoerotic interests.
Term
Homophobia
Definition

"Fear of homosexuals"

A cluster of negative attitudes and feelings towards gay, lesbian, and bisexual people, including intolerance, hatred, and fear. Takes many forms including: derogatory names; telling disparaging "queer jokes"; barring gay people from housing, employment, or social opportunities; taunting; and gay bashing. Some psychologists link homophobia to a fear of a non-heterosexual orientation in oneself; homophobic attitudes may be embedded within a cluster of stereotypical gender-role attitudes. May stem from strong stakes in maintaining stereotypical gender roles; may feel threatened by non-heterosexual people who appear to confuse and reverse these roles. More common among conservative, traditional men, people who hold fundamentalist religious views, and those who identify with Nazi beliefs. Some homophobic men may have homoerotic impulses they are unaware of, and denial of impulses is connected to fear and disapproval of gay men.

Term
Homosexual orientation
Definition

Gay men and lesbians

Erotic attraction to, and preference for romantic relationships with members of one's own gender. The term "homosexuality" is somewhat controversial because it draws attention to sexual behaviour, and has a historical association with deviance and mental illness, and is often used only in reference to men, rendering lesbians invisible. Most homosexual people have gender identities consistent with their anatomic sex, but a small percentage are transgender. Sometimes heterosexual people focus on the sexual aspects of relationships, but homosexual relationships, like heterosexual relationships, involve more than sex; only a small amount of time in relationships is spent on sex. More basic to homosexual orientation is the formation of romantic attachments with members of one's own sex. Kinsey reported about 4% of men and 1 - 3% of women scored a 6 on the Kinsey continuum (exclusively homosexual) and a larger percentage scored 4 - 5 (predominately homosexual).

Term
Hormonal influences
Definition
Research has not connected sexual orientation with differences in male or female sex hormone levels in adulthood. Testosterone may have an activating effect.
Term
J. Michael Bailey
Definition
A psychologist. Said it must be difficult for young people to come to grips with their homosexuality in a world where homosexual people are often scorned, mocked, mourned, and feared.
Term
Karine Blais
Definition
Gay and lesbian couples face many of the same issues as heterosexual couples. With colleagues, outlined key issues related to sexual orientation for therapists: homophobia, HIV, lack of conjugal role models, and coming out process.
Term
Kevin Alderson
Definition
From University of Calgary. Researched the concept of sexual orientation for several years. Developed a scale called the sexuality questionnaire. Concluded that sexual orientation should be conceptualized and measured as a combination of factors: sexual attraction, sexual fantasies, sexual preference, sexual partners, tendency to fall in love romantically, and experience of falling in love romantically. Criticizes fixed-stage models of gay identity development which assume that everyone who comes out goes through a series of well-defined stages, such as those proposed by Ritch Savin-Williams and Lisa Diamond. Believes identity development is an individualized process, affected by environmental influences. Developed an ecological model of gay male identity that incorporates the external and internal influences that lead to a gay self-definition; cognitive dissonance about being gay plays a key role. Believes this model provides clinicians with a useful framework for counselling gay males, and in particular for helping those who are questioning their sexual identities.
Term
King
Definition
With colleagues, identified 13,706 research articles about the mental health of gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals. Selected 476 of these for analysis, ultimately comparing the mental health of 214,344 heterosexuals and 11,971 non-heterosexuals. A sophisticated statistical averaging technique revealed that lesbian, gay, and bisexual people were more than twice as likely as heterosexuals to attempt suicide, and more than half times as likely to be diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and dependence on alcohol and other substances.
Term
Kinsey continuum
Definition
Developed by Alfred Kinsey and colleagues. Bisexuality represents the midpoint (3) between exclusively heterosexual (0) and exclusively homosexual (6) orientation. Heterosexual and homosexual orientations may be separate dimensions, rather than polar opposites.
Term
Kirkpatrick
Definition
Suggests that male-male and female-female sexual behaviours drive from individual selection for reciprocal altruism. Strong male-male and female-female alliances have advantages for group survival, binding members together emotionally. A speculative hypothesis.
Term
Kristopher Wells
Definition
From University of Alberta. Conducted a survey of Canadians age 13 to 29, and found that 3.5% of respondents identified as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. Slightly more males than females identified as LGBT. Says Canadian youth are challenging traditional sexuality and gender stereotypes, and are reluctant to have their identities forced into narrow categories.
Term
Langstaff
Definition
Reviewed the evolution of Canadian's attitudes towards homosexuality. Found that although Canadian attitudes have become more accepting overall, much of the shift is the result of people who were more or less neutral shifting their views towards greater acceptance. Although the percentage of accepting Canadians has increased, there is a fairly stable minority of about one third of Canadians who are profoundly dismayed by growing societal acceptance of homosexuality.
Term
Learning theory
Definition
Early sexual behaviour patterns are reinforced. Pleasurable sexual activity with same-sex friends may be reinforcing, and lead to future behaviours. However, most adolescent encounters with members of the same gender don't lead to adult homosexual orientation. Most homosexuals are aware of their sexual interests before they had sexual encounters with the same sex.
Term
LGBTQ youth
Definition
Despite many strides, Canada remains a hostile and damaging environment for many LGBTQ youth. EGALE Canada's national survey found that 64% of LGBTQ students felt unsafe at school, and 21% had been physically harassed. They were more likely than heterosexual youth to be physically and sexually abused by people inside and outside the family. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth were more likely than heterosexual youth to: experience physical and sexual abuse, harassment in school, and discrimination in the community; run away from home; be sexually experienced; become pregnant or get someone pregnant; report emotional stress, suicidal thoughts, and suicide attempts; spend less time participating in sports and physical activities; spend more time on the computer; feel less cared about by parents, and less connected to families; and feel less connected to school.
Term
Lifestyle
Definition
All gay and lesbian people are not the same. Homosexuals in larger urban centres usually have support from gay communal structures and services, such as gay rights organizations, newspapers, and bookstores. Not all homosexuals feel like part of the gay community or participate in gay rights organizations.
Term
iO Tillet Wright
Definition
Did a Ted talk on the grey in sexual orientation. Created a series of photographic portraits of non-heterosexual Americans.
Term
Lisa M. Diamond
Definition
Conducted a survey of lesbian and bisexual women that involved three interviews over a five-year period. Found that more than 25% of the women relinquished their lesbian or bisexual orientations as time went on, and half of these relabeled themselves as heterosexual, and half renounced any effort at self-labeling.
Term
Marc Hall
Definition
His high school refused to allow him to take his same-sex partner to prom, leading to a court appear of the board's decision. The Ontario Supreme Court judge ruled that he could bring his date to prom, because the ban violated a constitutional right to equality.
Term
Meredith Chivers and J. Michael Bailey
Definition
Exposed men and women to visual male and female sexual stimuli, and measured both their genital responses and self-reports of sexual arousal. Male heterosexuals responded genitally only to female stimuli, and gay males showed the reverse pattern. Women, regardless of orientation, were more likely to be aroused (respond genitally) by both male and female sexual stimuli. Findings are consistent with research showing that women's sexual orientations are more flexible than men's, and apparently more intertwined with social experience.
Term
Monozygotic (MZ) twins
Definition

Identical twins

Siblings who develop from the same fertilized ovum. Share 100% of heredity.

Term
Nathan Lachowsky
Definition
From University of Guelph. Studying epidemiology involved in human sexuality, specifically sexual scripts in young gay men and online sexual culture.
Term
Pansexual
Definition
People who have sexual or emotional attraction to people regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation. Unlike the term "bisexual", it includes attraction to people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities, including transgender and gender fluid people. Challenges the heterosexual/homosexual dichotomy as well as the male-female gender dichotomy.
Term
Parenting
Definition
Deborah Foster found that children raised by lesbian parents are at least as well-adjusted as those raised in heterosexual families. Similar findings have been reported for children raised by gay male parents. The American Psychological Association has concluded that there is no scientific evidence that parenting effectiveness is related to parental sexual orientation.
Term
Paul Vasey
Definition
From University of Lethbridge. Did considerable research on sexual preferences and orientation of female Japanese macaques. Found that they routinely engaged in sexual behaviour with both males and females, and often had sex with other females even when willing male partners were available. With colleagues, found that female macaques mount females differently than males do, with more varied mounting styles, presumably providing greater genital pleasure. Supports the assumption that the behaviour is sexual, indicating a bisexual orientation.
Term
Penis envy
Definition
In psychoanalytic theory, a girl's wish to have a penis. One of Freud's most controversial beliefs. Jealousy leads girls to resent their mothers, who they blame for their anatomic "deficiency", turning to their father as a sexual object.
Term
Pope Gregory III
Definition
In the eighth century, accounted for God's destruction of the city of Sodom (in the Book of Genesis) as a punishment for sexual activity between members of the same gender.
Term
Queer
Definition
A term used by people who reject labels "gay", "straight", and "bisexual" as too limiting, viewing them as designations that reflect oppression so often faced by non-heterosexual people. A positive, self-affirming term for people who don't see themselves as fitting into standard classifications of sexual orientation.
Term
Questioning
Definition
People who are unsure as to which best describes their sexual orientation. May consider themselves to be in the process of discovering their sexual identity, or in some cases, coming to terms with the possibility that they are not heterosexual.
Term
Ray Blanchard
Definition
From the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto. With colleagues, conducted several studies on birth order and sexual orientation. Concluded that gay males with three or more older brothers can attribute most of the origin of their sexual orientation to this effect. Older brothers only increased odds of being homosexual for right-handed males.
Term
Reginald Bibby
Definition
Conducted a survey which found that 63% of Canadians in 1975 believed that homosexuality is "always wrong", 62% in 1980 and 1985, 59% in 1990, 44% in 1995, and 32% in 2000. Women, younger people, and people who reported that they were not religious were more likely to approve of homosexuality. Protestants were the religious affiliation most likely to disapprove.
Term
Religious perspectives
Definition
Jews and Christians have referred to male-male sexual activity as the sin of Sodom. Despite this, some churches marry gay couples. Some churches allow gay and lesbian clergy to be ordained, if they remain celibate. Struggles over gay rights occur internationally.
Term
Ritch Savin-Williams
Definition
An American researcher. Wrote The New Gay Teenager, which argues that today's urban teenagers no longer accept traditional gender and sexual orientations. Critical of researchers who force participants to put themselves into traditional categories, and of those who oversample troubled teens, giving an inaccurate picture of gay teens today. Challenges most of the research that suggests that gay teens are at risk for depression, drug use, and isolation.
Term
Ritch Savin-Williams and Lisa M. Diamond
Definition

Believed that the development of sexual identity in gay males and lesbians involved four steps or features:

1. Attraction to members of the same gender

2. Self-labeling as gay or lesbian

3. Sexual contact with members of the same gender

4. Disclosure of sexual orientation to other people

Term
Sexual orientation
Definition
The directionality of one's erotic attraction and romantic interest. An interest in developing romantic and/or sexual relationships with members of the same gender, the other gender, or both. Classification is not clear-cut; a percentage of people are neither exclusively heterosexual nor exclusively homosexual. Not necessarily expressed in sexual behaviour; it is not unusual for heterosexual people to have same-sex experiences, and homosexual people to have opposite-sex experiences, while maintaining their sexual orientation. People's erotic interests may shift over time. Women's sexual orientations are apparently somewhat more dependent on social experience. People may have various degrees of sexual interest in, and sexual experience with, people of either sex. Attraction to people of the same and other sex may not be mutually exclusive. About 7% of Americans define themselves as "other than heterosexual", however 14% say they have had oral sex with a person of the same gender. Statistics Canada included a question for the first time in 2003, and out of 135,000 respondents aged 18 - 59, 1% reported they were gay or lesbian, and 0.7% reported they were bisexual. In 2012 a Forum research poll found that younger people were more likely to identify as non-heterosexual; 10% of people aged 18 - 34 identified as gay, lesbian, or bisexual. There is a clear trend that more recent surveys find higher percentages of people reporting a non-heterosexual orientation.
Term
Sigmund Freud
Definition
The originator of psychoanalytic theory. Believed that children enter the world open to all forms of sexual stimulation, and that through proper resolution of the Oedipus complex, a boy forsakes incestuous desires for his mother, and comes to identify with his father, transferring erotic attraction to more appropriate female partners. Girls have a similar process with resolution of the Electra complex. Thought that gay or lesbian sexual orientation results from failure to successfully resolve the Oedipus or Electra complex, by identifying with the parent of the same sex. Believed that unresolved castration anxiety plays a role in gay male orientation.
Term
Simon LeVay
Definition
From Salk Institute. A neurobiologist. Carried out autopsies on the brains of 35 AIDS victims: 19 gay men and 16 presumably heterosexual men. Found that a segment of the hypothalamus, in the third interstitial nucleus of the anterior hypothalamus, was less than half the size in gay men than in heterosexual men. The segment had no significant size differences between gay men and women.
Term
Simon Rosser
Definition
From University of Minnesota. A clinician and researcher. Doing work on new uses for technology, and promotion of gay men's health.
Term
Stephen Harper
Definition
In 2006, his Conservatives reopened the issue of same-sex marriage, but the majority of the members of the House of Commons voted against changing the 2005 law.
Term
Stereotypes
Definition
Some people assume that in gay and lesbian couples, one partner assumes the masculine role and the other assumes the feminine role in sexual relations. This assumption is often mistaken.
Term
Storms
Definition
Found evidence that there are separate dimensions of responsiveness to male-female sexual stimulation (heteroeroticism) and same-gender stimulation (homoeroticism). Bisexuals are high in both dimensions, and asexuals are low in both dimensions.
Term
Tarik Bereket and Barry D. Adam
Definition
From University of Toronto and University of Windsor. Found that Turkish men have same-sex relationships without sharing the Western concept of gay identity; they may assume the inserter role in anal intercourse, but not consider themselves gay.
Term
Transgender
Definition
Some argue that transgender people should be included in discussions of sexual orientation, because they are the most visible minority of people engaged in same-sex practices.
Term
Two-spirited
Definition
Among Aboriginal communities, refers to a gender or social identity and in many cases includes same-sex behaviour.
Term
Weinrich and Klein
Definition
Speak of bisexuals as being bi-gay (stronger leanings towards own gender), bi-straight (stronger leanings towards opposite gender), or bi-bi (attracted to both genders equally).
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