A Sociological Perspective On Homosexuality - 882 Words

Sociology surrounds every aspect of life, from birth to death. Throughout history, different demographics have had to fight for their rights to be recognized as equal to white males. From the acquisition of blacks right to vote to the women’s rights movement our society is slowly progressing to a state of equality. One demographic that has been in the news lately is the homosexual community seeking rights to legally marry. A multitude of sociological concepts can be applied to topic of homosexuality in America. Topics ranging from the Functionalist theory to Marxism and ethnocentrism to subculture can all provide insight to the homosexual culture in America. One of the main things that needs to be addressed when discussing homosexuality in America is the resistance to gay culture. This can in part be explained using Émile Durkheim theory of functionalism. Functionalist Theory states â€Å"†¦social event can be best explained in terms of the functions they perform – that is, they contributions they make to the continuity of a society.† (Giddens, p.19) With this definition from Essentials of Sociology, one can conclude that homosexuality could never exist largely in a population because it doesn’t provide stability and continuity to a society. Simply put, because homosexual relations do not yield offspring and because of this, society could possibly cease to continue. (Sex and Sexuality, 2014) However, Functionalist theory does not address the population of homosexualsShow MoreRelatedTheories of Homosexuality849 Words   |  4 PagesTheories of Homosexuality Through the biological perspective of deviance, sociologists have linked homosexuality to hormones, genes and the brain (Taylor, Thio Schwartz, 2013). Hormonal theory does not describe a cause of homosexuality. Genetic Theory describes the cause of homosexuality as people being born gay. The brain theory is much more in depth about the cause of homosexuality. It states that the size of a person’s hypothalamus will cause them to be homosexual or not. Gay’s hypothalamusesRead MoreThe Sociological Imagination And Common Sense1648 Words   |  7 PagesThe Sociological Imagination was a term that was first coined by sociologist C. Wright Mills. It could be said that definition of The Sociological Imagination is having the ability to look beyond personal experience and realise that society is shaped by the cross over between biography and history. Mills thought that everyone in society had the capability to think sociologically and that this was essential to gain a deeper understanding of both their society, and their current circumstance. ThisRead MoreCompare and contrast two main sociological theories of crime and deviance.1636 Words   |  7 PagesCompare and contrast the two main sociological theories of crime and deviance. Deviance and crime are wide-ranging terms used by sociologists to refer to behavior that varies, in some way, from a social norm.  Cultural Norms are societys propensity towards certain ideals; their aversion from others; and their standard, ritualistic practices. Essentially the norm is a summation of typical activities and beliefs of group of people.  This essay will evaluate the sociological theories associated with crimeRead MoreIs Homosexuality A Personal Choice Or Is It Genetics?2009 Words   |  9 PagesHomosexuality has been an ongoing controversial topic for decades and remains a taboo subject for many. The controversy stems from two distinct, main groups: liberals and conservatives. Both groups on opposite sides of the spectrum have created an uproar on what is right and what is wrong in regards to homosexuality. Social, religious, and personal beliefs have shaped many opinions and views on the perspective of homosexuality, thus creating opposing spheres without the c onsideration of scientificRead MoreThe Issue Of Gay Marriages1028 Words   |  5 Pageslicenses to a same-sex couple. She did not issue because she did not believe that homosexuality should be accepted in society. Many people agreed to the act but others opposed. There are many ways to look at homosexuality and here are three different sociological perspectives of how gay marriage is recognized. The perspectives are structural functionalism, symbolic interactionism, and conflict theory. From the perspective of structural- functionalist, Christianity has been the religion that our foundingRead MoreThe Controversy Of Homosexuality Sparks Controversy1773 Words   |  8 PagesIntroduction: In every corner of the world, the topic of homosexuality sparks controversy from both supporters and opponents of the sexual orientation. Merriam Webster’s dictionary defines a homosexual as â€Å"being sexually attracted to people of the same sex.† The underlying influence from historical, sociological, and health disciplines are just a few reasons such a large gap exists on the spectrum between supporters and opponents of homosexuality. This paper serves as an analysis of the previouslyRead MoreSociological Imagination Was Coined By Sociologist C. Wright Mills1649 Words   |  7 PagesSociological imagination was coined by sociologist C. Wright Mills in 1959 to describe the ability to remove oneself from a given situation whether it affects your life or not personally and try to imagine the situation or conflict from a different perspective or more global view. It’s the personal perspective that affects our judgments, opinions and actions to a situation. Re moval of the personal viewpoint gives us an unbiased way to make a decision that is fair. Removing past prejudices and moresRead MoreSexual Morality And The Catholic Church1180 Words   |  5 Pagesstrongly holds most of its traditional values. All sexual acts outside of marriage within the Catholic church are deemed as â€Å"†¦mortal sins, and never moral, regardless of intention or circumstance.† (Catholic Teaching on Sexuality) In a Catholics perspective, the holy bible tells them that when they have sex with someone, they become one in flesh (they become spiritually and physically tied to one another). They believe that God created human beings to only be with one person because sex is a preciousRead MoreThe Perspective On Income And Privilege Essay985 Words   |  4 PagesI agree with the interactionist perspective. Certain races or ethnicities are advantageous when obtaining power and privilege. For example, White households have a higher income than non-White Hispanics or Blacks. The data provided on page 82 illustrates the income gap, â€Å"Black household had the lowest median income in 2013 ($34,598), non- Hispanic White households ($58,270). Median income for Hispanic households was $40,963† (Leon-Guerrero 2016). This data obtained from the U.S. Census reveals thereRead MoreEasy A1164 Words   |  5 Pagescrime are presented in this text and relate your findings to the various sociological perspectives and theories studied in class. Choice of text: Easy A (2010 movie) Deviance is an unavoidable part of human nature, and as such, is a fascinating and essential social phenomenon to study. The film Easy A explores how a high school student turns to deviance in order to benefit in popularity and financially. A number of sociological theories are recognisable in this film. It demonstrates clearly the motivations