Sexual orientation
Sexual orientation, or sexuality, describes which sex or sexes a person is attracted to (remember the difference between sex and gender). The sexual orientation we are probably most familiar with is heterosexuality (hetero- means "different"), people who are attracted to the opposite sex. The opposite of this, being attracted to the same sex, is called homosexuality (homo- means "same"). In addition you may have heard heterosexual people called straight, homosexual people (usually men) called gay, and women lesbian. People attracted to both men and women are called bisexual (the same bi- as in "bicycle", meaning "two").
The demographics of sexuality
Demographics is the statistics of a society. For example, the number of people above or below a certain age, the percentage of people without a job, and the average income of the population are all part of demographics. We can also talk about a demographic (singular) to mean a certain section of the society. For example, you would all belong to the "female, 18-20, in further education" demographic.
When talking about sexuality or sexual orientation, it is common to talk about Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people as a single demographic. It might seem strange to include transgender, which is not a sexual orientation, in this demographic. However, both transgender and non-heterosexual people are often the target of similar discrimination (as we will discuss below) and therefore are often grouped together.
Finding what percentage of a population is LGBT can be difficult for several reasons. One is that due to the discrimination this demographic faces and pressure to conform to societal norms some LGBT might be embarrassed or afraid to admit their sexuality, to researchers or even to themselves. Another is the definition of what it actually means to be homosexual. Does having a single homosexual experience or partner in your life mean that you automatically count as being bisexual? A significant number of people who have had such an experience still consider themselves to be heterosexual. Because of such difficulties, estimates for the percentage of LGBT worldwide can vary dramatically, from as low as 1% and as high as 10%. The most recent data for Japan found that 7.6% of people aged 20 to 59 were LGBT.
Discrimination towards LGBT people
Discrimination towards LGBT people is known as homophobia. Although it is likely that the most common form of discrimination in the world is sexism (women make up just over half of the world's population), some of the most extreme discrimination is towards LGBT people. In the US LGBT people are the most common victims of hate crimes. One reason for this is religion. The Bible says that it is "an abomination" for men to lie together, and homosexuality is banned in Islam. Although it is sometimes difficult to separate from religious views, conservative attitudes towards the family can also contribute towards homophobia. Another reason may be fear of one's own hidden desires. As mentioned above, more people have had gay experiences than admit to being gay. Studies have found that straight men are more homophobic towards gay men, and straight women more homophobic towards lesbians, than the other way around. This study found that homophobic men are more aroused by gay porn. And in the US, there seems to be a continual stream of politicians and Christian leaders who are very publicly homophobic, and then are found out to be secretly gay.
Causes of sexuality
Although it is not clear exactly why some people are gay, the idea promoted by some homophobic groups that being gay is a "lifestyle choice" (like joining a gym or deciding to get your nose pierced) is not accepted by any serious academics. In the past some groups offered therapy to "cure" gay people. Such conversion therapies are unsuccessful and potentially very dangerous.
Because of this some people talk about the "gay gene". Although there is almost certainly not a single gene which decides sexuality, this is a way of suggesting sexuality is determined by your DNA. However, studies of identical twins (who have 100% the same DNA) have found that when one twin is gay, the other is straight more than 50% of the time. This shows that sexuality is not decided 100% by DNA. Another interesting finding is that in families with several brothers, younger brothers are more likely to be gay. This is thought to be because of changing levels of hormones in the mother's body after carrying several male babies.
Lesson 11 Reading
Article 11a - NHK tries to clear up LGBT misconceptions
Article 11b - Japanese man seeks damages after death of same-sex partner
Article 11c - Japan’s Only Openly Gay Lawmaker Says Same-Sex Marriage Will Take Years
Article 11d - China’s LGBT people came out as a protest against an online ban on gay content
Article 11e - property heiress becomes accidental LGBT champion
Sexual orientation, or sexuality, describes which sex or sexes a person is attracted to (remember the difference between sex and gender). The sexual orientation we are probably most familiar with is heterosexuality (hetero- means "different"), people who are attracted to the opposite sex. The opposite of this, being attracted to the same sex, is called homosexuality (homo- means "same"). In addition you may have heard heterosexual people called straight, homosexual people (usually men) called gay, and women lesbian. People attracted to both men and women are called bisexual (the same bi- as in "bicycle", meaning "two").
The demographics of sexuality
Demographics is the statistics of a society. For example, the number of people above or below a certain age, the percentage of people without a job, and the average income of the population are all part of demographics. We can also talk about a demographic (singular) to mean a certain section of the society. For example, you would all belong to the "female, 18-20, in further education" demographic.
When talking about sexuality or sexual orientation, it is common to talk about Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people as a single demographic. It might seem strange to include transgender, which is not a sexual orientation, in this demographic. However, both transgender and non-heterosexual people are often the target of similar discrimination (as we will discuss below) and therefore are often grouped together.
Finding what percentage of a population is LGBT can be difficult for several reasons. One is that due to the discrimination this demographic faces and pressure to conform to societal norms some LGBT might be embarrassed or afraid to admit their sexuality, to researchers or even to themselves. Another is the definition of what it actually means to be homosexual. Does having a single homosexual experience or partner in your life mean that you automatically count as being bisexual? A significant number of people who have had such an experience still consider themselves to be heterosexual. Because of such difficulties, estimates for the percentage of LGBT worldwide can vary dramatically, from as low as 1% and as high as 10%. The most recent data for Japan found that 7.6% of people aged 20 to 59 were LGBT.
Discrimination towards LGBT people
Discrimination towards LGBT people is known as homophobia. Although it is likely that the most common form of discrimination in the world is sexism (women make up just over half of the world's population), some of the most extreme discrimination is towards LGBT people. In the US LGBT people are the most common victims of hate crimes. One reason for this is religion. The Bible says that it is "an abomination" for men to lie together, and homosexuality is banned in Islam. Although it is sometimes difficult to separate from religious views, conservative attitudes towards the family can also contribute towards homophobia. Another reason may be fear of one's own hidden desires. As mentioned above, more people have had gay experiences than admit to being gay. Studies have found that straight men are more homophobic towards gay men, and straight women more homophobic towards lesbians, than the other way around. This study found that homophobic men are more aroused by gay porn. And in the US, there seems to be a continual stream of politicians and Christian leaders who are very publicly homophobic, and then are found out to be secretly gay.
Causes of sexuality
Although it is not clear exactly why some people are gay, the idea promoted by some homophobic groups that being gay is a "lifestyle choice" (like joining a gym or deciding to get your nose pierced) is not accepted by any serious academics. In the past some groups offered therapy to "cure" gay people. Such conversion therapies are unsuccessful and potentially very dangerous.
Because of this some people talk about the "gay gene". Although there is almost certainly not a single gene which decides sexuality, this is a way of suggesting sexuality is determined by your DNA. However, studies of identical twins (who have 100% the same DNA) have found that when one twin is gay, the other is straight more than 50% of the time. This shows that sexuality is not decided 100% by DNA. Another interesting finding is that in families with several brothers, younger brothers are more likely to be gay. This is thought to be because of changing levels of hormones in the mother's body after carrying several male babies.
Lesson 11 Reading
Article 11a - NHK tries to clear up LGBT misconceptions
Article 11b - Japanese man seeks damages after death of same-sex partner
Article 11c - Japan’s Only Openly Gay Lawmaker Says Same-Sex Marriage Will Take Years
Article 11d - China’s LGBT people came out as a protest against an online ban on gay content
Article 11e - property heiress becomes accidental LGBT champion
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