NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote
TREATING HOMOSEXUALITY The American Psychological Association (APA) defined homosexuality as one of the three distinct sexual orientations, the other two being, heterosexuality and bisexuality. Sexual orientation is one of the four components of sexuality and is distinguished by an enduring emotional, romantic, sexual or affectionate attraction to individuals of a particular gender (APA). Homosexual refers to the attraction to members of the same gender and people with this kind of sexual orientation are commonly referred to as gay or lesbian (for women). Contrary to the conservative perspective that homosexuality is a choice, scientists contend that homosexual orientation results from biological, psychological and social factors, and is not a conscious choice that can be voluntarily changed (APA). In fact, many homosexuals, at the time they are beginning to discover their different sexual orientation, fight within themselves and try to change that sexual orientation without success. Homosexuals usually find out about their sexual orientation during the early stages of adolescence.
At that point, they go through a long process that is commonly referred to as coming out. This process starts with identity confusion, in which the person usually finds the thought or behavior as unacceptable, but eventually, the person usually realizes his or her true identity and learns to accept it by learning more about homosexuality and through increased interaction with other homosexuals During this process, it is important that support from family and friends are felt in order for the individual to integrate his or her identity with other aspects of life. The APA states that the coming out process is extremely challenging for most homosexuals because of the prejudices and stereotypes associated with homosexuality (APA). The first part of this paper contends that homosexuals should be treated while the second part opposes it and do not see that treatment is ethical at all. Critical Literacy - Author Becker notes that segregation creates "outsiders", who are outcast from society, and then begin to link with other individuals who have also been cast out. When more and more people begin to assume that these individuals are deviants, they react to them as such; thus the deviant reacts to such a response by continuing to engage in the behavior society now expects from them. (Overview of Labeling Theories).
A critical literacy situates itself in the intersection of language, culture, power and history. Civic Literacy Community and civic responsibility Treating homosexuality is far from being unethical according to those who do not see anything wrong with the effect on the community as a whole. In fact, when one treats homosexuality, those who claim that it needs to be implemented are confident that when treatment is done, there will be more people who will approve of their presence in the community. They will be more accepted by society in general. Science Literacy All human behavior connotes a genetic basis because humans need a nervous system which develops from information contained in the genotype. One of the discourses on genetic determinist theory is that there is a predictable relationship between genotype and phenotype.
This is used in some reproductive decisions. Current studies reveal that there is no 1: 1 correspondence between genotype. This view is placed into focus by the concept of norm of reaction. Today, there is a tendency to employ essentialist and reified definitions of behaviors treating complex entities. There are studies pointing those by Hamer et al (1993), showing an association between male homosexuality and a marker on the X-chromosome, although found in a weaker association by the same researchers, (Hu et al, 1995 as q in Allen Garland), could not be confirmed at all by a Canadian team, using a completely separate set of families (Goode, 1999 as q in Allen Garland). Similar problems have also been found for studies linking the dopamine D 2 receptor gene and alcoholism, and for a purported gene for "novelty-seeking. " Failure to replicate findings seriously undermines the validity of claims in any scientific inquiry.
Values Literacy- Personal Values and Ethics Most psychologists think that psychotherapy is needed in order to understand oneself and to construct oneself so that these constructions will give a purpose to ones existence. It is not true that when one treats homosexuality, there will be an increase of social homophobia. In fact, this will even add up to their knowledge of how a homosexual actually feels. For most of those who oppose treatment, there will actually be more mystery to what this all entails.
Those who favor treatment can miss the heart of the entire program of psychotherapy and that is to understand oneself better. Meanwhile, the other side of the issue contends that it is unethical to be treating homosexuals. Critical Literacy The law is admittedly a political compromise, but that does not necessarily mean that it is homophobic. Although it is often profitable to second-guess a legislatures motives, all the evidence suggests that the civil unions law was passed by a legislature with the best of intentions (Drucker, 1998, 25).
In creating a parallel system, the legislature was not trying to prejudge gays and lesbians; rather, it was building a valiant and significant effort to be aware of the reality and worth of lesbian and gay families. Civic Literacy Community and civic responsibility Homosexuals will be better able to be themselves and help out in community work when they are allowed to be themselves in their own communities. There is no pressure to abide by stereotyping of genders. Science Literacy Throughout a homosexuals life, he or she would have to face and contend with unequal treatment and even rejection from close friends and relatives. There is also the fact that homosexuals are frequently targets of discrimination and violent acts (APA). These neuro genetic explanations make people accept homosexuality as a natural part of life and thus, more researches on this would be a welcome move for their advocates. (APA).
Values Literacy- Personal Values and Ethics Meanwhile, homosexuals think that treating homosexuals is unethical. Gay people have learned to accept and understand themselves and thus see no need for any treatment. They view their state as a most natural thing that does not need any treatment like a disease. Conclusion Same-sex marriage has long been a bone of contention between the American government and its people.
Despite how liberated and open-minded law and society may be, there are still large bodies of conservative thinkers out there. Conservative thinking isnt necessarily a bad thing. But most of the time, conservative thinking becomes the knife that these people use to sever another persons freedom of choice. There was an outcry from the opposition against same sex marriage.
It is immoral and a threat to the family. Supporters of same sex marriage retaliate with a cry of their own: isnt forcing to rule a man or womans choices on which they can or cannot be with, a violation of free will? Isnt that the greater sin? Initially, the Government reacted to this furor by implementing a no same-sex marriage policy. Same sex marriage was banned from most states.
When that didnt work because gay and lesbian couples performed their own marriages, they decided not to grant legal recognition for gay marriages. In the end, it is important that the government should be an advocate for personal freedom, provided, of course, that said freedom does not hinder the choices of others. To stop an individual from declaring his or her vows to his or her loved one simply because the loved one belongs to the same sex is equivalent to denying these people their free will. REFERENCES American Psychological Association. A Reply to the Ex-Gay Movement. Gay Today.
June 30 2008 at: web >. Drucker, J. (1998) Families of Value: Gay and Lesbian Parents and their Children Speak Out, New York: Insight Books/Plenum Press. pp. 20 - 45 Good burn, Amy M. Ina, Beth (1994). Collaboration, Critical Pedagogy, and Struggles Over Difference. University of Nebraska.
Retrieved June 30. 2008 at: web Goode, Erica. 1999. "Study Questions Gene Influence on Male Homosexuality, " New York Times (Friday, April 23): A 19... (as q in Allen, Garland). Hamer, Dean, S. Hu, V. L. Manguson, N.
Hu and A. M. L. Pattatucci. 1993. "A Linkage between DNA Markers on the X Chromosome and Male Sexual Orientation, " Science 261: 321 - 327. (as q in Allen, Garland).
Hu, Stella, A. M. L. Pattatucci, C.
Patterson, Lin Li, David W. Filter, Stacey S. Cherry, Leonid Kruglyak and Dean Hamer. 1995. "Linkage between Sexual Orientation and Chromosome Xq 28 in Males bu not in Females, " Nature Genetics 11: 248 - 256... (as q in Allen, Garland).
Free research essays on topics related to: sexual orientation, sex marriage, commonly referred, personal values, american psychological association
Research essay sample on American Psychological Association Sexual Orientation
