Homophobia and heterosexism
O YoungPublished: Oct 1, 2010 7:06 AM | Updated: Oct 1, 2010 11:56 AM
COMMENT I am not surprised at all if people who are employing speciously convincing arguments against homosexuality say to me or to anyone who is pro-gay, “Don’t call me homophobic.”
COMMENT I am not surprised at all if people who are employing speciously convincing arguments against homosexuality say to me or to anyone who is pro-gay, “Don’t call me homophobic.”
I have to confess, some of them are right. Strictly speaking, the word “homophobia” is a term constructed from a slang abbreviation for “homosexual” joined with “phobia,” which means “fear.” Some of them do not “fear” me or homosexuals, they just dislike and hate us; they think homosexuals are inferior and deviants.
People who believe that men are superior to women do not necessarily fear women, and, thus, we do not call them “womanphobic” but rather “sexists.” This is just like racists who believe that one racial group is inherently superior to others. In light of this understanding, I would call people who condemn homosexuality by upholding heterosexuality as normative, heterosexists.
Heterosexism, just like sexism and racism, employs stereotypes. It is the stigmatisation, demonisation, denial, or denigration of non-heterosexuality that embraces anti-gay prejudice. To put it bluntly, it is a belief in the superiority of heterosexuals and heterosexuality.
Heterosexism, like racism and sexism, will not be dismantled easily. As many of us know, people who are racists would never admit that they are racists. In some cases, they would even accuse those who fight against racism and demand equality as racists who “threaten the security of the country,” and the deeds against racism as “detrimental to public order.”
Thus, one should not be surprised if heterosexists refuse to be called heterosexists or even complain and accuse others who disagree with them as imposing the non-heterosexist values on them, as if they were the victims of oppression.
Racism and sexism have an ideology, that justifies the subjugation of another group of people and provides a moral rationale for systematic deprivation.
Appeal to religious texts
Some of them appeal to their religious texts to do so. For instance, in Genesis 9 in the Old Testament of the Bible, Noah puts a curse on his grandson, Ham’s son, Canaan, that “cursed be Canaan, slave of slaves shall he be to his brothers.”
For a long time, many in the West used it to justify the slavery of black people because they argued that the ancient Hebrew word “Ham” meant “black.” Some, however, claim that their beliefs are based on so-called “scientific” evidence. For instance, black people presumably evolved first, are regarded as the most primitive race by racists, and thus are believed to be incapable of creating a superior culture or carrying the culture of the higher, white races.
Racism does nothing good for society. Not only it does no justice to the perceived inferior group, a society that practices discrimination based on racism also fails to use the resources of all individuals and limits the search for talent and leadership to the dominant group.
Heterosexism is just like racism, as it not only hurts individual gay persons, but also harms the society at large. As Josh Hong rightly points out, had Penny Wong (right), an openly lesbian woman, lived in Malaysia, she would not have made as much headway in her political career as she has in Australia, regardless of how intelligent and capable she is. Who is losing?
I know many intelligent Malaysians - Malays, Chinese and Indians - who prefer to stay in the United States after they have graduated from Ivy League universities, because they are homosexuals. One of them is a highly respected film critic in the United States. These people refuse to come home because they deem it is impossible to live freely and openly in their native land. “I only come back once a year to eat durian,” one of them said to me. Again, who is losing?
Just like racism and sexism, heterosexism is based on ungrounded beliefs and prejudice about homosexuals or homosexuality. Heterosexists are contemptuous of homosexuals because they accept stereotypical notions about gay people or homosexuality.
Some of them believe that once society accepts homosexuality, everyone will become gay and the extinction of the human race will be an inevitable consequence. But the reality is that much research has shown that even though many countries in Europe and Asia have decriminalised so-called “unnatural sex” and legalised gay marriage or civil union, the gay population in those countries has never increased significantly.
Little scientific evidence
Some even say that homosexuality destabilises and disrupts society. Such a claim is frequently heard, although little substantial scientific evidence is ever mounted to support it. Perhaps only two ancient societies could be mentioned to support this claim, Sodom and Gomorrah, but they are in their religious texts, and are thus part of religious belief.
One of the most popular charges laid against the normalisation of homosexuality in the United States is that it undermines the family, and that children need a mother and a father. Detractors of homosexuality and heterosexists state that only in a heterosexual family, can children be exposed to the traditional models of gender identity necessary for healthy maturation.
No scientific data exists, however, to support this view. As a matter of fact, much research has shown that children who live in a gay family are as healthy as those live in the traditional heterosexual families, if not more; gender identity does not depend on having two parents of different sexes.
I assume, hopefully, many of us are aware of the problems and the cost of racism and sexism. I believe it is now the time for us to move forward to confront heterosexism.
REV O YOUNG is an ordained Christian minister at MCC New York. He holds two masters degrees in both sociology and theology. Currently he lives in New York city and teaches sociology at St Peter’s College. He has published 20 books on sociology, theology and sexuality. He is also a columnist for Sin Chew Daily. He is currently finishing his doctoral degrees in sociology and theology.
I have to confess, some of them are right. Strictly speaking, the word “homophobia” is a term constructed from a slang abbreviation for “homosexual” joined with “phobia,” which means “fear.” Some of them do not “fear” me or homosexuals, they just dislike and hate us; they think homosexuals are inferior and deviants.
People who believe that men are superior to women do not necessarily fear women, and, thus, we do not call them “womanphobic” but rather “sexists.” This is just like racists who believe that one racial group is inherently superior to others. In light of this understanding, I would call people who condemn homosexuality by upholding heterosexuality as normative, heterosexists.
Heterosexism, just like sexism and racism, employs stereotypes. It is the stigmatisation, demonisation, denial, or denigration of non-heterosexuality that embraces anti-gay prejudice. To put it bluntly, it is a belief in the superiority of heterosexuals and heterosexuality. Heterosexism, like racism and sexism, will not be dismantled easily. As many of us know, people who are racists would never admit that they are racists. In some cases, they would even accuse those who fight against racism and demand equality as racists who “threaten the security of the country,” and the deeds against racism as “detrimental to public order.”
Thus, one should not be surprised if heterosexists refuse to be called heterosexists or even complain and accuse others who disagree with them as imposing the non-heterosexist values on them, as if they were the victims of oppression.
Racism and sexism have an ideology, that justifies the subjugation of another group of people and provides a moral rationale for systematic deprivation.
Appeal to religious texts
Some of them appeal to their religious texts to do so. For instance, in Genesis 9 in the Old Testament of the Bible, Noah puts a curse on his grandson, Ham’s son, Canaan, that “cursed be Canaan, slave of slaves shall he be to his brothers.”
For a long time, many in the West used it to justify the slavery of black people because they argued that the ancient Hebrew word “Ham” meant “black.” Some, however, claim that their beliefs are based on so-called “scientific” evidence. For instance, black people presumably evolved first, are regarded as the most primitive race by racists, and thus are believed to be incapable of creating a superior culture or carrying the culture of the higher, white races.
Racism does nothing good for society. Not only it does no justice to the perceived inferior group, a society that practices discrimination based on racism also fails to use the resources of all individuals and limits the search for talent and leadership to the dominant group. Heterosexism is just like racism, as it not only hurts individual gay persons, but also harms the society at large. As Josh Hong rightly points out, had Penny Wong (right), an openly lesbian woman, lived in Malaysia, she would not have made as much headway in her political career as she has in Australia, regardless of how intelligent and capable she is. Who is losing?
I know many intelligent Malaysians - Malays, Chinese and Indians - who prefer to stay in the United States after they have graduated from Ivy League universities, because they are homosexuals. One of them is a highly respected film critic in the United States. These people refuse to come home because they deem it is impossible to live freely and openly in their native land. “I only come back once a year to eat durian,” one of them said to me. Again, who is losing?
Just like racism and sexism, heterosexism is based on ungrounded beliefs and prejudice about homosexuals or homosexuality. Heterosexists are contemptuous of homosexuals because they accept stereotypical notions about gay people or homosexuality.
Some of them believe that once society accepts homosexuality, everyone will become gay and the extinction of the human race will be an inevitable consequence. But the reality is that much research has shown that even though many countries in Europe and Asia have decriminalised so-called “unnatural sex” and legalised gay marriage or civil union, the gay population in those countries has never increased significantly.
Little scientific evidence
Some even say that homosexuality destabilises and disrupts society. Such a claim is frequently heard, although little substantial scientific evidence is ever mounted to support it. Perhaps only two ancient societies could be mentioned to support this claim, Sodom and Gomorrah, but they are in their religious texts, and are thus part of religious belief.
One of the most popular charges laid against the normalisation of homosexuality in the United States is that it undermines the family, and that children need a mother and a father. Detractors of homosexuality and heterosexists state that only in a heterosexual family, can children be exposed to the traditional models of gender identity necessary for healthy maturation.
No scientific data exists, however, to support this view. As a matter of fact, much research has shown that children who live in a gay family are as healthy as those live in the traditional heterosexual families, if not more; gender identity does not depend on having two parents of different sexes.
I assume, hopefully, many of us are aware of the problems and the cost of racism and sexism. I believe it is now the time for us to move forward to confront heterosexism.
REV O YOUNG is an ordained Christian minister at MCC New York. He holds two masters degrees in both sociology and theology. Currently he lives in New York city and teaches sociology at St Peter’s College. He has published 20 books on sociology, theology and sexuality. He is also a columnist for Sin Chew Daily. He is currently finishing his doctoral degrees in sociology and theology.
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