Concepts Of Sexual Orientation Research Articles

Understanding Gender and Sex: Clarifying Terminology and Exploring Human Variations

This scientific paper aims to clarify the confusion surrounding various notions related to gender and sex by providing simple explanations, and emphasize their independent significance; additionally, it seeks to bridge the gap between scientific terminology and everyday understanding. This paper explores also the concept of sexual orientation and the diverse terms associated with it, by examining existing literature and research findings, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of these interconnected concepts, revealing their significance in understanding human diversity and fostering inclusivity, it cites relevant research and expert opinions to provide a comprehensive understanding of human variations.

What students say about sexual orientation: a comparative study at the Federal University of Sergipe and the University of Madeira

This article presents an analysis of the sexual orientation subcategory, in a comparative study at the University of Madeira, UMa (Portugal) and at the Federal University of Sergipe, UFS (Brazil) on “Voices of university students on sexual and gender diversity, their relationship with co-education and pedagogical innovation.” We used a qualitative methodology, applied a questionnaire with open and closed questions and the viewing of a videocast. We did the content analysis of the data. The compared results revealed that there is greater knowledge about the concept of sexual orientation among former UMa students, although a greater involvement of former UFS students is observed. Former students at UMa confirm the low participation. Both universities recognize the need to discuss the topic and use identical expressions when making evaluative considerations. They also recognize the negative influence of taboos and prejudices.

Medical students’ perception of sexual orientation in Sagamu, southwestern Nigeria: implications for access to HIV care

Purpose The prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is about four times higher among individuals with same-sex orientation as against the general population. This may be partly due to judgmental, heteronormative attitudes among health workers, thereby affecting access to care. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to assess the perception of final-year medical students of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Nigeria on sexual orientation and its implications on access to HIV care and support services. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among final-year medical students. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS 20. Relevant descriptive and inferential statistics were calculated. Participation was fully voluntary. Findings More males (70 percent) were aware of the concept of sexual orientation than females (60.4 percent). Most (94 percent) males and all female respondents felt homosexuality was against the order of nature. More males (76 percent) than females (62.3 percent) felt men having sex with men and homosexuality were synonymous. More females (50.9 percent) than males (48 percent) felt gay doctors should not be employed in public hospitals. Originality/value Respondents had a poor perception of sexual orientation and there were no significant differences between genders. This could contribute to existing stigmatization against individuals with minority sexual orientations. It should be addressed in the medical curriculum.

El derecho al nombre en relación con la identidad de género dentro del Sistema Interamericano de Derechos Humanos:el caso del Estado de Costa Rica

Resumen Desde el plano de la realidad social, uno de los aspectos principales que caracteriza al derecho a la identidad de género es el ejercicio del derecho al nombre. El Estado de Costa Rica ha solicitado a principios de 2016 a la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos que emita una opinión consultiva acerca de la compatibilidad de su ordenamiento jurídico interno que impone un trámite judicial para que las personas puedan modificar su nombre de pila, en relación con el Derecho Internacional de los Derechos Humanos. Por consiguiente, se formula un análisis evolutivo de esta rama jurídica a través de la propia jurisprudencia del tribunal en cuestión. Se expone que las categorías de orientación sexual y de identidad de género gozan de status convencional a los efectos de aplicar los principios pro persona y de no discriminación. En consecuencia, se concluye que la aplicación de la legislación civil interna de Costa Rica es contraria al Derecho Internacional de los Derechos Humanos siempre que se trate del ejercicio del cambio de nombre como corolario de asumir una identidad de género contraria a la determinada por el sexo biológico.

Discussion paper: On the measurement of sexual orientation

Whereas the concept of sexual orientation is no stranger to lay people, its measurement poses challenges to researchers. Self-report measures can be readily incorporated into large-scale surveys but is subject to self-report bias. Automatic measures may reduce self-report bias yet the findings are dependent on sample representativeness. Measures that overcome these shortcomings may bring fresh insight into studies of sexual orientation.

Transgender transitioning and change of self-reported sexual orientation.

ObjectiveSexual orientation is usually considered to be determined in early life and stable in the course of adulthood. In contrast, some transgender individuals report a change in sexual orientation. A common reason for this phenomenon is not known.MethodsWe included 115 transsexual persons (70 male-to-female “MtF” and 45 female-to-male “FtM”) patients from our endocrine outpatient clinic, who completed a questionnaire, retrospectively evaluating the history of their gender transition phase. The questionnaire focused on sexual orientation and recalled time points of changes in sexual orientation in the context of transition. Participants were further asked to provide a personal concept for a potential change in sexual orientation.ResultsIn total, 32.9% (n = 23) MtF reported a change in sexual orientation in contrast to 22.2% (n = 10) FtM transsexual persons (p = 0.132). Out of these patients, 39.1% (MtF) and 60% (FtM) reported a change in sexual orientation before having undergone any sex reassignment surgery. FtM that had initially been sexually oriented towards males ( = androphilic), were significantly more likely to report on a change in sexual orientation than gynephilic, analloerotic or bisexual FtM (p = 0.012). Similarly, gynephilic MtF reported a change in sexual orientation more frequently than androphilic, analloerotic or bisexual MtF transsexual persons (p = 0.05).ConclusionIn line with earlier reports, we reveal that a change in self-reported sexual orientation is frequent and does not solely occur in the context of particular transition events. Transsexual persons that are attracted by individuals of the opposite biological sex are more likely to change sexual orientation. Qualitative reports suggest that the individual's biography, autogynephilic and autoandrophilic sexual arousal, confusion before and after transitioning, social and self-acceptance, as well as concept of sexual orientation itself may explain this phenomenon.

Epilogue

Contrary to initial expectations, this project did not provide agreement on how to define sexual orientation. Rather, contributors wisely chose to abandon the concept of sexual orientation for descriptions of sexual behaviors and sexual relationships. This outcome may have resulted in part from editorial demands for explicit definitions and discussion of assumptions but more likely emerged from the transhistorical approach of evolutionary psychology. I argue that abandoning the flawed concept of sexual orientation will lead sexual scientists toward a new way of thinking about human sexuality, especially nonexclusive attractions and sexualities that are not defined by sex of partner. doi:10.1300/J056v18n04_04

Revealing Assumptions

ABSTRACT Over the last two decades, writers have urged researchers to provide conceptual definitions of sexual orientation in their work. Not only are definitions lacking but researchers have frequently cited support for their work from conceptually conflicting models of sexual orientation. The lack of conceptual integrity in much research in this area may be due to implicit, unexamined assumptions about sexual orientation. The result has been fragmented findings and weak explanatory models. This paper illustrates a variety of conceptual assumptions about sexual orientation found in published studies and suggests a strategy for explicating assumptions about sex and gender, sexual orientation, nature of being, role of biology and environment, and research methodology. The purpose of this paper is to unmask implicit social beliefs about same-sex attraction and attraction to both sexes and to promote reliable, testable models of sexual orientation. Such a practice is likely to expand and standardize the concept of sexual orientation. Although unmasking implicit assumptions will not prevent poorly conceived research from being conducted or published, routinely identifying conceptual assumptions in the literature will raise the standard for researchers and promote evaluation of theoretical models.

Homosexuality/Heterosexuality: Concepts of Sexual Orientation

Homosexuality/Heterosexuality: Concepts of Sexual Orientation

From the patient's point of view: medical ethics and the moral imagination.

This paper concerns the difficulties of imagining the subjective point of view of another human being, and the relevance of these difficulties to medical decisions. It explores especially the difficulties of imagining the experience of the mentally impaired, and examines several standards for decision-making: the 'prior expressed wishes standard', the 'substituted judgement standard', and the 'best interests standard'.

Homosexuality/heterosexuality: concepts of sexual orientation

Part I: Historical and religious perspectives: Vern Bullough: The Kinsey scale in historical perspective John Boswell: Sexual and ethical categories in premodern Europe Bruce Voeller: Some uses and abuses of the Kinsey scale Part II: Psychobiological perspective: John Money: Agenda and credenda of the Kinsey scale Richard E. Whalen, David C. Geary, & Frank Johnson: Models of sexuality Louis Gooren: Biomedical theories of sexual orientation: a critical examination Richard C. Pillard: The Kinsey scale: is it familial? John Bancroft: Commentary: biological contributions to sexual orientation Part III: Evolutionary perspective: James D. Weinrich: The Kinsey scale, with a note on Kinsey the biologist Ronald D. Nadler: Homosexual behavior in nonhuman primates Leonard A. Rosenblum: Primates, homo sapiens, and homosexuality Part IV: Cultural and sociological perspectives: John H. Gagnou: Gender preference in erotic relations: The Kinsey scale and sexual scripts Gilbert Herdt: Developmental discontinuities and sexual orientation across cultures Part V: Identity development perspective: Vivienne C. Cass: The implications of homosexual identity formation for the Kinsey model and scale of sexual preference Eli Coleman: Toward a synthetic understanding of sexual orientation Frita Klein: The need to view sexual orientation as a multivariable dynamic process: A theoretical perspective Richard A. Isay: Psychoanalytic theory and the therapy of gay men Part VI: Relational perspective: Philip Blumstein, & Pepper Schwartz: Intimate relationships and the creation of sexuality Letitia Anne Peplau, & Susan D. Cochran: A relational perspective on homosexuality Margaret Nichols: Lesbian relationships: implications for the study of sexuality and gender Part VII: conceptual and theoretical perspectives: John P. De Cecco: Sex and more sex: a critique of the Kinsey conception of human sexuality Noretta Koertge: Constructing concepts of sexuality - a philosophical commentary.

Conceptualizations of homosexual behavior which preclude homosexual self-labeling.

Our culture presents people with a problematic pair of messages: engaging in homosexual behavior makes a person a homosexual, and homosexuality is bad. In this context, maintenance of self-esteem, sexual/affectional satisfaction, and coherent identity requires some intricate psychological footwork. This article describes a variety of common conceptualizations of "homosexual behavior" which permit the individual to avoid the stigma of homosexual self-labeling. It is suggested that the "accuracy" of these constructions is less important than the appropriate doubt they cast on our widely held, but psychologically inadequate, concepts of sexual orientation.