Ch 40- Normative Heterosexuality

This chapter starts out by discussing the differences of heterosexuality and homosexuality. Starting around the 1950s, people began viewing the homosexuals as deviant. Seidman elaborates how homosexuals were not to be seen in public. The homosexual individuals are basically segregated from the heteros, and removed from public visibility. Gays may participate in the gay culture, but only in places that are private, and not near heterosexuals.

Seidman says that it is the activities that the homosexuals participate in that are looked down upon, rather than focusing only on the individual. By separating the different sexual orientations, the idea that one was good, and the other was bad was created. Since homosexuality was looked at as being polluted, heterosexuality was viewed as pure, and clean.

The author goes on to the idea of living in the “closet.” A well known term for gays, living in the closet was created in order for homosexuals to hide their true selves. They would mask their homosexuality in hopes of others viewing them as heterosexuals. However, this does not settle well with homosexuals. Seidman says: “This is the irony of the closet: intended to contain homosexuality the closet makes homosexuality into a primary identity and produces a desire to come out.”
Because gays want to come out, and let the world know that they are not heterosexual, it has produced much success. It has also decreased the barriers set between heterosexuals and homosexuals. People of each sexual orientation are now intertwining, and meshing. Being homosexual is starting to be viewed as normal, and not so polluted, like previously thought.

Even though homosexuality is not as repressed as before, many homosexual individuals still hide their identity, for fear of not being accepted by family, the community, co-workers, etc. So while some gays are living their life publicly the way they ought to, others are still hiding themselves to some or everyone. Many people still view heterosexuality as the dominating orientation and view it as the right one. Therefore, homosexuality is not fully normative, yet. The way I see it is people are afraid of what they don’t know. This is why heterosexuals are so put off by the idea of someone being gay. They are not able to understand their feelings, way of thinking, and life style the exact way that a homosexual does.

Seidman talks about a movie titled “Philadelphia,” which is about a man, Andy, is fired for having AIDS. The man hires a heterosexual lawyer, Joe, who initially struggles with the fact that the fired man is homosexual. In the end, the lawyer views the other man as a normal individual, and equalized. However, there are some critiques the author takes with the movie. Such that Joe and Andy are so closely similar in terms of living a masculine life, having a relationship, and being a hard worker. What distinguishes them from another is that Andy is homosexual and Joe is not. The movie sends the message that homosexuality is okay, as long as it is identical to the ideal individual, which is heterosexual.

There are two responses to normalization. First, there are various groups inside of the homosexual culture. These groups have had to fight for their rights against the heterosexuals and even the homosexuals. Second, queer politics. And this, queer politics, I did not fully understand other than “queer politics struggles against normalizing any identity.” There should be an end to classifying something as good or bad, normal or deviant.

The essay goes on to discuss the idea of not calling sex acts normal, which is communicative sexual ethics. Sexual acts would be viewed based upon moral features. Examples would be whether or not both parties agreed to the behavior, are those involved acting responsibly. In communicative sexual ethic, acts between people should be considered personal choices, rather than looking at the moral standpoint. Seidman gives S/M as an example that lacks moral meaning.

So overall, what I got is that there is that line separating homosexuals from heterosexuals. People think of the two orientations as completely different, one is right, and one is wrong. But as time progresses, people come to realize that maybe there isn’t one correct way of living. Homosexuals are just as similar as heterosexuals, minus their sexual preference. This has allowed those who are homosexual to feel like they can express themselves the way they truly feel, without being reprimanded or condemned for it. It’s all about trying to understand a life different from your own.