Is it more liberating to regard sexual orientation as something one is born with or as something that develops over time?

 





Our world likes to define everything and or find an answer or solutions to things that maybe do not need solutions or answers. By trying to find answers or solutions we are making it a fact and I do not think that putting pressures on situations and or people is healthy. It creates rigged restrictions and ways in which to think that are not necessarily what our society should rest its hat on. We are a world that is forever changing and evolving. So as I think about the question weather or not it is more liberating to regard sexual orientation as something one is born with or as something that develops over time? I find it very hard to answer. On one hand I think our society for many years has come up with an answer that sexual orientation is something that one is born with rather then it being something that is developed over time weather by environment or social situations or just a better understanding of oneself. As a straight female I do not know if I can say which one is more liberating. I think it is easy to just assume that its more liberating to just go with what society has said for so long. Yet, I think we are mistaken. Many times people are a product of their environments and so it changes the way in which they act and or interact with the opposite or same sex. There is more freedom in not putting boundaries on someone by telling them they were just born with their sexual orientation and instead allowing them to navigate who they are and figure out what their sexual orientation is. If our world put less emphasis on sexual orientation being something that needs to have all the answers and let people define it themselves I think we would live in a much better place where so many would feel liberated of the limitation put on them. Everyone should be able to be fully who they are. 

Comments

  1. Bri BlakeSeptember 15, 2020 at 10:56 PM

    Hi Mary!
    I definitely agree with the idea that people should be free to explore their sexualities There are plenty of people who are curious and end up not liking it, or people who believe they are straight but end up realizing that they may not be. I think people should have the room to grow and not feel pressured to stick to one thing because that's what they were at one point in time. In all, I think people should choose whichever label they feel most comfortable with, or choose not to label themselves at all. In terms of what is more liberating though, I think that is a difficult question. Many people say that a person cannot be born gay, which is why I worry that saying liberation through growth could be harmful. However, I do think that it may be more liberating to regard sexual orientation as something that develops. It allows people to grow and change. I liked what you said as it being a better understanding of oneself. By seeing representations of queer people on the screen, in books, wherever else is a great way for a person to see that it is okay and perhaps allow themselves to develop their sexual orientation. What do you think about representations of LGBT+ characters in books and tv/film? Do you think they are helpful in showing people that it is okay to be apart of the community or forcing them to be apart of the community? I see it as more helpful, but some think it is getting into young minds and telling them they have to be gay. I liked what you wrote Mary and it made me think deeper about this question!

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    1. Runa's blogSeptember 16, 2020 at 7:36 PM

      Hi Mary, I like your answer a lot because I agree with it for the most part. When composing my own response I couldn’t fully choose which side I wanted to agree with. But I ended up going with the one that said people are born with their orientation. While I absolutely agree with your take that we should really just let people be and enjoy themselves instead of trying to get answers for everything. I don’t agree that their sexuality could be a product of their environment as you put it. Because sexuality can’t be changed in the flip of a switch just because your air is polluted or because you’re surrounded by too much of the opposite sex that uou end up becoming the opposite sex. After puberty, everyone has come to realize what their preferences are, (or maybe before too), but other than that, people don’t change their sexuality like they change their bodies these days. It’s simply actually just a matter of how long did it take them to figure out they were a specific sexual orientation.

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  2. Anastasia's BlogSeptember 17, 2020 at 9:03 AM

    Hi Mary,
    I agree with the fact that people are the product of their environments. This is very true in that our surroundings impact how we act and treat other people. If the area you grew up in is homophobic, you may not be able to express your true sexuality if you are a part of the LGBTQ+ community.

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    1. Dr. NoraSeptember 23, 2020 at 10:47 AM

      Hi Anastasia and Mary,

      Anastasia's comment raised a question for me. Suppose we assume that sexual orientation is something that a person is born with, but that it may take a while in one's life to recognize what that orientation is, and that furthermore, whether/when/how one recognizes one's own sexual orientation can be helped or hindered by the circumstances in which one lives. OR suppose we assume that sexual orientation is something that develops over time. Is there any meaningful difference between these two? If so, in virtue of what is the distinction between them meaningful?

      Take care,
      Dr. Nora

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