Gender roles in non-heterosexual communities
Peter M. Nardi of Pitzer College says: The connection between sexual orientation and gender roles has been confused by many people.
[3] Havelock Ellis and Sigmund Freud thought homosexuality resulted from reversed gender roles.
Most modern scientists accept there is no strong evidence that a homosexual or bisexual orientation must be associated with atypical gender roles.
[4] Terms such as butch, are used within the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT), and cross-dressing subcultures[5][6][7] to ascribe or acknowledge a masculine identity with its associated traits, behaviours, styles, and self-perception.
In a society dominated by the sexist culture it is very difficult, if not impossible, for heterosexual men and women to escape their rigid gender-role structuring and the roles of oppressor and oppressed.
[13] Gay men are considered by some to "deviate from the masculine norm", and are benevolently stereotyped as "gentle and refined" (even among other gay men), and pertain a specific mode of masculinity for themselves, according to human rights activists such as Peter Tatchell, which each make their contributions to society.
They were more likely to face bullying and harassment throughout their lives;[18] many gay men have been taunted using derogatory words that imply feminine qualities, for example, sissy.
[24][25] Films such as Brokeback Mountain challenge this stereotype,[15] though there is disagreement over the definition of the lead characters' sexuality.
[32] In the United States, boys are often homosocial,[33] and gender role performance determines social rank.
Bell, Weinberg, and Hammersmith (1981, 188) reported that half of their man homosexual subjects practiced gender-inappropriate behaviour in childhood.
Saghir and Robins (1973, 18) found that one-third of their gay man respondents conformed to gender role dictates.
I have seen men who appeared to be normal suddenly smile roguishly, soften their voices, and simper as they greeted homosexual friends ...
[46] Sheila Jeffreys termed this the butch shift of the 1970s, described it as having been inspired by the success of the gay liberation movement, and saw it as being exemplified in the Village People dance music group.
In 1995, J. Michael Bailey coined the similar term, "femiphobia", to describe the ambivalence gay men and culture have about effeminate behaviour.
In a 2009 Massachusetts spousal benefits case, developmental psychologist Michael Lamb testified that parental sexual orientation does not negatively affect childhood development.
[65] Columnist Maggie Gallagher says heteronormative social structures are beneficial to society because they are optimal for the raising of children.
[66] Psychologists, Costa and Davies (2012), found that enforcing conservative gender roles, a social structure, is correlated with holding negative feelings and ideas for the LGBT community.
[67] Australian-Canadian ethicist Margaret Somerville says, "giving same-sex couples the right to found a family unlinks parenthood from biology".
[69][70] Women with congenital adrenal hyperplasia reported more male-typical play behaviours and showed less heterosexual interest.
Kelly and Hauck's research found that divisions of labour within a same-sex relationship cannot be viewed as setting a precedent as to what gender roles are normal.
[72] A female partner in a same-sex relationship may perform chores that are considered feminine, like cooking, cleaning, and child-rearing.
[73] Vanessa Thorpe says in The Observer, "... key members of the Votes For Women movement led a promiscuous lesbian lifestyle".
[78] Second-wave pro-feminism paid increased attention to issues of sexuality, particularly the relationship between homosexual men and hegemonic masculinity.
In 2010, Elizabeth Wilson wrote that the Gay Liberation Front and feminism worked alongside one another to "spark a way of thinking about human relations in society that has led to significant change"; Peter Tatchell wrote about the GLF's "idealistic vision [that] involved creating a new sexual democracy, without homophobia, misogyny, racism and class privilege".
