MARRIED HETEROSEXUAL COUPLE

MARRIED HETEROSEXUAL COUPLE

MARRIED HETEROSEXUAL COUPLE

Heterosexuality typically refers to sexual attraction, desire, and erotic interest in the opposite sex. Debates exist about whether sexual identity should be categorized as a set of practices, a set of attitudes and desires, or as a self-identified concept. One might engage in heterosexual behaviours but not self-identify as heterosexual; similarly, one might not engage in heterosexual behaviours yet recognize attraction to the same sex.

Still others might self-identify as heterosexual even while participating in same-sex behaviour (e.g., heterosexual-identified women kissing other women at bars in front of their boyfriends). Further, heterosexuality is often considered invisible because of its privileged status. That is, heterosexuality primarily appears in relationship to homosexuality and bisexuality, particularly when recognizing the “heterosexual-homosexual continuum.”

Because heterosexuality is often unrecognized as an identity, it confers a variety of privileges in Western culture. People are often assumed to be heterosexuality unless they identify themselves concretely as no heterosexual (“coming out”). This constructs heterosexuality as the “normal” and “default” identity, putting those who do not identify as heterosexual at a distinct disadvantage. Some refer to the privileging of heterosexual identity over other identities as “heterosexism,” a theoretically different concept than “homophobia” because it references privilege rather than hatred, fear, or aversion.

Historically, heterosexuality has not always existed, but rather, was invented in the late 1800s. Heterosexuality first referred to those people who had sex for reproduction, while homosexual behaviour referred to those who had sex for pleasure. Thus, those who engaged in opposite sex eroticism for pleasure were labelled homosexuals. This changed in 1892 when Krafft-Ebbing published Psychopathic Sexualis, a text that classified sexual behaviour into deviant and non-deviant categories. During this time, heterosexuality (which referenced the Greek word heteros-meaning “different” or “other”) evolved into its current definition: those who have sexual attraction and desire for the opposite sex. The word heterosexuality did not come into regular use until the early 1920s and was not recognized widely until the 1960s. Today's use of the word straight is largely not considered progressive, in part because it references homosexuality as “bent,” “odd,” or “deviant.” Some argue that “same sex” and “opposite sex” should be used instead of “homosexuality” and “heterosexuality,” as the former terms do not make assumptions about self-selected identity.

Marriage and families are found in all societies; however, marriage and family customs vary significantly across cultures. Cultures differ with regard to what is considered appropriate premarital behaviour, whom one marries, how one marries, a proper marriage ceremony, and length and purpose of the marriage. From an anthropological perspective, there are various marriage systems or “marriage like” relationships that fulfil both biological and social functions. Regarding families, all societies have parent-child social groups but the size and form of the family varies. Although marriage remains customary across societies, it does not necessarily constitute the basis for family life.

A family is a group of people who consider themselves related through kinship, while a household is defined as people who share a living space and may or may not ...