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Does the fundamental root of homophobia lie in individual-oriented psychology, or within a broader sociological factor??
I have thought about this the past few days, and here is what I think.
The root of homophobia lies in conservative heterosexuals' desire to externalize an internal problem that is perceived to exist within heterosexual society. In other words, that these particular heterosexuals want to scapegoat homosexuals for what they perceive as being problematic but is originating from within heterosexual society.
The problem that these conservative heterosexuals perceive, is that marriage as how it has traditionally been held in high-esteem (whether that is mythical history, or historical reality is another question) has degenerated to a mere pact of convenience that can be disavowed if it becomes "inconvenient" to maintain that marriage.
Whether or not the sacredeness of marriage was EVER a reality in some past period, is another question. Here, I'm talking about conservative heterosexuals who PERCEIVE this idealized vision of what marriage used to be like, compared to what they perceive the state of marriage today, as an institution.
So, this perceived degradation of marriage is not happening because of homosexuals -- it is within heterosexual society that marriage has been degraded -- based on the biased perceptions of conservative heterosexuals. Marriage/family within heterosexual society has long-since changed:
1) 50% or more heterosexuals divorce rather than working out issues that could be worked out in many of these marriages.
2) Heterosexuals are part of the social phenomenon of drive-through, Las Vegas style weddings.
3) There are an increasing number of non-traditional, but still heterosexual-oriented families (foster families, children raised by grandparents, single parent families, and so on)
It seems like society might be in a transitional period, where the traditional, agrarian-based family has ultimately failed to adapt to post-industrial, modern society and as a result, there will be fundamental changes in the future (we can't foresee what the results will be though).
So, it could be that conservative heterosexuals who are mortified by the above societal factors and developments, see these changes as being completely problematic. Instead of advocating for adapting to new concepts of family to stabliize our society, they argue for holding onto what MIGHT be anachronistic values that no longer apply to the reality of post-industrial modern society.
And they seek to hold onto what might be anachronistic concepts of family by externalizing these internal problems within heterosexual society, onto a group of people they can scapegoat -- homosexuals. Rather than face what they perceive to be problems within heterosexual society through adaptation, they want to scapegoat homosexuals to hold onto what might be just sentimental, anachronistic concepts of family.
These conservative heterosexuals may be venting their anger about these internal problems of heterosexual society by lashing out against homosexuals.
What does anyone think about these thoughts? Do you have ideas on how this idea can be further reinforced, or do you have a completely different idea from this?
And are the changes within heterosexual society towards concept of family simply PERCEIVED as degradation, and is it really just transitory change that could bring either good OR bad results??
I have thought about this the past few days, and here is what I think.
The root of homophobia lies in conservative heterosexuals' desire to externalize an internal problem that is perceived to exist within heterosexual society. In other words, that these particular heterosexuals want to scapegoat homosexuals for what they perceive as being problematic but is originating from within heterosexual society.
The problem that these conservative heterosexuals perceive, is that marriage as how it has traditionally been held in high-esteem (whether that is mythical history, or historical reality is another question) has degenerated to a mere pact of convenience that can be disavowed if it becomes "inconvenient" to maintain that marriage.
Whether or not the sacredeness of marriage was EVER a reality in some past period, is another question. Here, I'm talking about conservative heterosexuals who PERCEIVE this idealized vision of what marriage used to be like, compared to what they perceive the state of marriage today, as an institution.
So, this perceived degradation of marriage is not happening because of homosexuals -- it is within heterosexual society that marriage has been degraded -- based on the biased perceptions of conservative heterosexuals. Marriage/family within heterosexual society has long-since changed:
1) 50% or more heterosexuals divorce rather than working out issues that could be worked out in many of these marriages.
2) Heterosexuals are part of the social phenomenon of drive-through, Las Vegas style weddings.
3) There are an increasing number of non-traditional, but still heterosexual-oriented families (foster families, children raised by grandparents, single parent families, and so on)
It seems like society might be in a transitional period, where the traditional, agrarian-based family has ultimately failed to adapt to post-industrial, modern society and as a result, there will be fundamental changes in the future (we can't foresee what the results will be though).
So, it could be that conservative heterosexuals who are mortified by the above societal factors and developments, see these changes as being completely problematic. Instead of advocating for adapting to new concepts of family to stabliize our society, they argue for holding onto what MIGHT be anachronistic values that no longer apply to the reality of post-industrial modern society.
And they seek to hold onto what might be anachronistic concepts of family by externalizing these internal problems within heterosexual society, onto a group of people they can scapegoat -- homosexuals. Rather than face what they perceive to be problems within heterosexual society through adaptation, they want to scapegoat homosexuals to hold onto what might be just sentimental, anachronistic concepts of family.
These conservative heterosexuals may be venting their anger about these internal problems of heterosexual society by lashing out against homosexuals.
What does anyone think about these thoughts? Do you have ideas on how this idea can be further reinforced, or do you have a completely different idea from this?
And are the changes within heterosexual society towards concept of family simply PERCEIVED as degradation, and is it really just transitory change that could bring either good OR bad results??
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