Edward Stein described sexual orientation as being about who one feels attracted to romantically, sexually and emotionally and who they want to have a sexual relationship with (Stein, 2013). Different forms of sexual orientation exist and these include: gay, straight, lesbian, pansexual, asexual and bisexual (Stein, 2013). Sexual orientation is also referred to as sexuality.Gender roles are preconceived societal ideas on duties, behavior and attitudes generally contemplated as appropriate, acceptable or desirable for members of a society in accordance to their actual sex or perceived sexuality (Lindsey, 2015). The World Health Organization describes gender roles as socially constructed physiognomies of men and women, such as roles, norms, and relationships between individual sexes and across the sexes (Newman, 2018). Gender roles determine how young and adult males and females should speak, dress, think and interact within a given society.
The relationship between sexuality and gender roles is comprehensive in heterosexual communities. In non-heterosexual groups however, gender roles has been a subject of controversy and debate for quite some time. Too often, assumptions about femininity and masculinity have been made in non-heterosexual communities. Regardless of the assumptions however, it is undeniable that there exists a relationship between sexuality and gender roles. Gender roles largely vary depending on sexual orientation. In addition, gender roles can be pinpointed as one of the leading causes of the diverse forms of sexual orientation.
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Heterosexual communities are subscribers of clearly defined gender roles among women and men within relationships (Jewkes & Morrell, 2010). In the traditional heterosexual communities, manhood is symbolized by toughness, strength and sexual success (Jewkes & Morrell, 2010). Femininity on the other hand, is expressed through compliance, submission and a soft spoken character (Jewkes & Morrell, 2010). The roles of the man in heterosexism is therefore to protect the family and be the chief financier of the family’s economic operations when the woman is supposed to handle house chores and nurture the babies (Jewkes & Morrell, 2010). The concept of the roles of men and women has become so ingrained within the human mind and it is still taken into consideration thousands of years after it was subconsciously formulated.
Other than heterosexual communities, gender roles are also discernible in gay, lesbian and other non-heterosexual groups (Bowleg, 2013). In lesbian and gay relationships for example, the terms man and woman are commonly used (Sandfort, 2005). These forms of relationships are believed to have borrowed a lot from the patriarchal and heteronormative setups of conventional heterosexual relationships. Gay and lesbian relationships for example are characterized by assumption of roles where one of the partners eventually becomes the husband and the other partner presumes the position of the wife (Bowleg, 2013). In these relationships therefore, the roles of the husband and wife, or boyfriend and girlfriend bear close resemblance to the roles of the man and woman in heterosexual groups. A part from gender roles, various stereotypes about non-heterosexual groups have also been devised (Bowleg, 2013). These stereotypes include the idea that gay couples are fairly feminine in physique, are relatively gentle, refined and soft spoken. On the other hand, there are also stereotypes about lesbian partners. Some of these stereotypes include the notion that lesbians are fairly masculine compared to other females in heterosexual relationships, that lesbians tend to be aggressive, rough and are sexually deviant.
The final relationship between sexual orientation and gender roles is the fact that gender roles could lead to adoption of varying forms of sexuality, especially the minority sexuality forms (Bailey, et al., 2000). It is understood that boys who adopted feminine duties from a tender age are more likely to become gay (Bailey, et al., 2000). Additionally, boys who were defiant from a young age, and those who lack fatherly guidance from a tender age are also at risk of becoming gay (Bailey, et al., 2000). Moreover, gender roles, termed as environmental influences could also be behind eruption of sexual minority groups in females. The journal, Genetic and environmental influences on sexual orientation and its correlates in an Australian twin sample, relates a number of environmental influences that are likely to contribute to the emergence of these non-heterosexual forms of sexual orientation. The journal explains that girls who have been raised with boys from a young age stand higher risks of becoming lesbians (Bailey, et al., 2000). Girls who assumed masculine duties from a tender age are also likely to become lesbians when they hit puberty (Bailey, et al., 2000). It is however important to note that some of the influences, classified as gender roles, believed to be responsible for sexuality are mere stereotypes.
Conclusion
It is fair to construe that sexual orientation and gender roles correlate. Sexual orientation dictates gender roles both in heterosexual and minority sexuality communities. Sexual orientation determines who does what in a given relationship. Sexual orientation also determines behavior of partners in a relationship. It is also justifiable to conclude that gender roles, even though socially constructed, is a leading force behind adoption of the different forms of sexuality. The environmental setup one is raised in and the nature of tasks one handles from a juvenile age could cause favoring of non-heterosexual forms of sexual orientation. The form of sexuality, whether straight or not straight is subject to personal opinions and interests and therefore, one should not be discriminated based on the form of sexuality they favor.
References
Bailey, et al., (2000). Genetic and environmental influences on sexual orientation and its correlates in an Australian twin sample. Journal of personality and social psychology, 78(3), 524-536.
Bowleg, L. (2013). Once you’ve blended the cake, you can’t take the parts back to the main ingredients: Black gay and bisexual men’s descriptions and experiences of intersectionality. Springer link, 68(11-12), 754-767.
Jewkes, R., & Morrell, R. (2010).Gender and sexuality: emerging perspectives from the heterosexual epidemic in South Africa and implications for HIV risk and prevention. Journal of the International AIDS Society, 13(6), 1-3.
Lindsey, L.L. (2015). Gender Roles: A sociological perspective. London, UK: Routledge.
Newman, T. (2018). Sex and gender: What is the difference? Retrieved August 2, 2018 from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/232363.php
Sandfort, T.G. (2005). Sexual orientation and gender: stereotypes and beyond. Arch sex behavior, 34(6), 595-611.
Stein, E. (2013). Forms of desire. Sexual orientation and the social constructionist controversy. London, UK: Routledge
