Sexual orientation describes sexual attraction among people. This attraction can occur between people of the opposite sex, or gender, same sex or gender as well both sexes. Sexual orientation assumes various categories which include heterosexuality, bisexuality, asexuality, and homosexuality (Sue 7). This essay explores the nature vs. nurture the concept of homosexuality. This category of sexual orientation takes place between people of the same sex or gender.
Although scientists do not know the cause of sexual orientation, the nurture concept of homosexuality has attributed this form of orientation to the predisposition of an individual to a combination of genes that exist at birth. According to this theory, the genes that influence the orientation of an individual are dominant. It follows that some people are naturally born gay. The genetic components that determine the sexual orientation of an individual are transferred from one generation to the other. If people are naturally born gay, it means that there would be a wider social acceptance and tolerance for people gays (Yuan 1). Most societies around the world have continued to discriminate against homosexuality on the account that it is a social vice that must be fought. If this theory holds water, it means that being gay is not a choice that an individual can make. Instead, it is predetermined by the genetic characteristics of an individual at the time of birth. The nature theory implies that any form of prejudice against gay people should be treated as a civil rights case (Yuan 1). The argument hinges on the principle that nobody can the other gay in the same manner as nobody can make another person straight.
On the other hand, the nurture theory places emphasis on the provision of nurture to homosexuals. This theory observes that environmental factors have a great role in determining the sexual orientation of a person. This concept ties social, environmental and parental variables to the acquisition of this form of sexual orientation. For example, a child that is adopted by gay parents may eventually be induced to accept homosexuality as a normal form of orientation (Sue 13). Such a child might be surprised that there exist other forms of sexual orientation such as being straight. The nurture theory absolves homosexuality of criticism because it premises on social and environmental ills that may have accelerated an individual’s positive perception on homosexuality. This theory posits that people have a choice to determine the kind of sexual orientation they want provided it is influenced by nature through genetics (Yuan 1). In the past, sexual abuse, overbearing mother and absent father topped the list of factors accelerating homosexuality.
Although these concepts helps to explain the origin of the various forms of sexual orientation, they fundamentally miss out on certain aspects. For example, the nature theory insists that homosexuality is tied to certain genetic qualities present at the time of birth. If were are to believe this theory, then it would be possible to determine the sexual orientation of a child before birth. But the predetermination of an individual’s sexual orientation at the time of birth has never been possible. In fact, it is impossible to determine the sexual orientation of a child in the early stages of his development (Kuper et al. 251). Science has made it possible to know the sex of a child before birth. The absence of a predetermined criteria to identify an individual’s sexual orientation makes puts the nature concept in doubt. This proposition lends credence to the concept of nurture which blames environmental factors as the determinants of sexual orientation.
Works Cited
Kuper, Laura E., Robin Nussbaum, and Brian Mustanski. "Exploring the diversity of gender
and sexual orientation identities in an online sample of transgender individuals." Journal of sex research 49.2-3 (2012): 244-254.
Sue, Derald Wing. Microaggressions in everyday life: Race, gender, and sexual orientation.
John Wiley & Sons, 2010.
Yuan, Christopher. “Homosexuality: Nature or Nurture?” YouTube. 2013, September 29.
Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mo2g-Tnkd8I
