Facilitator:
The article is primarily a review of existing researches because the author has cited various diverse works. This shows that a lot of research has been done on anti-equality marriage campaigns and laws. The scholar indicates that anti-equality marriage campaigns and laws, which is his subject of interest focuses on three major themes that include denial of legal right to marry, stress due to stigma and the interrelationship of individual manifestation of sexual stigma and structure (Herek, 2011).
The research presents a qualitative study because it is associated with a paradigm of social constructivist that emphasizes on socially constructed reality of nature. The research explores the deeper importance and meaning of human experience and behavior including contradictory emotions, beliefs and behaviors. The information obtained can be generalized to larger groups because the researcher utilized standard approaches and methodologies that are acceptable. Furthermore, the research identified a study problem and utilized reliable theories as a strategic framework for investigation.
The article highlights that the anti-equality laws deny gays benefits that heterosexual individuals experience such as financial, economic security and social support. Marriage institution contributes to relationship commitment and stability through creating barriers to dissolving barriers such as expected disapproval by the society, legal restrictions and financial concerns that do not sustain a happy long-term relation. The research indicates that the legally married same sex enjoys privileges equal to heterosexuals and the marriage is strengthened by legalizing it and increased commitment to the spouses. Homosexuals argue that attempting to change or choose one’s sexual orientation is unrealistic. Accordingly, gay individuals resist religious or psychotherapy perspectives that attempt challenge their state. This means a homosexual marrying the opposite sex is not a viable option the same way it applies for a heterosexual marrying a homosexual. In this context, the law should not pressure them to marry inconsistent with their sexual orientation (Herek, 2011).
Furthermore, the author observes that anti-equality marriage laws promote stigma among homosexuals. This is because their intimacy is devalued in the society hence subjecting them to chronic stress leading to serious psychological suffering. Various research and emphasis needed to eradicate sexual stigma in both individual and structural manifestations through the utilization of behavioral and social scientists.
The article fits in the field of sociology as it focuses on the origin, human social behavior and its development. It tries to analyze the roots of homosexual marriages and their well being or challenges they face in the society. The qualitative method of the research gives out a critical and empirical analysis to develop knowledge about the study subject. The research targets establishing strategies for applying social policy and welfare in addressing a social problem. Furthermore, sexuality, social stratification, law and gender, which the article explores, present the major framework of sociology (Herek, 2011).
The article is analogous to the chapter two of a textbook book it essentially present a literature review of the study subject from different authors in the field of sociology focusing on homosexual, bisexual and heterosexual marriages and the laws that govern them. The article is a scholarly article because it scholar followed scholarly guidelines when evaluating and presenting his work. For example, the work is accompanied with proper in-text citations and the reference list of the works reviewed is provided. Particularly, the article reports after gathering information from reliable sources including original experiments, periodicals and other literary materials. The author also understands the significance of reviewing materials from diverse field because he referred studies within and without the field of sociology. Conclusively, the article presents a reliable scholarly study in the field of sociology that highlights important concepts regarding anti-equality marriage campaigns and laws.
Reference
Herek, G. M. (2011). Anti-Equality Marriage Amendments and Sexual Stigma. Journal of Social Issues, 67(2), 413-426. doi:10.1111/j.1540-4560.2011.01705.x
