Gay Marriage Concept - Coursework Example

Gay Marriage Grade (April 19th, Gay Marriage ification as Deviant Describe the history of the behavior Gay Marriage is a concept that has been there for long, only that it had remained to be a secret, considering that it is an issue that is highly sensitive to the social, cultural and moral judgment. In history, the issue of same-sex marriage was a taboo to even think of such a possibility, leave alone discussing the issue openly. Nevertheless, even in such times, Gay Marriage could have existed either in form of some informal, ritualized or unsanctioned relationships, which could not be made public (Neill, 2009). However, the real discussion of the issue of Gay Marriage traces its history back to some five decades ago, when the urge to have such relationships legalized came into the limelight. In the United States, the case Baker v. Nelson was presented before the Supreme Court on October 10, 1972 (Freedomtomarry.Org, 2014). Under the case, two male couples sought to be legally granted a marriage certificate in the State of Minnesota in 1970, which the state declined and the case proceeded to the USA Supreme Court two years later, which also affirmed the ruling by denying the couple a legal right to get married (Freedomtomarry.Org, 2014). Starting then, many similar cases have been presented to the courts in the USA and in different other parts of the world, as the subject that was once considered a social taboo and a deviance from the social norm increasingly gained attention. The developments in the agitation for the rights of same-sex couples to marry continued gaining momentum, and several countries started giving in to this agitation. Therefore, by the close of the year 2013, 16 countries globally had accepted and legalized same-sex marriages, giving an indication that the issue had increasingly become socially acceptable (Herek, 2011). Nevertheless, this trend had been started by Canada, which legalized gay marriage countrywide in 2005, although the legalization of the marriage in some of its provinces had started in 1999. Further, the USA also falls in the same category of the countries that have legalized gay marriages, although this has happened partially in the country, where 17 states in the USA had legalized gay marriages by the January of 2014 (Freedomtomarry.Org, 2014). The historical reactions to this act The historical reaction to the issue of gay marriage has equally been sensitive and reserved, although the condemnation of gay marriage was strong and straightforward from the very begging, when the issue came into the limelight. The institution of religion and that of family are the two institutions that formally opposed the concept of gay marriage starting from the very beginning, and the position for this institutions has remained the same; gay marriage is unacceptable and a taboo in the society (Neill, 2009). Similarly, many social, cultural and political institutions equally opposed the issue of legalizing or even morally debating the issue of gay marriage publicly, most especially because such a subject was considered a taboo against the moral upbringing of children (Avery, et al., 2007). Nevertheless, it is the human rights organizations and the Non-governmental organizations that took the matter with great caution from the onset, and started debating it from the merits of both sides. It is this positive outlook adapted by the human rights organizations and the NGOs that has eventually caused the gradual change of perception regarding the matter by the other social, cultural and political institutions, such that they have given a positive consideration into the matter. What are the reactions or sanctions to this act that currently exist? Thus, presently, the issue of gay marriage is a very controversial subject, which is being supported and opposed in equal measure. Even in the countries where gay marriages have been legalized, there is still an equally large percentage of the population that is opposed to this legalization (Camilleri, 2014). While there are many issues that have found the similar organizations form a comparable stand regarding gay marriage, the concept of gay marriage has become so much divisive, such that it has divided even the religious institutions, with some supporting the marriage of same-sex couples, while others still vehemently objects to this proposal (Brumbaugh, Sanchez, Nock & Wright, 2008). However, this perceived level of tolerance is only noticeable in the progressive countries, especially in the most developed nations. However, the developing and some underdeveloped yet conservative countries have sustained the stand that marriage is simply defined as the union between a man and a woman, and that such definition cannot be extended to represent same-sex union (Becker, 2012). In this respect, the concept of gay marriage has completely been rejected in most parts of the world where the conservative societies such as in Africa, the Middle East and Asia are some of the parts of the world where the concept of gay marriage has not been taken lightly (Neill, 2009). In these societies, any form of advocacy for same sex marriage has been met with a high level of resistance, may it be from the society, the government or the religious institutions. For example, just recently, the same-sex marriage was banned completely in Uganda, through a law that was enacted to sentence such couples who may display gay tendencies to life imprisonment (Camilleri, 2014). What are the arguments in favor of the behavior remaining deviant? Gay Marriage is an issue that remains deviant in the society due to the following reasons. First, the acceptance and legalization of gay marriage would destroy the institution of marriage (Becker, 2012). The essence of the marriage and the family institution is the procreation and sustenance of the human generations, through bearing and raising children. However, gay marriage is an issue that goes completely against this essence of marriage, since it seeks to legalize and install marriages that cannot bear children. This way, the whole society will be put at the risk of extinction with time, considering that the population of the world could drastically reduce if gay marriages were to be legalized globally (Camilleri, 2014). This is because; there are various adverse environments that have always faced the bearing and upbringing of children, such that 5% of the children born do not reach their fifth birthdays globally. Further, these risks might even be higher in the less developed countries, considering that poverty, health risks and other social-economic issues highly contribute to the risk of high death for children at their early years. Therefore, the legalization of gay marriages will be an added risk to the already existing risk of child bearing and rearing, which will then mean that regardless of the existence of both the heterosexual and the homosexual marriages, child bearing and rearing will be greatly affected. For example, it is currently estimated that close to over 15% of all the couples in heterosexual marriages do not have plans of bearing and raising children (Neill, 2009). Thus, the acceptance, legalization and incorporation of gay marriage into the marriage system will further ruin the potentials of procreation. Gay marriage is a deviant social occurrence, considering that it poses the risk of increasing gender disorders within the society (Herek, 2011). This is because, where two same-sex couples would opt to have children through other means since they are not capable of child bearing, they are likely to take the adoption route. The problem with this occurrence is that there are high chances that the children will be brought up in families without their biological parents. The rearing of children in an environment outside their biological parentage has a negative effect on the growth and development of such children, due to the lack of the natural psychological and emotion connection and chemistry that exists between the biological parents and their children. While this would be a worse scenario that would affect the development of such children, raising of children by gay couples would have a negative effect on the gender identity formation of such children (Avery, et al., 2007). This is because, whether it is a male or female child who is brought up in a marriage comprising of both men and both women, the child may not have an appropriate role model in relation to the gender identity, role and presentation. In this respect, such children are highly likely to adapt a mixed gender identity, which means that the future generations will have a high likelihood of suffering from a high rate of gender disorders, further affecting the procreation abilities of such generations. The other reason for which gay marriage should remain deviant is due to the fact that the society is defined by the gender roles that are performed differently by both men and women (Brumbaugh, Sanchez, Nock & Wright, 2008). However, in gay marriages, there would no longer be any specialization in gender roles, considering that both the males and females who are married to another gender of their own are likely to have no specialization in gender roles. This way, the essence of the definition of male and female will be completely negated, considering that gender roles and sexuality will have been fused to represent one gender performance of all the roles and all matters of sexuality (Neill, 2009). Consequently, the society will become increasingly confused, due to the lack of gender specialization. Part 2: Reclassification as Non-Deviant Why the deviant behavior should be reclassified as non-deviant, what are the arguments in favor of the behavior no longer being considered deviant? Gay marriage should be reclassified as non-deviant because all human beings should be equal and as such, they should be treated equally before the eyes of the law (Herek, 2011). There are many benefits that are associated with the legalization of a marriage, which ranges from the taxation benefits to the inheritance benefits enjoyed by the couples in a marriage. Therefore, the failure to legalize gay marriage means that gay couples are prohibited from enjoying such benefits, which in essence create inequality in the society (Becker, 2012). Therefore, it would be just to accept and legally acknowledge gay marriages, so that individuals with same-sex orientations can enjoy equal benefits with their heterosexual counterparts in marriage. Further, gay marriage should be reclassified as non-deviant, considering the fact that it would offer more stability in the society. This is because, when gay marriage is prohibited, the gay community feels discriminated against and stigmatized, which results in anti-social behaviors by such people (Becker, 2012). However, the legalization and acknowledgement of the gay marriage would result in the creation of stable society, through both psychological and emotional stability for such couples, as well as the establishment of stable families that are regulated by the laws as happens with the heterosexual families (Avery, et al., 2007). This way, stability in the society will be highly promoted, as opposed to the life currently lived by the gay people hiding from the society and acting on secrets due to stigmatization and discrimination. What are the manifest and latent functions that may occur socially or culturally? The major consequence of the reclassification of gay marriage as non-deviant would raise a major social conflict that is not anticipated. The fate of the bisexuals will be the other social conflict that the society will be left to grapple with. This is because, bisexuals are oriented towards both genders, and thus they are naturally supposed to marry individuals from both genders (Neill, 2009). In this respect, the society will be forced to extend the definition of marriage limitlessly, since it would also be required to acknowledge the marriage of an individual to two individuals from different genders, lest the society is also accused of discriminating against the bisexuals (Herek, 2011). Therefore, it can simply be put that the recognition of gay marriages will be the onset of redefining the marriage institution into a form that the society cannot be able to accommodate. Further, the legal recognition of the gay marriage relationship would pave way for further deviant social behaviors such as incest and bestiality, and any other form of anti-social relationship that humans can conceive in their minds. This is because, the argument for the legal recognition of such marriages would also be the same with the one applied by the gay marriage proponents; equal rights for all (Camilleri, 2014). References Avery, A. et al. (2007). Americas Changing Attitudes toward Homosexuality, Civil Unions, and Same-Cender Marriage: 1977-2004. National Association of Social Workers. 71-79. Becker, A. B. (2012).What’s Marriage (and Family) Got to Do with It? Support for Same-Sex Marriage, Legal Unions, and Gay and Lesbian Couples Raising Children. Social science quarterly 93(4), 1008-1029. Brumbaugh, S., Sanchez, L., Nock, S. & Wright, D. (2008).Attitudes Toward Gay Marriage in States Undergoing Marriage Law Transformation. Journal of Marriage and Family 70, 345-359. Camilleri, N. (April 17, 2014). Presdient signs gay marriage Bill’. Malta Independent. Retrieved 17 April 2014. Freedomtomarry.Org. (March 7, 2014). History and Timeline of the Freedom to Marry in the United States. Accessed from Herek, G. (2011). Anti-Equality Marriage Amendments and Sexual Stigma. Journal of Social Issues 67(2), 413-426. Neill, J. (2009). The origins and role of same-sex relations in human societies. McFarland & Company. Read More