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I believe what they are proposing as inadequate is that the straight-gay binary isn't all encompassing. It's a vague linear spectrum that does not include all types of sexualities. For Western cultures the reading says, "people are encouraged to self-identify as either straight or gay." What's inadequate about this binary is that there are so many different situations, feelings and factors that play into a persons actions and desires that giving everyone a label of either being "straight" or "gay" just doesn't suffice. The term queer is used as an all encompassing term to describe all the other sexualities that occur outside of straight monogamous intercourse. What's revealed about heterosexuality is that it shouldn't be something that children are automatically taught or expected to be - because it's definitely not the only way. I liked reading about porn categories and how specific they all were, that definitely opened my eyes to some other sexual preferences. The straight-gay binary is too simple when each human's sexuality can be vast and complex. After reading through the list of porn categories it almost seems like a boring choice to watch. Personally, I'm not a porn-watcher but if I was I think I would pick something a little more exciting than hetero-homo binary. It just shows that as humans our sexuality can't and shouldn't be limited!

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First off I'd like to give you props for discussing which porn categories you would or wouldn't be into, very funny. I totally agree with the notion that there cannot only be this binary that exists when we can see from porn choices that there is a demand other forms of sexuality. I was however,concerned when I read that portion in the article because by setting up the discussion this way the authors have put GLBT identities on the same playing field as nonconsent, voyeurism and animals sexual interests. I do think that whether or not this grouping was well-intentioned it is problematic. It is from these sorts of so called textual evidence that homophobes or conservative religious groups can compare GLBT folks to rapists, peeping Toms and zoophiles. Surely, our human sexuality is not limited to man-woman interactions yet there is a realm of sexuality that is not healthy ie. rapists, peeping Tom's and zoophiles since there is a nonconsenting individual in each instance. Although we should not be shy to express the fluidity of human sexuality we should also be careful not to make regressive statements.

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This page contains a single entry by zema0039 published on January 27, 2012 2:04 PM.

bell hooks and Being an Enlightened Witness was the previous entry in this blog.

Bell Hooks is the next entry in this blog.

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