Assignment 05: Heterosexism and Rights
According to Parisi and Peterson, heterosexuality should be used in the discussion of human rights, instead of the argument of how it suppresses others. The latter is used in feminist theories, who seek to represent minority groups and consider heterosexuality the majority. However, there is validity in Parisi and Peterson’s argument. If one can ponder on it for a second without considering the oppression, heterosexuality is the basis for life, and understanding its links to humans will also explain the social issues and human rights one desires.
As stated in many discussions, heterosexuality is the more promoted sexual preference because of its biological benefits of reproduction (Parisi and Peterson, 132.) Thinking on it without bias or judgement, the only way for humans to reproduce properly is to engage in vaginal intercourse, between a man and woman. This biological benefit is the reason for many’s preference for heterosexuality. Thanks to this preference, society is more engaged in male domination, because it is the male, whose sperm infiltrates the woman’s egg, produces the action that will create the future child (Parisi and Peterson, 138.) Patriarchist societies and thoughts originate from this sole fact, which is the reason for women rights issue: since males are the ones who release the needed substance to create a child, they feel entitled and in power over women.
Breeding heterosexually has also led to a gender division in lifestyles. From politics to household work, heterosexuality has led to the very basis of human living. Males and females are delegated roles and have expectations for their birth given gender or sex. Due to this, humans are instantly shaped from infants into a specific gender role and expected to follow this (Parisi and Peterson, 139.) When people deviate from their culture’s standard for gender, they typically face the harshest punishments. This, for feminists and others, is a major violation in human rights and social issues, but can be explained from this heterosexual fact. An example is the marginalization of women’s rights for three generations: because women are expected to be nurturers and caregivers, their “want” for more freedom is looked upon as greedy and socially unacceptable, considering the actions deviate from the norm (Parisi and Peterson, 142.)
Feminists have every right to combat the theories behind heterosexuality and why it hurts many alternative lifestyles. However, it should be explained with heterosexuality as well. The biggest concern for many is why these other outlooks are considered repulsive and people violate it. If you can look at the beginning of mankind, heterosexuality explains it easily. To many, heterosexuality is the only way to go, because it has far more benefits for society than the individualism behind the LGBT community, who cannot produce more members of that culture. This is the reason behind human rights violation, and it should be explained so both sides of the aisle become educated.
