Sometimes called “the last permissible prejudice,” homophobia reifies social ideas of gender, and ultimately reinforces inequality in society. Homophobia is an even worse and extreme case of sexism. If sexism is imprisoned in the strict confines of sex and gender stereotypes, homophobia sees these already warped stereotypes in an acute and even more distorted way.
Homophobia is described as hatred, hostility, disgust, or fear of gay people and homosexuality. Prejudice against gay people and homosexuality is brought about by some factors such as strong religious belief. Religion is basically fundamental. It is also essentially patriarchal. Someone with strong religious beliefs, bordering on religious fundamentalism or fanaticism, can see gay people as ‘evil’ and ‘sinful.’
Another factor is that homophobic people have had little or no contact with gay people. They are not familiar with the condition of homosexuality. They will, therefore, view homosexuality as a social and psychological aberration. Ignorance can unwittingly form biases in one’s mind. Less exposure to the realities of the world can create tunnel vision and uninformed decisions.
Because homophobia is an extreme form of sexism, it manages to tolerate and even promote sexist stereotypes. In the mind of the homophobic, the gender attributes are even sharper and stricter – without the homophobe even knowing it. Homophobia not only reinforces inequality in society, it even strongly and vocally tells society that gender stereotypes are correct, and that any diversion or digression from these gender definitions is ‘sinful’ or ‘hateful.’
Is there a possibility, then, that homophobic people could not help being what they are? If homophobia is an aggregate effect of one’s environment and result of social influences, is the homophobe a perpetrator or a victim?
Moreover, is the whole world essentially a homophobic society?
Via The Huffington Post/TOWLEROAD/bidstrup
