LEARNING MODULE SEVEN
(Due Saturday by Noon)
Read the Heterosexual Questionnaire and take the time to answer the questions for yourself. Now read the following prompt and critically reflect upon the following questions.
This morning when you awoke from a night’s sleep, you became aware that society was no longer as you remembered it. In fact, it had universally made a 180-degree turn in sexual orientation and the world you remember as being a comfortable environment for heterosexuals like yourself no longer accepts people like you. You don’t want to return to isolation, so you must deal with the situation, and do it right now. But now you don’t fit in. Homo-erotic love is the required standard. Heterosexuals are moral outcasts. They are widely thought to molest children, and the marriage of your partner that you have looked forward to for several years will not be legally recognized. Procreation takes place in test tubes and hired wombs according to accepted procedures, and couples like you and your partner are considered hazardous to population growth. You turn on the TV news, only to see a demonstration on the courthouse steps by anti-heterosexual activists shouting ‘heterosexuality is sin’ and ‘ban the straights.’ A sense of doom envelops you as the truth sinks in. You have a cup of coffee and sit down to think about how you will deal with the situation.” What do you think? How will your life change? What will happen to your relationship with your family and friends, now all gay? Will you allow others to know that you are straight and risk the consequences? What might they be? How do you decide to deal with the situation? Why?
In 2-3 paragraphs, write some key insights drawn from BOTH of these exercises, and how it felt to answer the questions. Use course readings to discuss ways to navigate through this oppressive situation and how you see the world changing if homophobia was abolished.
It is people’s choice of who they want to be and the sexual relationships they choose in which whom to be with, because no matter what society says, most people are still going to proceed with their own beliefs on life and the situations they may be faced upon. I feel like my life would change drastically because I would have grown up being taught in church and school the story of Adam and Eve and of how a man and woman produce offspring and spend the rest of their lives together. It would be an opposite situation than what I am used to, but I would learn to handle and cope with the incidents that would partake along with the course of life. Just as Pharr explained how homosexuals experience a life of Homophobia among others because they feel they are looked down upon or embarrassed and are scared to admit the fact, heterosexuals would feel the same way if it was the reverse situation in life where homosexuals were the majority. I feel that if homosexuals became more dominant over heterosexuals then it would give the heterosexuals a taste of just how life is with fear and hatred so they can experience the full effect of gossip about them, and knowing that they are the minority among others. Sometimes it takes putting yourself in someone else’s shoes to really understand what that person may be going through and experiencing.
ReplyDeleteMy relationship with my family and friends would be awkward at times, because it would definitely be a learning experience for me as well , but I do not think it would change the actual relationship among my family and friends because I would still love them even though they choose a different route than I what I believe in. I would say that even though if homosexuality was the majority of people, then if people asked I would still say I was heterosexual even with consequences because I am a strong-willed person and if I believe in something then I am going to stick to my word about it. It would be very hard to do, especially with the consequences and if they progressively got worse, but it would be a risk to take. I would just take every day in life by its course and try not worry about the factors by maintaining my confidence level towards others and in hopes that the world would eventually become equal and everyone would accept everyone else for who they are and they person they choose to be. That is to say, I am not against homosexuality whatsoever because I think that everyone deserves to make their own choices in life on who they choose to be and it takes a lot to admit the fact of being homosexual especially when the majority of people today are heterosexual, so I give people praise for that.
I personally think it is a morally wrong to be a homosexual, only because that is not how God wants you to be. God made Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve. Then on the other hand people do have a choice, and that choice that they make they should stick strong to it homosexual or not. I think if the world did change and homosexuality was the domain of sex and and heterosexuality was looking on the outside in, I think that heterosexuals would feel how homos feel now. They feel like a minority, and see that there is nothing wrong with them, and that others should be like them and not against them. My relationship with my family would definitely hit a hard rocky road, I don't know if they would accept me or not if this were to happen, which it never would though. My friends would probably think twice about me and most likely would draw away from me and move on.
ReplyDeleteIf I am straight everything is fine and dandy, because I hangout with nothing but straight people. I had mentioned earlier that some people have a choice which is very true, but some people were also born a homosexual, and starting at very early ages of childhood you can start to see the tendencies of your child.
My life would change completely in every aspect of living. It would no longer be okay for me to date the opposite sex, and the homosexuals would most likely become the dominant group. The heterosexuals could in turn become the new "gay" or "lesbian". Agreeing to what was said a sense of doom would overwhelm me as the truth of being a heterosexual are now considered outcast. I would have to make all new friends and may even have to move to a more homosexual area of town. My relationship with friends and family would probably not change at all since they are all heterosexual they will have to change their gender role too.
ReplyDeleteSince it is nationwide news, I would feel compelled to come out as gay, however just as homosexuals have a choice of being what they are I would not have any issue staying straight. Thinking about the consequences I would face would be people judging and discriminating me out in public and even jobs. To deal with the situation, I would have to say the shock factor would be in play for about a week, and I honestly would not know what to do to cope with it right off the bat. If i had to I would sit down with my friends and talk about their thoughts on the situation.
Personally this whole idea is not fair to heterosexuals, because i am pretty sure we did not all of sudden make a nationwide news alert that you have to be heterosexual starting now. Homosexuality has evolved over time and since it is out of the norm heterosexuals like myself are going to have something to say about it, however for the most part we are pretty non shalaunt about it.
I completely agree with claire that it is our choice of what sexual relationship we want and whether society likes it or not we are going to do it anyways.
ReplyDeleteEvan- great post completely agree with going against it morally
ReplyDeleteWhen I first began reading the questionare I became very puzzled due to the questions. A lot of them caught me off guard and my reaction was, "What you mean how?" Most of these questions were not hard to answer at all. Heterosexuality has been my way of life for as long as I can remember and has not been questionable. It seems very natural to me and I feel no urge to experiment.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand if I woke up tomorrow and everything is different, I'm not sure how I would react. One thing I can say is that I'm willing to take the beating for being a heterosexual. I've experienced racial crimes so I don't view this any differently. It would be hard if all of my family and friends were gay but not enough to convert. There's always going to be the people that are different so I would just be a part of that group. I couldn't see my self switching over just because others are, in that case I would already have done that. I have friends that I've known almost all of my life that have turned gay and it didn't affect me in any way.
@Claire: Very good second paragraph. I totally agree with you!
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, I think someone can choose what sexuality they want to be. In the present time, homosexuals is a minority, but they chose to be that way and they are confident in their sexuality even though there are a lot of people against homosexuals who are also known as homophobes. If all the sudden heterosexuals were the minority a lot would change. I think my family and friends would be awkward around me and not know how to handle my sexual preference. My family and friends that truly love me though would support me with my choice of being heterosexual, but the outside world would try to hide from me because they think I might like them (leaning more towards men).
ReplyDeleteI would definitely come out and say I was into the opposite sex because I am my own person and no one can choose what gender I like but myself. If anyone decides to disown me like many gay people go through now because they are not accepted, I would just keep living my life because I can find happiness if I just find people like me and we all stick together. Even though it might be scary at first to tell everyone that I am heterosexual, I have to express how I feel and not hide it forever from everyone and live a secret life.
If I woke up and the world had completely reverses and being gay was now considered normal I would honestly think I was having some crazy dream I wouldn’t believe it. It would take a lot to convince me but once I was convinced I wouldn’t switch to being gay. For one thing I love women too much just to give it up because everybody else does. Heterosexuality it just like homosexuality in the fact that we have no control over who we’re attracted to. Women attract me like crazy and I have absolutely no attraction to men and that wouldn’t change just because everyone else is. I mean its just like being black in segregated times I wouldn’t be able to change my skin color in public and you should be proud of who you are regardless so I wouldn’t even like pretend I was gay to be accepted. I wouldn’t even want to be accepted like that besides since it would be fake they would catch me pretending and I would still be outcast.
ReplyDeleteI would think this some crazy stuff going on, how the world just gone change overnight like this. My life would change a great deal I would go from being a sexy, normal, accepted guy to a sexy, weird, unaccepted guy. I’m pretty sure my relationship with my family would be strained if I all of sudden became the only heterosexual but they my family so I know they would accept my decision and support me even if they didn’t agree, that’s what family does. As far as letting other people know I’m straight if people came up and asked me if I was straight I would tell them yes but I wouldn’t just walk around with a sign on my chest saying “I’m straight Hate Me”. I would have the same mentality that I do now as long as you leave me alone I have no reason to mess with you so just leave me alone.
If the world changed and peoples way changed i wouldnt really know what to do my life would be totally different and most of my friends would probably change. I think knowing the person i am though and knowing that i still like females i would still date them. I know people hide and shadow themselves because they are afriad who they are but in the end they should be happy for who they are and what they stand for. The day a person stops doing things for themselves is the day that person has lost hope for themself and isnt able to function. People all around the world should be proud of who they are and make sure they never forget it.
ReplyDeleteWe were all put on this world for a reason what we do with that is are choice. I think its really important to always tell the truth and never tell someone different from what the truth is and if the world completely changed around i wonder if a lot of people would still be who they really are or play like they were someone different.
If homosexuality was the standard way of living, it would be just like heterosexuality. Straight people would be called "straight faggots" or some other term that may be demoralizing. After readiing the week's required readings and the Heterossexual Questionare, I've realized that homosexuality is in fact a lifestyle that is becoming more and more common each and every day. Just because homosexual people are in the minority, people that are heterosexual look down on them.
ReplyDeleteIf the idea of homosexuality flipped for a day, it would become the majority which makes it the dominant standard of living. Heterosexuals would be in the "closet" and they would be the ones stereotyped as people with HIV and other diseases. Their families would look down on them and be ashamed.
At this point, I think I understand the reason for this module. If we put ourselves in a homosexual's shoes for a day, we would totally understand why we SHOULDN'T judge others. We sometimes misinterpret things such as the Bible and things on TV. For this reason, homosexuality faces oppression today.
If I woke up and all the sudden was living in a world that was mainly homosexual, that would be really weird and I would be freaked out at first and not know what to think. After coming to terms and accepting it, I would try to just go on and live my life as normally as possible. I might feel a little vulnerable or awkward in public because of weird glances from strangers on the street, but I think I could ignore it or learn to get past it eventually, as it would be an every day occurance. It would just be very strange and would take some time to adjust to such a different world. Even though society would tell me it is wrong to be heterosexual, I would continue to be straight because I am just not attracted to women in that way. It would be so odd to be surrounded by homosexuals and have the tables turned on me and experience what life is like for gays and basically walk a mile in their shoes.
ReplyDeleteI can see why some gays don't open up to their families about being gay because it is not the norm and they are scared of being rejected or turned away, as many gays are. I know that some people aren't very accepting about homosexuality because of religious reasons and the need to conform and not deviate from what is considered "normal." I can not even imagine how hard it would be for someone who is gay to come out to their parents, it would take a lot of courage.
While answering the questions from the Heterosexual Questionnaire, I felt I was being pressured to answer them. They were such straightforward questions that were kind of bizarre to me because I don't think I could ever switch over to the other side. I just know that I was born this way and I'm not about to change because being straight is a way of life for me. I felt like the questionnaire was nagging heterosexual people and trying to make to seem like it so easy to become homosexual. It makes it seem like finding out that you are gay isn't even a big deal. I definitely don't have a problem with gay people, and would never discriminate their group. I don't often associate myself with them, but it doesn't bother me to have them around, there people too.
ReplyDeleteIf I seriously woke up and the world had somehow turned completely homosexual, I would probably freak out and know right away that my life would change dramatically. First of all I would probably become a priest so that I wouldn't have to worry about dating the same sex. I feel like I would still be able to have good times with my close friends because I wouldn't give them up for anything. Issues with my family would hopefully not blow up too much since I would be a priest and I know my parents would accept that. I feel like this whole situation would bother me for the rest of my life considering the fact that girls wouldn't be a part of my life the same way. I would still treat everyone normally because like I said, homosexuals don't bother me, as long as they do their own thing and let me do mine. This whole process would be insane though because if I became a priest, then I would have to talk to homosexuals for the rest of my life and sort out their life problems. I am so comfortable with who I am as a person and would like to be the guy everyone went to for help. I would probably be a good help to everyone too since I would have different beliefs, being the only straight person in the world around. This whole concept of life relates to this week’s readings because if the whole world were gay, then there would be less violence, and hardly any oppression towards them. Violent hate crimes would not be present, and the world would probably be a safer place since everyone would be the same. I wonder if there would be an idea spread that would be the opposite of homophobia, and people would not accept me for not being gay.
If I woke up and the norms for sexual orientation had changed, I don't know what I would do. I have no idea what it feels like to be put down for my sexual orientation. I do not know what it feels like to go through what many homosexual people do each and every day. Reading the Heterosexual questionnaire makes me feel a little uncomfortable. I do not know why or how I became heterosexual I just am and always have been. Many people who are homosexual are faced with these questions like "how did you become gay," and I can imagine that it makes them just as uncomfortable as I felt maybe even more. They do not know why they are homosexual just as I do not know why I'm heterosexual. This can make them question their whole lives, and make them think why do I have to be different. It is sad how our society can make people feel so uncomfortable with their own lives.
ReplyDeleteIf I had to deal with the same situation homosexual people deal with because homosexuality became the norm, I would probably hide my sexuality like many gay people do. I would feel like an outcast and I would not want people to judge me on my sexual orientation. I would feel like something is wrong with me. I would hope that my family would be supportive, but I can not know for sure because I have never been faced with that situation. I probably would not know how to deal with the situation. It is hard living a life that many other people see as wrong, and I am not sure it is something i could handle. It is sad that, that is the way it is for homosexuals, but hopefully we are moving toward changing that.
I think that if I woke up to a society where “homo-erotic” behavior was the social norm, my life would not be any different. I have always been comfortable in my sexuality because for me, it’s the way that God ordained it to be. I don’t think that I’d be a closeted straight person. I would be in the forefront fighting for straight rights and equality. I think the biggest issue would be losing my family. If my family were now all gay, I think that not having their support would be my biggest obstacle on the journey of enlightening society about my sexuality. While I believe I would have their unconditional love, my family holds strong in their beliefs and they would expect me to conform (if this were the norm). I think that actions that have the greatest consequences are often worth the risk, so I would risk my safety and the love of my family and friends to be who I truly am. I know I’m making it sound so easy, just risk it all and everything will pay off. However, that’s how I live my life now in a society where being a Christian is becoming more taboo and society is becoming more accepting of the ways of the world… and I was raised being told that those ways were sins. I know that I would be ok in this society. I don’t think that I would be blasted for flaunting my sexuality because I believe that sexuality should be sacred and saved for behind closed doors. I know that only God can judge me and I feel that if someone who is homosexual in a heterosexual society believes so strongly in their sexuality, they should find comfort in knowing that only God can judge them too.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the questionnaire, I couldn’t help but think about how annoying it must be to be asked these questions on a daily basis. However, I don’t find the questions impossible to answer. I think they are a little ridiculous but I could provide answers to all of them. I think that if you were born gay or straight that you could be comfortable enough in who you are in order to answer them, it’s just up to you to decide if you should have to.
@Rod- I agree that you can't help who you are attracted to. I don't think It would even be possible to conform to this new society when that's just not who you are. I also like who you tied in race, because I wouldn't go bleach my skin just because being black puts me in a minority.
ReplyDelete@Evan- I appreciate that you stuck to your morals. I think that it's very important not to disregard that one's faith plays a huge role in how they live in society.
ReplyDelete@Denera I agree with the questions you asked when you first started reading the passages, i had the same reactions as well.
ReplyDeleteAlso, @Skye i also became uncomfortable reading the heterosexual questionaire
@Jasmine i agree, faith does play a huge role and I believe the same thing as Evan
ReplyDelete@Jasmine I would do the same thing you would do and be comfortable in my own sexual preference. People have the right to state their opinion, but in the end it is you who choices who you become.
ReplyDelete@Skye I agree that it would be weird if heterosexual was the minority because I don't know how being the minority feels. It would definitely be very different.
ReplyDelete@Kim i agree with you... i think your sexuality is your choice
ReplyDeletei think the reason for this module was to put us in the shoes of homosexuals in order to get a better understanding of what they go through because of their lifestyles.
ReplyDelete@Skye Robinson... That is true about how people will ask the question "how did you become gay?" and a lot of homosexuals do not have an answer for that.
ReplyDelete@Kevin.. I agree with you about how the questionnaire was almost going against heterosexuals and I also believe that it is not right to change just because if a bizarre thing happened where heterosexuals were the minority.
ReplyDelete@Jasmine
ReplyDeleteI like what you had to say about taking risks. I respect that you wouldn't want to change for anyone and even risk losing friendships and love just to be your true self.
@Kim
ReplyDeleteI agree with you in saying that you would feel scared to come out and say you were different, but its awesome that you wouldn't change because you should live your life the way you want to.