Exact sciences are developing more and more every year , and others are improving along with them. Almost every day, psychologists introduce new terms into everyday life.
Especially many words have the ending “phobia”. A phobia is fear or fear, rejection or hostility to something. It turns out that people are afraid not only of heights or darkness, but also of things that they fear seem illogical. For example, someone is genuinely afraid of the number 13, people of different races, or non-traditional people. A very popular question: “Homophobia - who is it?” What kind of people are they, what are they afraid of, shun or not welcome?
Etymology and semantics of the term
What does homophobe mean? It should be noted that this word is of Greek origin and literally means the following: “homo” is the same, and “phob” (Phobos) is a fear of something. Consequently, people suffering from this "ailment" show a negative reaction to any homosexual manifestations, it does not matter in what way.
A psychologist from America, George Weinberg in the 70s, was able to give a single-word designation to this phenomenon in his book. Since then, this term has been actively used by scientists of various fields of activity and scientific institutes in various documentation and literature.
Regardless of what the true meaning of the word “homophobia” is, it is most often used to identify people who experience negative emotions in relation to members of a gay orientation.
Homophobia: who is afraid of whom?
Despite the fact that the integral part of the word “Phobos”, that is, fear, the situation is actually different. Homophobes are not at all afraid of gays and lesbians, but quite the opposite. People who prefer same-sex contacts sincerely worry about their safety and health, which can be damaged by a particularly fierce homophobia. Rejection and negative attitude is the calmest attitude of people who do not accept homosexuality. But often open gays and lesbians may not be hired, denied social benefits, insulted, beaten and even killed. Perhaps it would be more correct to call homophobes “heterophiles,” that is, people who accept exclusively traditional relations between a man and a woman.
The boundary between rejection and homophobia
In fact, to draw a clear distinction between the calm rejection of homosexuals and open homophobia is not easy and even impossible. These states can flow into each other, can take one form or another, or not manifest at all.
It is believed that heterosexual individuals are not entirely comfortable with homosexual relationships. Kissing girls, hugging guys - a “normal” society does not accept
this relationship, since same-sex love does not produce offspring. Reproduction is one of the basic instincts that drives humanity forward along the road of development into the future. Since homosexual contacts do not allow you to become pregnant and have a baby, then this is a "wrong relationship."
Psychological Aspects of Homophobia
A well-known fact: some people are calm about the fact that people of the same sex may be attracted to each other, while others violently prove the impossibility of this. Why so, and what is the catch? The question arises: "Homophobes - who is this? Are people with secret desires disguised as" normal "heterosexuals?"
There is a very interesting version - the more actively and violently a homophobic behaves, the more he wants to distract attention from himself and seem “normal”. As Sigmund Freud once wrote, every man is a latent homosexual. Perhaps this is what prompts them to behave belligerently and aggressively towards open-ended same-sex love.
Internal homophobia
One cannot fail to mention another form of homophobia, which is called internal. It has not yet been established why men or women become adherents of same-sex relationships. You can blame childhood injuries, sexual abuse, fashion influence. Nevertheless, millions of gay and lesbian respondents admit that they had a completely normal childhood with loving parents and traditional entertainment. Why is there a “malfunction in the program," and people of the same gender begin to attract a person? This is a great mystery.
Given the general hype about the topic of homosexuality, many homosexuals feel an aversion to same-sex love. This is a very complex topic in psychology, the cause of which, of course, is public opinion. It is precisely it that often forms our attitude to certain phenomena, and therefore one of them is internal homophobia. Gay or lesbian does not recognize himself or the world in desires, but actively promotes normal heterosexual relationships. Such an atypical homophobe is very unhappy, since happiness is determined by a person's ability to be who he is. These people constantly feel remorse, underestimate their self-esteem, and also live in fear of exposure.
Stereotypes in the cultural perception of homophobia
It so happened historically that there are regions related to homosexuals more loyal and tolerant. But there are countries that do not accept open manifestations of same-sex contacts even in the current progressive time. To understand how things are with homophobia in the modern world, think about where same-sex marriages are legalized , and where they can still mock and mock feminine men.
It is believed that Western and European countries are very tolerant of homosexuality. Gays, lesbians, transvestites and bisexuals are not afraid and do not hide, but rather hold gay pride parades and legitimize their relations at the state level.
Slavs today are recognized by world opinion as the biggest enemies of homosexuality. There is even such a concept - “Russian homophobes”, that is, people who are related to same-sex contacts are most aggressive and malicious. This is no accident - our history at all times condemned "sodomy", and in tsarist times they sentenced people to homosexuality.
At the same time, it was documented that in ancient Greece and Rome, brave warriors did not hesitate to show sympathy for their comrades in the craft, and this did not in any way affect the attitude of society towards them. Many famous writers, musicians and artists openly confessed their bisexual or homosexual inclinations, and today open gays and lesbians are super popular designers and fashion designers, directors, presenters and performers.
Homophobia in the world
Despite attempts to establish the most tolerant attitude towards homosexuals in the world, adherents of same-sex relationships are constantly attacked.
For example, 9 out of 10 gay men in America openly say that they have heard insults against them, and a third admit that they experienced physical violence from homophobes. Statistics also confirm that even at school age children can hear up to 30 homophobic statements a day - from peers, teachers and adults.
It is very difficult for homosexuals to live in Muslim countries, where real gay and lesbian hunts are organized for open gays and lesbians. During bullying, people of non-traditional orientation not only hear insults and threats, but can be brutally beaten and even killed. An example of such countries is Iraq and Iran.
In Israel, things are no better. Very well known to the world community is the incident that occurred in 2005 at the gay pride parade. Then another meeting was held on the streets of the city - a parade of opponents of non-traditional orientation. They carried banners stating that homosexuality was a disease, and threw supporters of the gay parade with containers of feces and urine.
It turns out that homophobes are not so harmless. Who are these - not murderers and savages, ready to tear apart dissidents?
Homosexuality and homophobia on television
Since televisions have become our regular companions, best friends and news providers, public opinion has been shaped by shows, series and commercials. Perhaps it was thanks to television that the "normal" people of the whole world realized that there were so many homosexuals that it was better to accept them than to reject them. In addition, many popular idols do not hide their orientation and in fact turn out to be homosexuals. But opponents of same-sex love, open and hidden homophobes, no less than supporters, and maybe even more. Books, films, songs condemn attraction to representatives of their gender, promoting healthy relationships and procreation. In that case, homophobes - who is it? Are people fighting for the continuation of the human race on Earth?
Endless struggle
The confrontation between different countries, cultures, religions will last forever. People sometimes lack a simple human understanding in order to decide for themselves - everyone in this world has the right to their opinion, their views and their choice. Homosexuality, whatever it is, is just one more difference between people.
And there is no need to philosophize, whether it is a disease, a psychological deviation or a feature granted from above. Awareness is the best way out in this situation. Live, be happy, and do not interfere with other people being happy , whoever they are. Or joyfully thrust the flag of homophobes into the defeated "enemies", exclaiming that you are fighting for the purity of a race or nation. That's just this fight is no better than Hitler’s war against the Jews, the same senseless and bloody.