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'The process of heterosexualization got the attention of the media in the industrialized and post- industrialized west, particularly in the US, the UK, Canada, Australia and other European countries. Since that period, the media has presented heterosexual behavior as a synonym of masculinity through several means. Many researchers and psychologists have argued that heterosexualization has been used for imposing a masculine image among males (Mohr, 2008).

Heterosexualization

The term heterosexualization is defined differently by number of authors. The term heterosexuality has come out from heterosexualization that promotes relationship irrespective of defined rules of sexuality.

Definition

Heterosexuality is the sexual affection with someone of the opposite sex and thus, heterosexualization is treated as a normative discipline in terms of social and cultural norms (Halsall, 2013). In the modern west, the process of heterosexualisation symbolizes a process against man by unjust severity as its ultimate motive is to destroy the natural living style of different genders, including both male and female.

Main Theme and Scope

The main theme and topic of this Wikipedia assignment is heterosexualization. In light of this theme/topic, this thesis has been explored and examined: the role of media in creation of pseudo-masculinity among male members of society while promoting the concept of heterosexualization.

Effect on Heterosexualization on Society

Negative Aspects of Heterosexualization on Society:

• Affect the gender roles in a society: In the same context, the effect of heterosexualization on society reflects that heterosexuality is anti-nature, which turns natural traits of human beings superfluous. This has in turn, badly affected male and female positions or gender roles in society.

• Affect human kind: The inclusion of heterosexualization has negatively affected human kind in diverse ways. On one hand, it is responsible for population explosion as heterosexualisation has contributed into enforcement of marriage institution. Social mechanism of traditional based marriage system completely overthrown natural balance. This would result into increased human population. On the other hand, it results in environmental degradation. Condoms used during sex are non- biodegradable substances that work as environment pollutants. The contamination of these substances in the environment has harmful impact on the health and social aspects.

• Weaken Social Bonding: The social bonding has also weakened due to this problem as it is leads to the formation of nuclear family and breaking joint families as couple of man and woman like to live alone from the conservative society. The concept of heterosexualization is unstable in nature, and it is the illusion that has negative impact on social settings (Ripper, 2009). This process symbolizes freedom of man, and reflects privileges given to them in society that they use for their enjoyment and pleasure through ignorance of its extreme impact on social values and beliefs (Meyer, 2008).

• Increased Divorce Cases and Ruin women career: The other negative/harmful effect of heterosexuality is the increased number of divorce cases. Due to this, women’s careers ruined to a large extent as it induces the responsibility of nurturing children alone as a single parent. It is critiqued that society should promote environment, where people are free to express their feeling, and involve in sexuality without any external pressure and/or social obligations. Such initiatives would help in lessening partial freedom in favor of male members in society as it would result in keeping strong ties in terms of male-female bonds (Cowling and Reynolds, 2004; Chan, 2013). In this context, it is generalized that though heterosexuality is a highly embedded practice and is deeply rooted in society.

Heterosexualization in the Media

The process of heterosexualization got the attention of media in the industrialized and post- industrialized west, particularly in the US, the UK, Canada, Australia and other European countries. After the introduction of industrialization period of time, media has presented heterosexual behavior as a synonym of masculinity through several means. This is evident through the messages of print media and television shows that a society has to be heterosexual, and men are under tremendous pressure to develop the same way (Ratele & Duncanm, 2003). Media, in these countries, prompted dating among unmarried boys and girls, and promoted this behavior through dating/relationship advice. Besides dating advice, a common message is circulated to impress a girl that may gradually include casual sex. It promotes love and a way of showing affection for girls not only in private sphere, but also public (Baumeister & Vohs, 2004). The high degree of acceptance for such relations stimulated heterosexuality among male members of many societies. The same message of the media can be studied from a distinct perspective, as in order to balance social mechanism, men are oppressed to develop sexuality for women or face the consequences. In addition, respect and validity of marriage are closely associated with heterosexuality, and inspired men to value girls for their social acceptance and standards. It is evident through arguments that development of heterosexuality may not be the choice for men or could be compulsion for them to match the social expectations and social norms (Baumeister & Vohs, 2004). The heterosexual society created huge socio-psychological barriers for men and forced them to think about women, when it came to dousing their sexual desires. This is because men’s love for the same gender has yet to be acknowledged by society in the same way as for women. As a result of this, under heterosexualization, men see a gradual and steady departure from attraction towards other males and are forced to accept a constant contact with females (Worthington, Savoy & Dillon, 2008). This creates a different psychological state, which can be described with the help of two different key attributes; male aggression and elimination of male attraction.

References

Baumeister, R. F., & Vohs, K. D. (2004). Sexual economics: Sex as female resource for social exchange in heterosexual interactions. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 8(4), 339–363.

Chan, P. (2013). The protection of sexual minorities. New York: Routledge.

Cowling, M., & Reynolds, P. 2004. Making sense of sexual consent. England: Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.

Denmark, F., & Paludi, M. A. (2008). Psychology of women: A handbook of issues and theories. Westport: Greenwood Publishing Group.

Halsall, P. (2013). A history of heterosexuality. Retrieved from http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/pwh/hethist.asp

Meyer, E. J. (2008). A feminist reframing of bullying and harassment: Transforming schools through critical pedagogy. McGill Journal of Education, 43(1), 33-48.

Mohr, J. J. (2008). Heterosexual identity and the heterosexual therapist: An identity perspective on sexual orientation dynamics in psychotherapy. Retrieved from http://www.sagepub.com/thomas2e/study/articles/section6/Article99.pdf

Ratele, K., & Duncanm N. (2003). Social psychology: identities and relationships. New York: Juta and Company Ltd.

Ripper, M. (2009). Lesbian parenting through donor insemination: Implications for the hetero-normative family. Gay & Lesbian Issues and Psychology Review, 5(2), 81-93.

Worthington, R. L., Savoy, H. B., & Dillon F. R. (2008). Heterosexual identity development: A multidimensional model of individual and social identity. Retrieved from http://www.sagepub.com/thomas2e/study/articles/section6/Article98.pdf