The question was, and is, who speaks, and when, and for whom, and why.
”
— Neil Bartlett (1988)
The terminology section of the Sexology and Sexuality WikiProject should determine guidelines suggesting the least offensive most neutral (
NPOV) terminology to use in naming and writing articles about sexuality including sexology. It should present pros and cons for various uses of various terms, this should be condensed from the talk page. These should be followed by different proposals by various users such as "Wikipedia should never use the word gay" or "Wikipedia should always use the word gay".
Articles should exist (or redirect and discussed on the redirected page) for all terms which are used (as there is an article for
bitch, even though it is offensive). However, Wikipedia may also discuss what those terms describe on a more neutral, general, accurate, and descriptive level with multi-word terms. Terms which are ordinarily non-offensive neutral and accurate may be used in ways which make them offensive, POV, and inaccurate. Thus guidelines may have to be established for the use of each term.
sexual orientation: 1. The dominant sexual behavior pattern of an individual: specifically, a preference for sexual activities with persons of the same or opposite sex, or both, or some paraphilia. 2. Refers to the gender, male or female, of the erotic-love-affectional partners, a person prefers. Usually referred to as heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, or ambisexual. Sometimes the expression "sexual preference" is used. This implies that there is choice involved. See AMBIPHILIC, ANDROPHILIC, GYNECOPHILIC.
sexual preference: 1. Choice of types of mates. 2. Choice of methods of sexual expression. Compare SEXUAL ORIENTATION.
heterosexism: an argument that male-female sexuality is the only correct, natural, proper, or moral mode of sexual activity. Also known as
heterosexualism.
Heterosexism. This term was coined by analogy with sexism. The dictionary defines it as "discrimination or prejudice against gay or homosexual people by heterosexual people." As with racism and sexism, this book takes the view that it is structural or institutional forces that underpin social inequalities, rather than individual prejudiced attitudes. Thus, heterosexism would refer to the heterosexual ideology that is encoded into and characteristic of the major social, cultural, and economic institutions of our society. See Racism and Sexism.
Gender, Race, and Class in Media: A Text-Reader by Gail Dines,
ISBN076192261X.
heterosexist language usage: According to the standards set by the American Psychological Association, there should be an avoidance of terms that indicate that homosexuality is abnormal.
heterosociality: Relationships on a social level between members of the opposite sex.
From The Dictionary of Psychology by Raymond J. Corsini,
ISBN1583913289
heterosexism, heteronormativity Heterosexism is discrimination against lesbians and gays...In 1975 the Dutch lesbian feminist Purple Semptember staff named heteronormativity an instrument of perpetuating power. Both lesbian feminists and queer theorists address the compulsory nature of heterosexuality (see lesbian feminism; queer theory). However, 1990s queer theorists focused on transgression and deviance while lesbian feminists focused on structural analysis. The difference: lesbian feminists regard a heterosexual man buying a prostitute as normative heterosexuality, queer theorists regard it as transgressive/progressive. See also: heteropatriarchy; homophobia"
From Encyclopedia of Feminist Theories by Lorraine Code,
ISBN0415132746
Heterocentrism. Heteronormativity. These terms were coined recently to refer to the placing of heterosexual experience at the center of one's attention, or the routine assumption that heterosexuality is "normal" and that any other sexuality is "deviant."
From Gender, Race, and Class in Media: A Text-Reader by Gail Dines,
ISBN076192261X
Allows distinction between biological (i.e. genetic) sex and gender, which is critical when discussing trans, pressumptive gender roles and intersexed issues
Con
whether 'gender' or 'sex' is the more appropriate term in a given context may give rise to unnecessary disputes.
Is typically a clearly defined group (though can be misused when non-heterosexual would be more accurate and thus often excludes bisexuals)
Describes a specific
sexual identity (group) when used within the schema of heterosexual, bisexual and homosexual
Is non-gender specific
Con
People don't identify as homosexual.
Arose in negative clinical context.
Use by anti-gay proponents
Is often misused when non-heterosexual would be more accurate and thus not exclude bisexuals though it should be noted that with careful writing can be used precisely and accurately
Inclusive of most people (homosexual, bisexual and often people not conforming to gender roles, i.e. trans people) who are targeted by such bias
Non-biased term
Con
Multi-word
Pro-gay activist(s)
Pro
Con
Pro-gay implies no concern for straight people
Activist is hyperbole or carries negative connotations
Implies homosexuality alone when what is being described in non-heterosexuality and therefore excludes bisexuals
Used as pejorative, and in propaganda by people opposed to equal rights for non-heterosexuals
Civil rights proponent(s)
Pro
Most accurate descriptor for people seeking equal rights and status under the law
Con
Anti-gay activist(s)
Pro
Common term
Con
Activist is hyperbole or carries negative connotations
Implies homosexuality alone when what is being described in non-heterosexuality and therefore excludes bisexuals who are also usually tragets of bias and discrimination
Profamily proponent(s) (??)
Pro
Commonly used term by said groups
Con
Highly biased POV
Inaccurate as their are many same-gender and mixed-gender families who are being attacked by those using such a banner to descrobe their efforts
Implies that people seeking equal rights and status under the law are "anti-family", same sort of intentional bias and framing of language as the "pro-life" movement uses to frame debate
Proposals
Wikipedia article names and content should not use the terms gay or lesbian
As these terms are pro-gay.
Oppose. These terms are in common use among both supporters and opponents, and it's good to have a number of synonyms to rotate among, if you use them properly. --
Beland 03:35, 20 Feb 2005 (UTC)
Aye: Each of these terms have an implied target and subject gender. Homosexual has no implied gender. For fear of over-complication, when possible, discussion of sexuality should be kept separate from gender.
Oppose. These terms are in common use among both supporters and opponents, and it's good to have a number of synonyms to rotate among, if you use them properly. --
Beland 03:35, 20 Feb 2005 (UTC)
As with my statements in the above proposal on abolishing the terms lesbian/gay, I think it will going forward over-complicate discussions when referring to gender without explicitly meaning to talk about gender. So, Oppose, unless a more appropriate genderless term crops up and gains notoriety sometime soon.
Eaterjolly (
talk) 03:55, 2 November 2016 (UTC)reply
Wikipedia articles dealing with Sexology and Sexuality should be pluralistic
As people self-identify according to various terms, and
As it is respectful and accurate to use these terms, and
As Wikipedia is neutral and may not endorse any one term over others
Therefore, Wikipedia should use many different terms for both article titles and in article content. Terms should be applied appropriately and this project would contains guidelines for the use of terms, including definitions, examples of use, and hierarchies as to most/least inclusive, offensive, used, used to self-identify.
The question was, and is, who speaks, and when, and for whom, and why.
”
— Neil Bartlett (1988)
The terminology section of the Sexology and Sexuality WikiProject should determine guidelines suggesting the least offensive most neutral (
NPOV) terminology to use in naming and writing articles about sexuality including sexology. It should present pros and cons for various uses of various terms, this should be condensed from the talk page. These should be followed by different proposals by various users such as "Wikipedia should never use the word gay" or "Wikipedia should always use the word gay".
Articles should exist (or redirect and discussed on the redirected page) for all terms which are used (as there is an article for
bitch, even though it is offensive). However, Wikipedia may also discuss what those terms describe on a more neutral, general, accurate, and descriptive level with multi-word terms. Terms which are ordinarily non-offensive neutral and accurate may be used in ways which make them offensive, POV, and inaccurate. Thus guidelines may have to be established for the use of each term.
sexual orientation: 1. The dominant sexual behavior pattern of an individual: specifically, a preference for sexual activities with persons of the same or opposite sex, or both, or some paraphilia. 2. Refers to the gender, male or female, of the erotic-love-affectional partners, a person prefers. Usually referred to as heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, or ambisexual. Sometimes the expression "sexual preference" is used. This implies that there is choice involved. See AMBIPHILIC, ANDROPHILIC, GYNECOPHILIC.
sexual preference: 1. Choice of types of mates. 2. Choice of methods of sexual expression. Compare SEXUAL ORIENTATION.
heterosexism: an argument that male-female sexuality is the only correct, natural, proper, or moral mode of sexual activity. Also known as
heterosexualism.
Heterosexism. This term was coined by analogy with sexism. The dictionary defines it as "discrimination or prejudice against gay or homosexual people by heterosexual people." As with racism and sexism, this book takes the view that it is structural or institutional forces that underpin social inequalities, rather than individual prejudiced attitudes. Thus, heterosexism would refer to the heterosexual ideology that is encoded into and characteristic of the major social, cultural, and economic institutions of our society. See Racism and Sexism.
Gender, Race, and Class in Media: A Text-Reader by Gail Dines,
ISBN076192261X.
heterosexist language usage: According to the standards set by the American Psychological Association, there should be an avoidance of terms that indicate that homosexuality is abnormal.
heterosociality: Relationships on a social level between members of the opposite sex.
From The Dictionary of Psychology by Raymond J. Corsini,
ISBN1583913289
heterosexism, heteronormativity Heterosexism is discrimination against lesbians and gays...In 1975 the Dutch lesbian feminist Purple Semptember staff named heteronormativity an instrument of perpetuating power. Both lesbian feminists and queer theorists address the compulsory nature of heterosexuality (see lesbian feminism; queer theory). However, 1990s queer theorists focused on transgression and deviance while lesbian feminists focused on structural analysis. The difference: lesbian feminists regard a heterosexual man buying a prostitute as normative heterosexuality, queer theorists regard it as transgressive/progressive. See also: heteropatriarchy; homophobia"
From Encyclopedia of Feminist Theories by Lorraine Code,
ISBN0415132746
Heterocentrism. Heteronormativity. These terms were coined recently to refer to the placing of heterosexual experience at the center of one's attention, or the routine assumption that heterosexuality is "normal" and that any other sexuality is "deviant."
From Gender, Race, and Class in Media: A Text-Reader by Gail Dines,
ISBN076192261X
Allows distinction between biological (i.e. genetic) sex and gender, which is critical when discussing trans, pressumptive gender roles and intersexed issues
Con
whether 'gender' or 'sex' is the more appropriate term in a given context may give rise to unnecessary disputes.
Is typically a clearly defined group (though can be misused when non-heterosexual would be more accurate and thus often excludes bisexuals)
Describes a specific
sexual identity (group) when used within the schema of heterosexual, bisexual and homosexual
Is non-gender specific
Con
People don't identify as homosexual.
Arose in negative clinical context.
Use by anti-gay proponents
Is often misused when non-heterosexual would be more accurate and thus not exclude bisexuals though it should be noted that with careful writing can be used precisely and accurately
Inclusive of most people (homosexual, bisexual and often people not conforming to gender roles, i.e. trans people) who are targeted by such bias
Non-biased term
Con
Multi-word
Pro-gay activist(s)
Pro
Con
Pro-gay implies no concern for straight people
Activist is hyperbole or carries negative connotations
Implies homosexuality alone when what is being described in non-heterosexuality and therefore excludes bisexuals
Used as pejorative, and in propaganda by people opposed to equal rights for non-heterosexuals
Civil rights proponent(s)
Pro
Most accurate descriptor for people seeking equal rights and status under the law
Con
Anti-gay activist(s)
Pro
Common term
Con
Activist is hyperbole or carries negative connotations
Implies homosexuality alone when what is being described in non-heterosexuality and therefore excludes bisexuals who are also usually tragets of bias and discrimination
Profamily proponent(s) (??)
Pro
Commonly used term by said groups
Con
Highly biased POV
Inaccurate as their are many same-gender and mixed-gender families who are being attacked by those using such a banner to descrobe their efforts
Implies that people seeking equal rights and status under the law are "anti-family", same sort of intentional bias and framing of language as the "pro-life" movement uses to frame debate
Proposals
Wikipedia article names and content should not use the terms gay or lesbian
As these terms are pro-gay.
Oppose. These terms are in common use among both supporters and opponents, and it's good to have a number of synonyms to rotate among, if you use them properly. --
Beland 03:35, 20 Feb 2005 (UTC)
Aye: Each of these terms have an implied target and subject gender. Homosexual has no implied gender. For fear of over-complication, when possible, discussion of sexuality should be kept separate from gender.
Oppose. These terms are in common use among both supporters and opponents, and it's good to have a number of synonyms to rotate among, if you use them properly. --
Beland 03:35, 20 Feb 2005 (UTC)
As with my statements in the above proposal on abolishing the terms lesbian/gay, I think it will going forward over-complicate discussions when referring to gender without explicitly meaning to talk about gender. So, Oppose, unless a more appropriate genderless term crops up and gains notoriety sometime soon.
Eaterjolly (
talk) 03:55, 2 November 2016 (UTC)reply
Wikipedia articles dealing with Sexology and Sexuality should be pluralistic
As people self-identify according to various terms, and
As it is respectful and accurate to use these terms, and
As Wikipedia is neutral and may not endorse any one term over others
Therefore, Wikipedia should use many different terms for both article titles and in article content. Terms should be applied appropriately and this project would contains guidelines for the use of terms, including definitions, examples of use, and hierarchies as to most/least inclusive, offensive, used, used to self-identify.