The term "sexuality" has been used throughout history to describe human physical desire, attraction, and behavior.
It was only during the late nineteenth century that psychology began to focus on exploring this concept in greater detail. In fact, Sigmund Freud's theories of psychoanalysis were central to understanding sexuality as a biological drive that could be repressed or expressed in different ways. Freud believed that all humans have a natural urge for pleasure, which he called libido, but that society imposes constraints on how these desires can be expressed. He also believed that homosexuality resulted from a conflict between the ego and id, causing unresolved feelings of guilt and shame in those who experienced such desires. This view helped perpetuate negative stigmas about LGBTQ identities, as they were seen as deviant and abnormal compared to heterosexual norms.
Other medical professionals disagreed with Freud's views.
Alfred Kinsey argued that there is no distinction between homosexuality and heterosexuality when it comes to normalcy; rather, individuals experience varying degrees of attraction along a spectrum ranging from exclusively straight to exclusively gay. This approach challenged traditional binary gender roles and allowed for more openness in terms of identity expression.
Despite these advances, many medical professionals continued to view homosexuality as a mental illness well into the twentieth century. The American Psychiatric Association classified it as such until 1973, and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) only removed it in 2013. This labeling led to widespread discrimination against LGBTQ individuals, including forced conversion therapy and psychological intervention. It also encouraged self-hatred among members of the community, as they internalized societal beliefs that their sexuality was somehow wrong or defective.
Historical definitions of "sex" and "gender" have contributed to the stigmatization of transgender identities. Gender dysphoria, or the discomfort one feels due to a mismatch between biological sex and gender identity, was first recognized by medicine during World War II as a condition requiring treatment.
Treatments often included hormones, surgery, or electroshock therapy without consent. This reinforced the idea that being transgender was something to be cured or hidden rather than celebrated.
Historical definitions of sexuality have had far-reaching consequences for how society views LGBTQ identities. By framing them as abnormal or deviant, medicine has contributed to their marginalization and oppression. Today, there is greater awareness and acceptance of diverse sexualities, but more work must be done to combat discrimination and promote equality.
How did historical medical definitions of sexuality contribute to the stigmatization of LGBTQ identities?
Historically, there have been numerous attempts at categorizing human sexual orientation and behavior based on biomedical models that often associated them with pathology, perversion, and illness. This has resulted in significant harm to LGBTQ communities as these definitions had led to the pathologization of their identities, leading to discrimination and marginalization within society.