During the last century, the field of medicine has made several advances that have significantly changed the way we understand and treat illnesses and diseases.
Some scholars believe that these advances have also contributed to the pathologization of natural diversity in human biology. This essay will explore how the medical gaze has caused individuals to be treated as abnormal for their natural variations, including those related to gender identity, sexual orientation, and sexual behavior.
The Medical Gaze
The term "medical gaze" was coined by Michel Foucault, who argued that medicine had been historically used as a tool of social control by society's dominant groups to classify certain behaviors and practices as abnormal and deviant. He stated that medicine played an important role in creating categories of people based on perceived deviations from normative standards.
Homosexuality was once considered a mental disorder until it was removed from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) in 1974. Transgenderism is still not recognized as a valid diagnosis by most medical associations, even though many transgender individuals experience physical and emotional distress due to their gender dysphoria. Similarly, BDSM practitioners are often seen as mentally unstable or dangerous, despite having no negative effects on their health.
Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
Gender identity refers to a person's internal sense of being male, female, or something else, while sexual orientation describes one's romantic and sexual attraction towards others. Both concepts are determined primarily by genetics and hormonal influences before birth, but they can also be influenced by environmental factors later in life. In recent decades, there has been growing acceptance of both non-binary genders and same-sex relationships, which challenges traditional gender roles and norms.
Some individuals continue to face discrimination and stigma for expressing these identities. The medical gaze pathologizes natural variations in gender identity and sexual orientation by viewing them as abnormal and requiring treatment or cure. This attitude perpetuates the idea that certain individuals are "broken" or "incomplete," leading to social isolation, depression, and suicide.
Sexual Behavior
Human behavior varies widely when it comes to sex. Some people engage in partnered sex only within marriage or long-term committed relationships, while others prefer casual encounters. Some enjoy vanilla sex, while others explore fetishes or kinks. Some are monogamous, polyamorous, or open to all kinds of relationships. Despite this diversity, most societies have historically viewed some forms of sexual behavior as immoral or deviant, even criminalizing certain acts such as adultery, prostitution, or premarital sex. The medical gaze reinforces these views by treating individuals who do not conform to society's standards as having a problem with their bodies or minds.
Individuals who practice BDSM may be diagnosed with Sadomasochism Disorder, while those who participate in consensual non-monogamy may be labeled with Relationship OCD. These labels imply that their behaviors are unhealthy or harmful, rather than just different from mainstream norms.
The medical gaze has had a profound impact on how we understand and treat human biology, including natural variations related to gender identity, sexual orientation, and sexual behavior. By pathologizing these aspects of life, medicine reinforces societal stigmas and discrimination against individuals who express themselves differently. As we continue to gain more understanding of human biology and psychology, it is important to recognize that there is no "normal" or "abnormal" way to experience life, love, or desire. Instead, we should celebrate individual differences and support people in living authentically without judgment or shame.
In what ways has the medical gaze pathologized natural diversity in human biology?
Medical professionals have historically viewed certain physical characteristics as deviations from an ideal norm, which is often considered white, male, heterosexual, cisgendered, able-bodied, and middle-class. This view of "abnormal" bodies as ill and in need of treatment has led to the pathologization of natural variations in human biology such as intersex conditions, transgender identities, and disabilities.