5 myths about homosexuality disassembled by science
In nature, relationships and sexuality between individuals of the same sex do not represent any anomaly, in fact it is a relatively frequent practice . It was the men who, in different cultures, considered these practices as anomalous, denatured, etc. So, the homosexuality in humans it is condemned in different degrees of intensity by almost all the societies of the planet.
But, What are the most widespread myths about the gay community?
What does science tell us about gays? Uncovering some myths about homosexuality
The homophobia and cultural abuse towards homosexuals is not usually news, and among the many myths and falsehoods that have been uttered against homosexuality, prejudices abound based on their supposed inability to be fathers or mothers, their promiscuity, or the correlation between homosexuality and pedophilia / pedophilia.
However, a good number of studies dismantle this string of Myths
5. Homosexuality goes against nature
It should be noted that, in the animal kingdom, homosexuality is well present . It is something much more common than one might suppose. There are many species that have sex with individuals of the same sex, practices related to survival, the strengthening of social and affective ties, biological adaptation and factors associated with the evolution of species.
The recurrent myth that homosexuality is something that goes against the laws of nature and that we only have to maintain relations with individuals of the other sex, is not supported from a natural perspective. Besides the human being, there are 1,500 animal species that maintain homosexual relationships , like for example the penguins, the swans, the chimpanzees, giraffes ... In this sense, the scientific community that studies the animal biology agrees in affirming that not every sexual act has as its purpose the reproductive function.
4. Homosexual relationships are promiscuous and short-lived
One of the most repeated clichés about homosexuals is that which states that their sentimental relationships are more superficial, or less lasting, or less "romantic" than heterosexual relationships. This idea does not seem to make much sense either. Several investigations developed by the University of Washington overturned the stereotype with contrasted data.
They collected data for 12 years about the development, relationship and activity of homosexual couples, finding that 20% of them had ended the relationship during this period. By contrast, the progression of this percentage of ruptures data was lower than that of heterosexual couples . Several researchers pointed out that the conclusions should begin to consolidate greater respect towards same-sex couples, away from topics and phobias.
3. Many pedophiles are homosexual
Many people agree that pedophilia is one of the most macabre and reprehensible crimes that exist, and point out that homosexual men are the ones who tend to be the protagonists of these infamous acts. Of course, this generalization leaves homosexuals in a terrible place.
For this reason, many researchers have studied this topic to see to what degree this cliché was true, and the results have concluded that such a relationship is non-existent. For example, an investigation by the Institute of Psychiatry in Clark, Canada, showed photographs of children and adolescents of both sexes to homosexual and heterosexual men, while recording data of sexual arousal of the subjects. The results resolved that heterosexual men tended to become more aroused than homosexuals, particularly when viewing photos of girls .
Years later, at the University of Denver, Colorado, 265 children who had been victims of sexual abuse by adults were studied. In 82% of the participants, the aggressor was a heterosexual person and close to the child. Only two cases (out of a total of 265) were recorded in which the criminal was a homosexual person. As a result, the researchers concluded that the link between homosexuality and pedophilia not only lacked empirical support, but was a much weaker relationship than in people hetero.
2. Homosexuals can not raise children well
Opponents of gay marriage are often against the adoption of children by homosexual couples. They claim that homosexual parents can negatively influence the child, because "the child needs a mother and a father to be able to grow properly". However, the data reveal again that these claims have no basis in reality.
In 2011, a study was conducted that explored a total of 90 adolescents. Half of them, 45, lived with parents of the same sex, while the remaining 45 were children of traditional families. Some factors of his daily life and his academic and social performance were analyzed, and it was reported that both groups obtained symmetrical results , with the point that the children of homosexual parents had slightly higher academic qualifications.
Other studies concluded that Children raised in homoparental families were less likely to participate in vandalism or criminals that the children of heterosexual parents. "The data suggest that children raised with same-sex parents are equally valid and equal (or even somewhat superior) to children raised with heterosexual parents," said Tim Biblarz, a sociologist at the University of California.
1. Homosexuality is a pathology that can be cured
In somewhat retrograde environments, homosexuality is often referred to as 'disease'. This idea comes from people who argue that homosexuality is an inclination that can be "cured if an appropriate path is followed." However, the human, biological and especially genetic sciences have indicated that same-sex attraction part of a genetic characteristic, and therefore has a biological foundation .
To test whether genetic material was linked to homosexuality, scientists have observed and compared identical twins (who share all the genes) and fraternal twins (who share approximately 50%). The results showed that almost all identical twins shared the same sexual inclination, but the same did not happen with fraternal twins. This suggested that there is a genetic factor responsible for determining the sexual orientation of the individual.
Other investigations have provided data indicating that Some biological factors, such as the exposure of certain hormones in the uterus, can also influence the sexual orientation of the subject . It seems that certain physiological differences, such as some forms of the inner ear between heterosexual and lesbian women, contribute to reinforce this idea. "The data support the theory that asymmetries in the central nervous system exist between individuals with different sexual orientations, and that these differences may be linked to early factors in brain development," explains Sandra Witelson, professor of neurosciences at the University of California. McMaster, Canada.
