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9 Answer any one of the given questions.
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Introduction
People’s worldview are influenced by a number of factors, three of the most important are
religion, culture, and tradition. We state this because our worldview shapes our thought
processes and beliefs.1 It is commonly assumed that people go about their lives according
to how they perceive the world and that perception is cultivated by culture. As Castells
(1997) said, a major influence of identity formation and maintenance is culture. Therefore
1
"Worldview forms some of the most fundamental portions of cultures and serves to
distinguish one culture from another…Worldview thus represents one of the most essential
qualities of culture impacting all aspects of how a culture perceives and recognizes the
environment." (Intercultural Communication: A Reader, Pg. 28)
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we can deduce that identity is socially constructed as a result of culture. This produces a
culturally bound concept of the 'socially appropriate' identity.
An integral part of identity along with race, ethnicity, and religion, is gender. In the current
era, gender is more than dualism – male or female; the age old classification is being
challenged to make room for alternative gender identities and gender orientations.
In this essay, we will touch upon the history of LGBT communities, the emergence of these
groups in western societies and reason why it is not acceptable in eastern societies till date.
History of LGBT
LGBT is an acronym for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender identities. "In modern
usage, the term LGBT is intended to emphasize a diversity of 'sexuality and gender
2
In 1952, when the American Psychiatric Association published its first Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, homosexuality was included as a disorder.
2
In 1989, Denmark became the first country to recognize same-sex unions in the form of
"registered partnerships". In 2001, the Netherlands became the first nation to grant same-
sex marriages.
The public acceptance of gays in the military grew from 51% in a 1977 Gallup Poll to 80% in
2003. Approval of gays as elementary school teachers grew from 27% in 1977 to 61% over
the same period. (Beiderman and Ricci, 2004)
"Media portrayals of lesbians and gays have helped both to perpetuate stereotypes and,
more recently to promote tolerance and acceptance." (Intercultural Communication: A
Reader, Pg. 221)
It can be argued that media has, over the years, helped made LGBT mainstream in Western
societies in comparison to Eastern societies.
Let us first examine the stereotypical portrayal of gay men in news magazine stories.
According to Smyth (2004), a study identified four classic stereotypes of gay men: (1) gay
males are effeminate, (2) gay males are 'sick' or mentally ill, (3) gay males are sexual
predators, and (4) gay males are 'violent, libido-driven monsters'.3
An example of the product of such stereotyping would be "Bruno", a comedy film about a
gay Austrian fashion reporter who travels around the world.
Recent celebrities in the media however have been vocal about their orientations and are
rapidly gaining acceptance. Famous examples include, Ellen DeGeneres, who is a renowned
an American stand-up comedienne, television hostess and actress. She hosts the syndicated
talk show 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show' which has high viewer ratings.4 Nate Berkus, a well-
respected interior designer, frequents the 'Oprah Winfrey Show' and is popular with the
audience. The audience also sympathized with him on the loss of his partner in the 2004
Indian Ocean tsunami. The show 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy' aired on Bravo had 3.5
million viewers in 2003 (Entertainment Weekly, Pg. 42). The film, Brokeback Mountain,
released in 2005 received rave reviews (Empire, Rolling Stone).
3
Since the textbook/author of the essay does not explicitly quote the region where the
study was conducted, it can be concluded that the study was conducted in North America.
4
According to Nielsen Ratings; the show has also won 25 Emmy Awards in its first three
seasons on the air.
3
Examining media portrayal of homosexuality in Eastern media, 'Fire' (1996) - the first
Indian film to explicitly show homosexual relations caused riots and vandalism when
screened. A known Indian politician, Bal Thackery, compared lesbianism to 'a sort of a social
AIDS' which might 'spread like an epidemic' (Bearak, 1998).
Pakistani host and actor, Ali Saleem, also known as, Begum Nawazish Ali's 'Late Night with
Begum Nawazish Ali' is a bold attempt at making homosexuality acceptable in the Pakistani
society.
Looking into Middle Eastern societies, issue number 26 of the women's magazine 'Sayyidaty'
talks about transgender issues which shows that the subject of LGBT is slowly veering off
the taboo of discussing about it in the media. In the UAE, reports of sodomy in the media
suggest that homosexuality is underground and covert in the region.5 Article 354 of the
Federal Penal Code of the UAE states: "Whoever commits rape on a female or sodomy with
a male shall be punished by death."
Transgenders6 in Pakistan, Bangladesh and India, are known as 'Hijras'. They are
marginalized in the society and have very few employment opportunities. In November
2009, India agreed to list eunuchs and transgender people as "others", distinct from males
and females, in voting rolls and voter identity cards. Likewise in Pakistan, Chief Justice
Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary had ordered the government to recognize eunuchs as a
distinct gender in a landmark move towards granting their sidelined community rights. (PK
on Web, 2010)
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/darticlen.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2009/June/theuae_June79.x
ml§ion=theuae
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10218234/
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These identities have no exact match in the modern Western taxonomy of gender and
sexual orientation. Most are born apparently male, but some may be intersex (with
ambiguous genitalia). They are often perceived as a third sex, and most see themselves as
neither men nor women. However, some may see themselves (or be seen as) females,
feminine males or androgynies. Some, especially those who speak English and are
influenced by international discourses around sexual minorities may identify as transgender
or transsexual women. (Wikipedia, 2010)
4
Proposed reasons for inhibition of LGBT in Eastern societies
Since Eastern and Western societies have different value system and beliefs, the reasons for
the acceptance of LGBT communities in Western societies and inhibition in Eastern societies
can be rationalized through the following points:
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Except Mexico
5
member in Western society is more acceptable. (Intercultural Communication: A Reader,
Pg. 19 and pg. 20)
6
Shame vs. Guilt
According to Dodd's (1987) categorization, worldview elements are divided into nine groups,
most of which stereotypically contrast the East and the West. Of these elements, the
element of 'shame vs. guilt' can be applied to the reason of inhibition of LGBT members in
Eastern societies. An Easterner, bringing shame to a group is likely to be cast out of it.
Westerners consider the individual more important than the group. Saving face is important
in the East. (Intercultural Communication: A Reader, Pg. 30)
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Those who reject religious faith still follow much of the religious heritage that influences
their culture, (Intercultural Communication: A Reader, pg. 31)
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right to profess such a belief is accepted. It may be argued that some Eastern societies
believe in the exercise of freedom of speech too as laid down by their constitution but the
legality marking homosexuality as a criminal offence purports the view that homosexuality
harms the society.
Conclusion
The acceptance or rejection of homosexuality is, as we can see, a result of differences in
cultural value systems and beliefs in Eastern and Western societies.
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Works Cited
Samovar, Larry A.; Porter, Richard E.; McDaniel Edwin R. 'Intercultural Communication: A
Reader.' 12th Edition.
Ricci, James; Biederman, Patricia Ward. "Acceptance of gays on rise, polls show." Los
Angeles Times (2004). Sodomy Laws. Last retrieved: January 25, 2010.
http://www.glapn.org/sodomylaws/usa/usnews094.htm
"A Tale of Two Networks." Entertainment Weekly #1001. July 11, 2008. Pg. 42.
Bearak, Barry. "New Delhi Journal; A Lesbian Idyll, and the Movie Theaters Surrender."
December 24, 1998. Last retrieved: January 25, 2010.
http://www.nytimes.com/1998/12/24/world/new-delhi-journal-a-lesbian-idyll-and-the-
movie-theaters-surrender.html?pagewanted=1
LGBT rights in United Arab Emirates. Wikipedia. Last retrieved: January 25, 2010.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_United_Arab_Emirates
AFP. "Pakistan move towards eunuch rights." December 24, 2009. Last retrieved: January
25, 2010.
http://pkonweb.com/tag/eunuchs-in-pakistan/
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Nguyen, Minh T. "Civil rights – the history of gay rights." 1999. Last retrieved: January 25,
2010.
http://www.enderminh.com/minh/civilrights.aspx
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