homosexuality
/'houmouseksju'æliti/ Cách viết khác : (homoerotism) /,houmou'erətizm/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A sexual orientation characterized by a primary or exclusive romantic and/or sexual attraction to persons of one's own sex or gender. This is the core definition, focusing on the pattern of attraction.
- The state or condition of being homosexual. This refers to the identity or characteristic itself.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- The study explored societal attitudes toward homosexuality.
- He was open about his homosexuality from a young age.
- The law criminalized homosexuality for many decades.
Advanced Usage
- Clinical/Historical Context: In older psychological and medical texts, "homosexuality" was sometimes classified as a disorder or pathology. Modern scientific consensus, as reflected by major health organizations, does not classify it as such.
- The diagnostic manual no longer lists homosexuality as a mental illness.
- In academic discourse: The term is often used in sociology, psychology, and gender studies to discuss identity, community, and social structures.
- Her research focuses on the history of homosexuality in the 20th century.
Variants and Related Words
- Homosexual (adj/n): Pertaining to or characterized by homosexuality; a person who experiences homosexuality.
- Homosexual relationships have gained legal recognition in many countries.
- Homosexual (n): (Can be used as a noun, though many prefer terms like "gay man" or "lesbian").
- He is a homosexual. (Note: While grammatically correct, many consider "gay" or "lesbian" to be more common and less clinical.)
- Gay (adj/n): Commonly used to describe men attracted to men, and sometimes as an umbrella term for all homosexual people.
- Lesbian (adj/n): Specifically refers to women who are attracted to women.
Synonyms
- Same-sex attraction: A more descriptive, sometimes clinical phrase.
- Gayness: An informal synonym, often used within the community.
Related Phrases
- To come out (as homosexual/gay/lesbian): To disclose one's homosexuality to others.
- She came out to her family last year.
- Homosexual acts: Specific sexual behaviors between persons of the same sex, often used in legal contexts.
- The old statute prohibited homosexual acts.
Related Idioms
(Note: There are few common idioms directly using the word "homosexuality." Cultural expressions more commonly use related terms like "gay" or "lesbian.") - In the closet: Keeping one's homosexuality a secret. - He lived in the closet for many years before coming out. (This idiom uses the related concept but not the exact target word.)
Noun
- a sexual attraction to (or sexual relations with) persons of the same sex