Homophobia

[Fawkes]

Lately, seeing as there are so many topics in here relating to homo/bisexuality, I was wondering why the word "homophobia" is used to describe something that I believe could be much better described using the term "heterosexism".

[SUPERninjapirate]

I believe people would rather discriminate against others than refer to themselves.

[chimx]

because nobody uses the term and nobody knows what it means.

[Black Dagger]

Originally posted by chimx+January 24, 2007 07:48 am--> (chimx @ January 24, 2007 07:48 am) because nobody uses the term and nobody knows what it means. [/b]
I use the term sporadically, depending on context, i.e. if im talking about an issue that effects lesbians or gay men exclusively or one that effects queer people generally.

It's not as widespread a term as homophobia, but its growing in currency year-to-year, after being practically non-existant only a couple of years ago.

As for its meaning, i assumed it was obvious (esp. considering you have the benefit of context with which to make an inference), but it refers to discrimination or prejudice against LGBT people by heterosexuals.


SUPERninjapirate
I believe people would rather discriminate against others than refer to themselves.

Interesting observation.

[rvn10]

hahaha black dagger, your avatar is funny, which fighters are those? UFC or Pride? That was pretty weird.

[Luís Henrique]

Originally posted by [email protected] 23, 2007 09:48 pm
because nobody uses the term and nobody knows what it means.
Yes, this is the basic reason. Words are conventional. That's why we use "anti-semitism" to denote something that has no relation to "semites", or that we call "Spanish" a language that "should" be called "Castillian".

But the term "homophobia" may well be a confusing word, for there are two different things that tend to be mixed in its semantical field:

1. the intelectual consideration that homosexuality (both masculine and feminine) is deviant, immoral, abnormal, contrary to the purposes of God/Nature/Evolution/whatever deity, detrimental to society, etc, and thence homosexual people should be persecuted/exterminated/discriminated/cured.

2. the irrational fear/hate of masculine homosexuality and homosexuals on the part of male heterosexuals (probably intimately linked with repressed homosexuality).

Luís Henrique

[Black Dagger]

Originally posted by Luís Henrique

But the term "homophobia" may well be a confusing word, for there are two different things that tend to be mixed in its semantical field:

Very good point.

I've heard a lot of people try to explain away their own prejudices, disguise them or play them now buy hiding behind ambiguities in language, or at least in the term 'homophobia' itself.

Saying stuff like, 'oh well i cant be homphobic, im not afraid of gay people' etc. as if the sole meaning of the term referred to some kind of 'phobia'; sure being 'uncomfortable' around queers (like we all got diseases or we're gonna rape you or sumting) is a part of 'homophobia', but homophobia applies to a whole range of attitudes, ideas and actions some more explicit or obvious than others.

[Reuben]

Originally posted by Black Dagger+January 24, 2007 02:31 pm--> (Black Dagger @ January 24, 2007 02:31 pm)
Luís Henrique

But the term "homophobia" may well be a confusing word, for there are two different things that tend to be mixed in its semantical field:

Very good point.

I've heard a lot of people try to explain away their own prejudices, disguise them or play them now buy hiding behind ambiguities in language, or at least in the term 'homophobia' itself.

Saying stuff like, 'oh well i cant be homphobic, im not afraid of gay people' etc. as if the sole meaning of the term referred to some kind of 'phobia'; sure being 'uncomfortable' around queers (like we all got diseases or we're gonna rape you or sumting) is a part of 'homophobia', but homophobia applies to a whole range of attitudes, ideas and actions some more explicit or obvious than others. [/b]
Yes, words take on a social meaning which is distinct from that which might be derived from deconstructing them semantically - and in the end it is the social meaning which is most signifcant. The term homophobia is a useful means of describing and conceptualising the range of attitudes to which you refer. To be honest i get fucking annoyed with people playiung stupid word games in relation to the term 'anti-semitism' (ie i'm not an anti-semite because jews arent semitic/im an arab and arabs are semites). The point is that both homophobia and anti-semitsim refer to real social and historical phenomena, and this sufficient for such terms to be useful in political discussion.

Reuben

[Fawkes]

As for its meaning, i assumed it was obvious (esp. considering you have the benefit of context with which to make an inference), but it refers to discrimination or prejudice against LGBT people by heterosexuals.
Well, I have always known what it means, I just thought that it wasn't the best word for the job.

That wouldn't be UFC because UFC fighters don't wear gloves.