ABSTRACT
The chapter explores the social construct, associated meanings, identities, and assumptions related to sexuality and sexual orientation. The chapter begins by offering basic definitions of sexuality, sexual orientation, and heterosexism. In exploring sexuality as social construct, the chapter illustrates how sexuality is not only about sexual orientation label or identity and considers multiple experiential, emotional, and behavioral aspects of sexuality and sexual expression. It differentiates sexuality from gender while bearing in mind the ways in which our understanding of sexual orientation, particularly, has been shaped by a binary construction of gender. In exploring sexual identity, the chapter describes sexual identity development and emphasizes new and emerging language and understandings of sexual orientation and identity. In exploring heterosexism, the chapter considers sexuality related oppression at multiple ecological levels (individual, interpersonal, institutional) and the ways in which heterosexism is as much about maintaining heterosexual privilege and hegemonic normality as it is about specific oppressive acts directed at sexual minorities. The chapter concludes by considering the major changes in attitudes to and legal treatment of sexual minorities. The chapter includes reflection exercises for readers to explore their assumptions and stereotypes, personal experiences and identity, experiences of privilege and/or oppression, and invites them to consider the experiences of those who are different than themselves.
