ABSTRACT
In sharp contrast to the heterosexist views of some people in Western society, the majority of other cultures that have been studied by anthropologists condone at least some forms of same sex eroticism as socially acceptable behavior. Married couples in particular turn to them since, as “half men/half women,” they can see things from the perspective of both sexes. In contrast to Western sexist views, where a male who acts like a woman is considered to be “lowering himself” to the subordinate female status, in the egalitarian American Indian religions feminine roles are accorded equal respect with men’s roles. In most Western cultures, such people are often considered misfits, an embarrassment to the family. They often leave the family in shame or are thrown out by homophobic relatives, the family thereby losing the benefit of their productive labor. Psychological theory suggests that if a family does not love and support such children, they will quickly internalize a negative self-image.
