Homosexuality in Eighteenth Century England - 1079 Words

Though same-sex relationships have been a prominent aspect of many cultures almost since the beginning of time, there has historically been a significant taboo surrounding the phenomenon in the Western world. From the Fourteenth Century on, Western Europe was gripped by a rabid and obsessive negative preoccupation with homosexuality as the most horrible of sins (Boswell 262). The majority of people did not understand or accept the idea, and consequentially did not have an appropriate way of talking about it. Over the years, as various cultures identified and even implemented practices currently associated with homosexuality, there arose a need for common terminology. Until the eighteenth century, it was referred to through the practices†¦show more content†¦This recognition of sodomy as the characterizing practice of homosexuals indicates societys general disregard of women as homosexuals. It was apparently beyond the capability of most people during the eighteenth century e ven to consider that women could engage in any practice so unnatural and strange. Women, themselves, used this disbelief to their advantage, as in the case of a woman suspected of homosexual involvement, a suspected Mistress Clap, who was asked by a judge whether she had anything to say for herself. I hope it will be considered that I am a woman, she replied briefly, and therefore it cannot be thought that I would ever be concerned with such practices (Hyde 64). Besides denying any involvement by women in such practices, one of the other beliefs commonly held in England during the eighteenth century was that young boys learned, or were inadvertently taught to be homosexual. One widely-accepted belief blamed the teaching of such deviance on their schooling. Male bonding in schools was crucial. Its result was radical female isolation and a complex pattern of male friendship codes instilled by years of male bonding (Rousseau 144). In another argument against schools in the charge of encouraging homosexual tendencies, An early eighteenth century work called Plain Reasons for the Growth of Sodomy in England blames the custom of sending young boys to kindergartens run by women forShow MoreRelatedGay Marriage and Asian Culture Essay848 Words   |  4 Pagescontext? The history of gay marriage is short but not liked as much. From the history of gay marriages there are an estimated number of 250 million people who live in places which accept gay marriage; this is about 4% of world’s population. In the 2nd century in Rome, men of the same age were legally allowed to marry where they were considered to be pagans and the marriages were conducted by the Mother Goddess (Celeste 2010). 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