Functionalist Theory Of Gender And Homosexuality

Identity is very important to each person, the meaning of the words and actions reflect to the person’s specification. There are multiple definitions of identity, more theorists have intense debates of the real basis of describing, whether it is ontological or metaphysical. Sex and gender are both formations of identifying a person. Additionally, sex was acquired from birth with “biological and physiological characteristics that define men and women” (World Health Organization, 2016). For example, male and female have different reproductive organs on the emphasis that women give birth and men do not. Moreover, the impression of having different features, man or woman comes with the completion of gestures, roles and appearance to be recognized

The focal point of conventional community particularly in Russia, is to encourage that social stability in the society is based on tradition, patriarchy and religion. These affect homosexuality because, it became illegal and deviant as they cannot conform to the needs and rules of the society. (Schaaf, 2013), Homosexuality is an alien or mental illness to Russian Orthodox because of the Russian norms of machismo or patriarchy. Additionally, due to labelling and categorizing gender, it creates fear, suffering, disobedience and deprivation of liberty to homosexuality. The Functionalist perspectives disproved their theory of value consensus by establishing gender roles and reproduction, because homosexuals have their own mental capacity to think and beliefs, feelings cannot be dictated and there are other methods of reproduction of next generation. In fact, new technologies like IVF or test tube babies and surrogacy are some methods for reproduction of next group (Thornes, 2008). In addition, The traditional community is very much different from cosmopolitan countries such as Polynesia, which accepts that there are more than two genders and people performs in a diverse way. For example, “Mahu” is an individual who embraces two identities of male and female and it was in the Hawaiin history. They can enjoy their married life by choosing the right person, in any gender (Snow, 2015). In Modern society, “Third gender” is recognized, accepted and respected in their community. This point of view leads the community with; stability, peace and order, and united which makes their life easier and happy. (Snow, 2015), The highest honours of an individual can give to their family and community is to be true and be legitimate, it is by accepting the all identities. Consequently, Functionalist approach overlooked some factors