- This article or section should be merged with Prevalence of homosexuality into Demographics of sexual orientation, in part, and the remainder with History of sexuality. See Talk:Prevalence of heterosexuality.
Most people in most societies around the world have mostly experienced heterosexual attraction and engaged in predominantly heterosexual behavior.
Some societies have institutionalized ritual homosexual behavior, such that most members (or sometimes, most men) will have engaged in sex acts with both males and females (but not necessarily feel sponteneous sexual attraction to those with whom they engage in ritual sex acts).
Some communities, such as modern gay villages, may have high concentrations of homosexual and bisexual people (by sexual attraction and behavior), such that people who experience only heterosexual attraction and behavior are a minority.
Some societies have stigmatized or even criminalized some or all forms of non-heterosexual behavior and attraction, but in others, bisexual attraction and behavior (or certain proscribed forms thereof) have been tolerated, considered normal for anyone, or (mostly in modern times) considered valid "alternatives."
Many forms of heterosexual behavior and attraction have also been stigmatized or criminalized by various societies, including pre-marital sex, polygamy, inter-racial marriage, divorce, non-submission of women, non-vaginal intercource, the use of birth control, the use of mechanical devices for sexual stimulation, and various modes of dress and interaction (e.g. BDSM).
The term "heterosexual" and the conception of "heterosexuality" as an element of personal identity (with regard to attraction or self-affiliation) is largely a modern Western phenomenon (starting with the invention of the term "homosexual" in the early 1900s.)
Sometimes heterosexual marriage or ritual sex acts are enforced through social pressure, or in some cases, force. For example, the LDS Church considers heterosexual marriage a requirement for entry to the highest level of heaven.
Further complicating things, in many societies, both historical and modern, gender is seen as something not entirely fixed, as is the case with the Hijra of India and the Berdache in many Native American cultures, presenting yet another alternative to our rigorously gendered views of sexuality.
For a detailed description of heterosexuality in various societies, see History of sexuality.
Kinsey's findings
Heterosexuality usually implies an exclusive or predominant sexual orientation toward persons of the opposite gender. In some studies, however - notably Dr. Alfred Kinsey's Sexual Behavior in the Human Male (1948) (ISBN 0253334128) and Sexual Behavior in the Human Female (1953) (ISBN 025333411X) - analysis of self-rated sexuality on a continuum from exclusively heterosexual to exclusively homosexual along with analysis of behavior and identity suggests that the majority of people are at least somewhat bisexual, although usually one sex is preferred. According to Kinsey, only a minority of people, approximately 5–10%, can be considered to be fully heterosexual. [1] While they are accepted by the APA, Kinsey's conclusions remain controversial, though they seem to contradict our contemporary notions of how sexuality can be meaningfully categorized, raising the question of how accurately we can make claims about the prevalence of heterosexuality even in our own society.
See also
Causes of sexual orientation -- Genetics and sexual orientation -- Prevalence of homosexuality
References
- Katz, Jonathan Ned (1995) The Invention of Heterosexuality. NY, NY: Dutton (Penguin Books). ISBN 0525938451
- A.C. Kinsey, W.B. Pomeroy, C.E. Martin, Sexual Behavior in the Human Male, (Philadelphia, PA: W.B. Saunders, 1948)
- A.C. Kinsey, W.B. Pomeroy, C.E. Martin, P.H. Gebhard, Sexual Behavior in the Human Female, (Philadelphia, PA: W.B. Saunders, 1953)
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