Summary
Contents
Subject index
Questions of sexuality and gender affect everyone and therefore have an inevitable relevance in the consulting room. Yet with interpretations and manifestations of both varying greatly from person to person, understanding the inherent complexities of sexuality and gender can be a daunting task for the health professional. Breaking down these complexities this practical guide familiarises the reader with all of the common and many of the less common sexualities, genders and relationship forms, and explains experiences and issues relating to each. The book contains: -Explanations of various forms of sexuality, gender and relationship structures; -Common concerns relating to specific groups; -Key practises relating to specific groups; -The treatment of specific groups in contemporary Western society; -Details of some rules and ideals that are commonly found within specific groups; -Suggestions for professional practice with these groups
Ideal for all members of the multidisciplinary team, this accessible book is relevant to practitioners across theoretical backgrounds. Whether you are a trainee or qualified psychotherapist, counsellor, nurse, medic, psychiatrist, social worker or applied psychologist, this is a vital text for your professional practice.
CHRISTINA RICHARDS is Senior Specialist Psychology Associate at the West London Mental Health NHS Trust (Charing Cross) Gender Identity Clinic.
MEG BARKER is a senior lecturer in psychology at the Open University and a sex and relationship therapist.
Heterosexuality
Heterosexuality
This chapter aims to:
- Consider heterosexuality as a distinct and diverse sexuality in its own right.
- Explore the problems that can occur when adhering to normative sexuality too rigidly.
- Examine key practices around the relationships and sexual encounters of heterosexual people.
- Cover societal norms and expectations of heterosexual people, and the social and psychological categories which they may be placed in if they fail to meet these expectations.
Introduction
This chapter considers heterosexuality, which is attraction to the ‘other gender’ (as opposed to the ‘same gender’ or more than one gender, covered in Chapters 8 and 9). The word straight is also frequently used for this sexual identity. It is important to note that people in a romantic relationship between a man and a woman may not, themselves, be heterosexual, ...
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