Sexual Identities and Socialization

The term sexual identity has a long and varied history in the study of gender and society. Psychologists and, eventually, sexologists, used the term to describe individuals' sex characteristics—the biological body, female or male, with which individuals identify. Sexologists in particular have researched the different processes by which individuals form their sexual identity. In this sense, sexual identity addresses the inner psychological state of male or female of individuals. Today, sexual identity primarily refers to sexual orientation, either “gay” (homosexual), “bi” (bisexual) or “straight” (heterosexual). Researchers often examine sexual identity in correlation with gender identity, which addresses the social regulation of sexes based on assigning roles to each gender through assumptions of the natural, innate abilities or differences within one sex or the other (such as femininity in women and masculinity in men). Sexual identity, however, works outside of gender identities (but sometimes in conjunction with gender issues).

Sexual identities in the United States and abroad are increasingly of concern in public political debate. Some Western European nations, including Spain and the United Kingdom, have begun legalizing same-sex marriages and unions for the first time in contemporary society. The civil rights issues of same-sex couples have received increasing media coverage, as more and more political and celebrity figures divulge their same-sex partnerships. Political debates about sexual identity in contemporary society make it especially important to understand the historical contexts of sexual identities, how views on sexual identity in contemporary cultural contexts are changing, and why these changes are happening now. This entry includes an examination of sexual identity in the United States, various approaches to studying sexual identity, and contemporary theoretical and political debates surrounding sexual identity.