Sociological Research on Male and Female Homosexuality

We review four topics which have dominated the research on homosexuality in the last decade. First, we address the question of etiology which is now best described as the essentialist/constructionist debate. Second, we review the research on the relationship between sexuality and gender role nonconformity. Third, we critique the studies of intimate relationships. Finally, we present a summary of the research on the gay community, including the impact of AIDS on gay male culture. We critique much of the previous literature for presuming sexual desire can be used to categorize human beings into homosexual versus heterosexual types. We suggest instead that the term “homosexual” is more appropriately used as an adjective rather than a noun. Future research needs to begin the arduous task of developing a more general sociology of desire.