monogamy, oedipal love, and social recognition

Firstly, I really enjoyed Bersani's Essay. It emphasizes the societal conflict surrounding monogamy and homosexuality. He wen't into the heart of the argument of heteronormativity and how Americans respond. In this point, I completely agree. Consider the president, political elections are rarely determined by positions on issues concerning the population. Rather, Americans look toward potential scandal and the family background of a candidate. The presidential position is usually held by the established powers in the US (generally white, male, heterosexual, and Christian). Bersani writes, why can't society be "grounded in sameness rather than in prejudicial hierarchies of difference"? I agree, Americans are too consumed with maintaining the established norm. We need to celebrate our differences, race, religion, and sexual orientation. remember the controversy around Obama about whether he was Muslim? What about the mosque that was going to be built a few blocks from ground zero? What does it matter? Americans are still so against differences yet they are good for our nation. Americans are better at tolerating difference, but like Bersani said, we need to stop tolerating difference and start embracing it. With more recognition to minorities, we can break down barriers and gay rights and marriage can be established.

On the topic of monogamy and homosexuality, I disagree with Bersani. However, I will say that, like we discussed in class, that middle-aged adults that are not married are looked down upon. They don't follow the normative roles of Americans, thus they are considered a minority and are under-represented. Freud and Bersani's "Oedipal love" theory is inaccurate in my opinion. Gayness, just like transgender individuals is a product of biology. Like we discussed in class, we read about a boy who always wanted to play with dolls, who always identified himself as a girl. Gender identity may have some merit with the environment but I do not believe it has much to do with which parent we identify ourselves with. Does this Oedipal theory mean that all boys raised by single mom's will be homosexual? This is ridiculous, although I do find agreement with Bersani's argument that a child's level of masculinity or femininity has some to do with their future sexual orientation or the parent they identify. I identify with my mother but there are times when I get along with and act just like my dad. In conclusion, this essay has a copious amount of information, of which I took just the pieces that struck me most. The societal boundaries we have created for ourselves need to be broken if we plan on a unified nation where gays can marry and monogamy isn't necessary.