Sexual Diversity in Cosmopolitan Perspective

Abstract

This article surveys recent shifts in sexological understanding of sexual diversity, emphasizing how thinking in terms of the 3 sexual binaries—male/female, masculine/feminine, same sex/opposite sex—preference has receded. It correlates these shifts with greater understanding around the world of the complexities of sex and sexual behavior and with studies of prejudice that emphasize the importance of defensive group identities requiring ascetic practice in the development of intolerance for sexual diversity. Ascetic group-identity traditions within the Abrahamic monotheistic religions are compared. Finally, this article suggests a redefinition of sexual pathology in terms of the abusive quality of pathological relationships rather than in the older terms of deviancy or perversion. As an example of redefinition, pedophilia is discussed as an abusive relationship with a child involving prejudice against children (named childism).