Isn't the term "homophobia" incorrect?

[David Jerome]

I don't know where else to put this, and this forum seemed like the closest fit.

But wouldn't "homophobia" imply fear of homosexuals, rather than bigotry toward them? Yes, it can be argued that a lot of hate comes from fear...but still. It seems incorrect.

 

[wayseer]

People are bigoted/racist/sexist because they fear.

 

[Incariol]

I don't know where else to put this, and this forum seemed like the closest fit.

But wouldn't "homophobia" imply fear of homosexuals, rather than bigotry toward them? Yes, it can be argued that a lot of hate comes from fear...but still. It seems incorrect.

But a lot of hate does come from fear. Browse the right-wing rhetoric and its all paranoia about how if gays can get married society will collapse. I remember how the military was going to collapse and America be invaded and destroyed if DADT was repealed. There was one poster on this forum who was obsessed with the idea that homosexuals would literally go on a mass raping spree the second DADT was gone.

No, I think it is a good term, because all the bigotry in the end really is based on a fear of homosexuality for whatever reason.

 

[Theofane]

Isn't the term "homophobia" incorrect?

It is. Technically, "homophobia" means "fear of men" (homo=man) or possibly "fear of sameness." (homo=same) A word like "gayophobia" would be more accurate, if a little awkward. Would a homophile be a person who loves men or sameness?

 

[Theofane]

People are bigoted/racist/sexist because they fear.

Does fear precede hatred?

 

[ebia]

I don't know where else to put this, and this forum seemed like the closest fit.

But wouldn't "homophobia" imply fear of homosexuals, rather than bigotry toward them? Yes, it can be argued that a lot of hate comes from fear...but still. It seems incorrect.

Etymology doesn't always tell you what a word actually means. Etymologically "nice" means stupid or foolish.

Yes, etymologically "homophobia" should mean "fear-of...", and fear of difference is certainly part of the issue, but the word has expanded to have meaning beyond its etymology.

 

[GrowingSmaller]

I take inspiration from Buddhist teaching where sexual pleasure can be understood as a desire realm phenomenon. My dharma teacher said that desire fulfilment is ok to a degree, but there are those perennial wars between the desire realm Gods which people of the desire realm have to fight in. I use this image as an analogy for our situaltion where alongside sex there is drugs, boxing, smoking etc over which people are battling for the the right to practice or prohibit as means of fulfilling desire.

 

[Theofane]

I think the intention behind the word "homophobia" is a heterosexual man's fear of his "inner gay" brought out by close proximity to gay men. I don't like this at all because it speciously implies that all straight men are just closeted gay men. It speciously implies that everyone is gay, no matter how they act or what they say.

 

[Amber the Duskbringer]

Etymology doesn't always tell you what a word actually means. Etymologically "nice" means stupid or foolish.

With how the GoP acts sometimes they might have a fear of that too

 

[David Jerome]

When I was a kid, I remember "homophobia" as being a man's fear of others thinking he was gay. Like not crying, or making eye contact with men in a bathroom...all actions of "homophobia", as I remember it when I was kid.

 

[bricklayer]

I don't know where else to put this, and this forum seemed like the closest fit.

But wouldn't "homophobia" imply fear of homosexuals, rather than bigotry toward them? Yes, it can be argued that a lot of hate comes from fear...but still. It seems incorrect.

Homophobia is the fear of one's self. In cases of extreme reaction to homosexuals, the term homophobia implies one's fear that one's self is homosexual.

Me thinks thou dost protest too much.

 

[jayem]

Strictly speaking, homophobia is a misnomer as it's commonly used. Medically, a phobia is an anxiety disorder. In a true specific phobia, a trigger will nearly always result in an acute anxiety reaction with physical symptoms such as palpitations, chest discomfort, shortness of breath, and faintness. To be clinically signifcant, it must interfere with a patient's activities of daily living. AFAIK, it would be extraordinarily rare for someone to suffer a panic attack by being around a homosexual. A much better term for dislike of, or antagonsim toward homosexuality would be homo-aversion. But it's not as euphonious.

 

[Wiccan_Child]

The word originally referred to a person's fear of gay people (or of being perceived to be gay oneself), but now refers to any form of prejudice or discrimination against, or fear of, non-heterosexuals. It's the gay equivalent of 'racism' or 'sexism' - prejudice based on sexual orientation, race, sex, age, etc.

As fascinating as it is, the etymology of a word is no indication of its meaning. Browse this site to see what I mean.

 

[Merope]

The word originally referred to a person's fear of gay people (or of being perceived to be gay oneself), but now refers to any form of prejudice or discrimination against, or fear of, non-heterosexuals. It's the gay equivalent of 'racism' or 'sexism' - prejudice based on sexual orientation, race, sex, age, etc.

As fascinating as it is, the etymology of a word is no indication of its meaning. Browse this site to see what I mean.

Perhaps heterosexism would be a more apt descriptor.

 

[razeontherock]

I don't know where else to put this, and this forum seemed like the closest fit.

But wouldn't "homophobia" imply fear of homosexuals, rather than bigotry toward them? Yes, it can be argued that a lot of hate comes from fear...but still. It seems incorrect.

Yeah, that's kind of a pet peeve. The same people that use this term, complain of gay bashing. People need to use better terms, even if it's just to slaughter the language (Islamophobia is even worse)

 

[Wiccan_Child]

Perhaps heterosexism would be a more apt descriptor.

Your word is law, Madam President

 

[Ernst Junger]

it was invented about 40 years ago by a guy named George Weinberg, to be able to denigate those who oppose complete societal sexual derangement as crazy. Usual suspects strike again.

 

[razeontherock]

I think the intention behind the word "homophobia" is a heterosexual man's fear of his "inner gay" brought out by close proximity to gay men. I don't like this at all because it speciously implies that all straight men are just closeted gay men. It speciously implies that everyone is gay, no matter how they act or what they say.

You are referring to connotative meaning, and potential subconscious manipulation. I agree the rampant and (technically incorrect) use of 'phobia's of various sorts should cease. And desist, too

 

[razeontherock]

Strictly speaking, homophobia is a misnomer as it's commonly used. Medically, a phobia is an anxiety disorder. In a true specific phobia, a trigger will nearly always result in an acute anxiety reaction with physical symptoms such as palpitations, chest discomfort, shortness of breath, and faintness. To be clinically signifcant, it must interfere with a patient's activities of daily living. AFAIK, it would be extraordinarily rare for someone to suffer a panic attack by being around a homosexual. A much better term for dislike of, or antagonsim toward homosexuality would be homo-aversion.

I lobby we all should show people just how not scared we are when the "phobic" label is mis-used.

 

[razeontherock]

The word originally referred to a person's fear of gay people (or of being perceived to be gay oneself), but now refers to any form of prejudice or discrimination against, or fear of, non-heterosexuals. It's the gay equivalent of 'racism' or 'sexism' - prejudice based on sexual orientation, race, sex, age, etc.

As fascinating as it is, the etymology of a word is no indication of its meaning. Browse this site to see what I mean.

It's just wrong.