A Critique of Anthropological Research on Homosexuality

Bibliographic Data

ID3660940
AuthorsThomas K Fitzgerald (University of North Carolina at Greensboro, corresponding author)
Year1977
Volume2
Issue4
Pages385-397
Publication date1977-10-06
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Homosexuality (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0091-8369 • E-ISSN: 1540-3602
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1300/j082v02n04_10
PMID915256
OpenAlexW1997802839
LanguageEN
Citations received7

Since the 1970 resolutions of the American Anthropological Association, encouraging more research activity among anthropologists on the topic of homosexuality, there has been less than enthusiastic response. Rather than directly attempting to provide reasons for this research failure, this paper takes a look at what actually has been done by anthropologists with an eye to assessment of their major contributions. Thus, summarized are the studies on the role of the "berdache" in primitive cultures, with a critique of the terminological problems associated; a review of some of the ethnographic accounts of homoerotic behavior among primitive folk, with comments on the weaknesses of such treatments; and, finally, a discussion of the current typological approach to the study of the homosexual community, with its multimodal rather than unimodal emphasis. In short, this is a review article that tries to assess the impact of anthropological research for the ultimate understanding of this facet of humankind

Homosexuality · Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV · Male Homosexuality · Men who have sex with men · Psychoanalysis · Sociology · Syphilis · African Sexualities and LGBTQ+ Issues · Gender Studies · Medicine · Psychology · Virology

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