Gay, Lesbian & Bisexual History - The Invention of the Opposite Sex & Homphobia

During the 1800s social attitudes to same-sex love changed radically - and
for the worst.

In earlier times same-sex love had been lumped in with adultery, sex before
marriage, sex with contraception and oral sex as being a sinful indulgence
in the pleasures of the flesh. By the late 1800s it had been singled out for
much more severe treatment.(`) To understand why, we have to know
about the invention of the opposite-sex.

Industrialization & Invention of Opposite-Sex

In the medieval times of cottage industries, men and
women worked side by side in the extended family
home. The creation of the first factories and the
start of wage labour created a new division of labour.
Men began to leave the home and work for wages,
while women remained at home and did the unpaid work.

A new cultural story developed that supported the new roles. The old story
had been that women were a similar (but lesser) version of men. Adam’s rib
had been used to make Eve.

The new story was that men and women were opposites. Men were said to
have the earthy traits that made them suited to going out into the world to
earn wages and participate in public life. Women were said to have the
sensory traits that made them suited to domestic life. Romantic love began
to be seen as the bringing together of opposites.(@)

Creation of the 'Unscripted Ones'

This radical change in western culture created new social behaviours. Most
people interpreted their experience through the new beliefs . They focused
on the parts of themselves that fitted the new story, and they played out the
new script.

For some people, the new story did not fit any of their experience of
themselves. It could not explain being an earthy traited woman or a sensory
traited man. Romantic love based on identifying bonding became
incomprehensible. People with these traits found their culture did not
provide any way of making sense of their experience – they became the
queers – or what this project calls ‘the unscripted ones’.

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