Queer science : the use and abuse of research into homosexuality / Simon LeVay.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

LeVay, Simon, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Homosexuality--Research--Social aspects.

Homosexuality.

Sexual orientation--Research--Social aspects.

Sexual orientation.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (x, 364 pages)

Other Title:

MIT Press CogNet.

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Massachusetts : The MIT Press, [1996]

System Details:

text file

Summary:

What makes people gay, lesbian, bisexual, or heterosexual? And who cares? These are the twin themes of Queer Science, a scientific and social analysis of research in the field of sexual orientation. Written by one of the leading scientists involved in this research, it looks at how scientific discoveries about homosexuality influence society's attitude toward gays and lesbians, beginning with the theories of the German sexologist and gay-rights pioneer Magnus Hirschfeld and culminating with the latest discoveries in brain science, genetics, and endocrinology, and cognitive psychology. Research into homosexuality exemplifies both the promise and the danger of science applied to human nature. LeVay argues that the question of causation should not be the crucial issue in the gay-rights debate, but that science does have an important contribution to make. It can help to demonstrate that the traditional and still prevalent view of homosexuality - as a mere set of behaviors that anyone might show - is inadequate, and that gays and lesbians are in a real sense a distinct group of people within the larger society with a privileged insight into their own natures.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 297-347) and index.

Description based on print version record.

Other Format:

Print version: LeVay, Simon. Queer science.

ISBN:

9780262278201

0262278200

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.