Current cultural factors about sexual and gender disorders

by | Feb 18, 2025 | Essays

Write an essay of no less than 300 words describing the current cultural factors about sexual and gender disorders. Include information about groups such as LGBTQ+ and the impact these groups have on the field of mental health. How does the activism of these groups help or hurt the development of sexual and gender psychology?

Sample solution

Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.


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God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

The understanding and treatment of sexual and gender disorders have undergone a significant evolution, shaped profoundly by shifting cultural landscapes and the powerful influence of LGBTQ+ activism. Previously viewed through a pathologizing lens, these conditions are now increasingly understood within a framework of diversity and individual experience. This shift has both benefited and, at times, complicated the field of mental health.  

Historically, sexual and gender disorders were often defined by their deviation from societal norms. This led to stigmatization, pathologization, and often harmful “conversion therapies” aimed at changing an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity. The LGBTQ+ rights movement challenged these perspectives, advocating for the recognition of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities as natural variations of human experience, rather than mental illnesses. This activism has been instrumental in the declassification of homosexuality as a mental disorder by organizations like the World Health Organization and the American Psychiatric Association.

The understanding and treatment of sexual and gender disorders have undergone a significant evolution, shaped profoundly by shifting cultural landscapes and the powerful influence of LGBTQ+ activism. Previously viewed through a pathologizing lens, these conditions are now increasingly understood within a framework of diversity and individual experience. This shift has both benefited and, at times, complicated the field of mental health.  

Historically, sexual and gender disorders were often defined by their deviation from societal norms. This led to stigmatization, pathologization, and often harmful “conversion therapies” aimed at changing an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity. The LGBTQ+ rights movement challenged these perspectives, advocating for the recognition of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities as natural variations of human experience, rather than mental illnesses. This activism has been instrumental in the declassification of homosexuality as a mental disorder by organizations like the World Health Organization and the American Psychiatric Association.

The impact of LGBTQ+ groups on mental health has been overwhelmingly positive. Their advocacy has fostered greater understanding and acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals, leading to reduced stigma and improved mental well-being. Furthermore, they have pushed for research focused on the specific mental health needs of LGBTQ+ populations, highlighting the impact of discrimination, minority stress, and societal prejudice. This research has been crucial in developing culturally competent mental health services that address the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals. For example, the understanding of gender dysphoria has evolved, recognizing the distress that can arise from incongruence between one’s experienced gender and assigned gender, rather than pathologizing transgender identities themselves.  

However, the intersection of activism and the development of sexual and gender psychology is not without its complexities. While activism has been crucial in challenging outdated and harmful views, it can sometimes create pressure to avoid any discussion of psychological distress related to sexuality or gender, even when such distress is real and requires support. For instance, while affirming and celebrating diverse gender identities is essential, some argue that the focus on social affirmation may overshadow the need to address underlying mental health conditions that can co-occur with gender dysphoria, such as depression or anxiety. Similarly, discussions about paraphilias, which involve atypical sexual interests that cause distress or impairment, can be complex. While it’s crucial to avoid stigmatizing consensual and harmless variations in sexual expression, it’s equally important to acknowledge the genuine distress and potential harm associated with certain paraphilias, and to develop effective treatment approaches.  

The challenge lies in finding a balance between affirming diversity and acknowledging the reality of psychological distress. It requires open and nuanced dialogue between mental health professionals, researchers, and LGBTQ+ advocates. It also necessitates a commitment to evidence-based practice, ensuring that clinical decisions are informed by scientific research and ethical considerations, rather than solely by social or political pressures.

In conclusion, the influence of LGBTQ+ activism on the understanding and treatment of sexual and gender disorders has been transformative. It has challenged harmful stereotypes, promoted greater acceptance, and spurred research into the unique mental health needs of LGBTQ+ individuals. While navigating the complexities of this evolving landscape requires ongoing dialogue and a commitment to evidence-based practice, the overall impact of LGBTQ+ activism has been a significant step forward in promoting mental health and well-being for all.

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