KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS TOWARDS HOMOSEXUALITY AND IT’S IMPLICATION ON SOCIAL ADJUSTMENT
ABSTRACT
With civilization and urbanization on the increase in Nigeria today and also freedom from parents enjoyed by youths and students in various institutions of higher learning in Nigeria, different kinds of sexual orientation has developed which homosexual is one of them. Homosexuality being the romantic or sexual intercourse or behaviour between members of the same sex, has attracted much interest and attention as a social problems that needs to be investigated and solved. However, there have been different kinds of attitude towards the act and those involve in it. In Nigeria, it is strongly frowned at, because it is believed to have a negative effect on the general society, it therefore constitute a deviant behaviour and it is highly against the moral principle of Nigerian society in general and Caritas University in particular. Therefore, this study seeks to examine the attitude of undergraduate students towards homosexuality and its implication on social adjustment, hence examining how the attitudes of undergraduate students affect homosexuals in the school environment. The objective of this study aims on how students get involve in the act and also to ascertain how easy it is to disengage from the act and finally to discover if there is a positive correlation between attitude of undergraduates towards homosexuality and social adjustment of homosexuals.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the study
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual intercourse or behaviour between members of the same sex (beth 1992:2). As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectionate or romantic attractions primarily and exclusively to people of the same sex (Redmond 1999).
The term homosexual is derived from a Greek word “homos” which means same. Thus connoting sexual acts and affections between members of the same sex. Lesbianism is a sexual act between females while Gay generally refers to male homosexuality. The word “Lesbians” is derived from the name of the Greek island “Lesbos”, where the poet Sappho wrote largely about her emotional relation with young women.
Historically, homosexuality has attracted much interest and attention but attitudes towards such preference of having sex with one of the same gender have varied in different epochs and cultural groups ranging from acceptance as among the ancient Greeks, to measured tolerance in the Roman times and outright condemnations. (Greg Reeder 1999).
According to the old testament, Leviticus 16:8-22, 20:13) sex between men is an abomination and any involved will be put to death, other parts of the Bible makes it known that homosexuality is a sin and any involved in it faces strong penalty. Such books of the Bible like the book of Romans 1:18-31, Corinthians 6:9 which says that homosexuals are unrighteous and will not inherit the kingdom of God. This however has affected the Judeo-Christian attitude towards homosexuality for centuries.
Also in primitive time, negative attitude is found in different cultures even in Africa, there has been serious condemnation of homosexuality such that anyone involved in act will be put to death.
In the late 19th century ambivalent attitude have prevailed, that is, opposing feelings about homosexuality such that some people fell homosexuality is normal and they tend to fight for their freedom. In some primitive societies homosexual activities are considered normal and socially acceptable. For instance in Arunta of Central Australia, homosexuality is a common practice. Some nations such as Great Britain, United States and West Germany to mention but a few have recently legalized homosexual relations between consenting adults. In the United states, in the 1940s homosexuality was classified as felony with punishment up to life imprisonment in all states. (Frank Beach 1991). By the early 1970s at least ten states had legalized such acts between consenting adults. One third of the societies studied by ford and Beach include many industrialized countries; give little or no sanction to homosexuals. In recent years in the United States such organizations as the Gay Activities Alliance and the Daughters of Bilitis have attempted to influence public opinion and legislation toward greater tolerance of homosexuals. Their effort and other world associations and conferences such as the 1974 Berkshire conference also the 1973 meeting of the Association of homosexual activists and other various meetings along with Gay advocacy books has created several attitudes among people of the world and attracted attentions. Recently, even in Nigeria, homosexuality is beginning to spread and open up and even though there has been a law against the act, still it is in existence in the country and also in various institution of higher learning in the country. Including Caritas University where there has been cases of homosexual activities amongst students though not too obvious and popular but it exist and there has been various attitudes towards it from other students who do not get involved in the act.
While a lot of research have been carried out in other aspect of students attitude very little or nothing has been done in the area of research on the attitude of students towards homosexuality. It is on this premise that this study seek to unravel the knowledge and general attitude of students towards homosexuality.
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