Emergence
In D’Emilio’s stirring essay entitled “Capitalism and Gay Identity,” he contends that gay and lesbian identity is directly linked to capitalism, “Their emergence is associated with the relations of capitalism” (227). Before capitalism, families depended on one another for survival. Parents needed to procreate in order to be able to sustain life. With the shift in the economy to capitalism from this time, the necessity of being in a heterosexual relationship shifted as well. Males and females could not be in homosexual relationship because that meant putting their well being at risk, however, “These patters of living could evolve because capitalism allowed individuals to survive beyond the confines of the family” (230). The movement into capitalism allowed for independence, for individuals to begin to make their own living, and ultimately for gays and lesbians to fully emerge into their identities.
Since that time there has only been further emergence of the homosexual identity due to the technological advances in relation to our economy. Technology runs our lives. When people return from work or school, they more than likely do not first and foremost consider spending time with their family. Rather, the family disperses to use different forms of technology. One person may be playing a game or surfing the internet on the computer, one family member could be watching television, all this while another family member may be chatting on their Bluetooth . Dinner now is easily accessible. No longer does a mother prepare a meal and the family sits down together to eat it. Progression in technology allows us easy access to food. Strong family ties are no longer a feature of today’s society.
But what does this have to do with gay and lesbian emergence? Everything. A further breaking down of the family means more of an opportunity for independence and a formation of a person identity. A child is no longer primarily governed by their parents, with all of the technological distractions; it can be argued that children are beginning to raise themselves. Whether it is the capitalist movement or an advancement of technology, we see a further disintegration of the family which means that there is more of an open opportunity and accessibility to homosexual relationships.
Capitalism is still fully flourishing in the United States, but technological advances also allow relationships to no longer be confined by space or distance. Business meeting are now conducted via satellite or video conference. We now have the internet directly through our phones, which allows limitless access at any time. We have email, myspace, facebook, and twitter, which all allocate instant communication with anyone, anywhere in the world. With the internet, one is sure to find others that are just like him or herself and that person has the ability to connect with them. Online dating has become a norm, for both hetero and homosexual couples alike.
Just as we saw a shift then, we are seeing an even greater shift now. The basis for this shift is a shift away from the basic unit of the family. Technology further drives away the need for dependence on others for a source of living and nurture. Technology puts each person in their own world and allows them to form their own identity; it also allows easy access for relationships. As the individual instead of the collective is more and more emphasized in society, we will see further emergence from gays and lesbians.
Work Cited
D’Emilio, John. “Capitalism and Gay Identity.” Academic Communities/Disciplinary Conventions. Ed. Bonnie Beedles and Michael Petracca. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2001. 225-236.
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