enormous variation in human sexual practices, in both the activites that were allowed

and the concepts used to make sense of the them. During the course of the survey, the

author touches base on four major components of how homosexual behavior, in

certain societies, may have been institutionalized. The four components are

Age-structured homosexuality, Cross-gender homosexuailty, Role specialized

homosexuality, and Egalitarian homosexuality. All four are related in regards to

homosexual behavior, but are different in regards to the groups of people and the

The first component the author talks about is "Age-structured homosexuality".

An example of this is offered in the culture of various parts of Melanesia. Young boys

were taken from their homes and placed in houses a short distance from their villages.

At these houses they were denied all contact with females and they prepared for

manhood by the transmission of semen with older men. The young boys had to be the

receiver of the transmission. When these boys got older, their roles are reversed and

they become the givers of the transm

women may have become depressed because they had to share the attention. A

women deserves all of her lovers attention, and she should not have to share it with

renowned for their contributions as healers, prophets, matchmakers, and

matchmaker. It seems as though, everyone would love a person such as this. Granted,

homosexual behavior that was highly praised is the behavior of the berdache. The role

aspect to the Polynesian society. "The mahu is much prized among Tahitians, as only

A second component is "Cross-gender homosexuality". One example of this is

not be heterosexual. The fact that the Mahu is an important role, I think, is a great

these boys developed "proper male values such as courage, proficiency in hunting, and

made them stronger, but I also want to beleive that they had a choice not to engage in

women all over the globe have realized that they do not need to be dominated over.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Times Customs, Native American, homosexual behavior, taught dominate, male female, taught dominate women, component homosexual behavior, , boys taught, female males, sexual activity, egalitarian homosexuality, component homosexual, dominate women, age-structured homosexuality,
Approximate Word count = 882
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)