Conflict View of Sexuality

• The Conflict View of Sexuality is seen as an area in which power imbalance is present & where dominant groups actively work to promote their worldview as well as their economic interests (recently we have seen the debate over the legalisation of gay marriage intensify nationwide)
• For conflict theorists, there are 2 Key sides to the debate over same-sex marriage (one is ideological and the other is economic)
• Dominant groups (heterosexuals) wants their worldview (traditional marriage, nuclear family etc.) to win out over what they see as the intrusion of a secular, individually driven worldview
• On the other hand, many gay/lesbian activists argue that legal marriage is a fundamental right that can't be denied based on sexual orientation (there already were changes in history over this e.g. Interracial Marriage)
• From an economic view, legal marriage brings with it certain entitlements, many of which are financial in nature, like social security benefits & medical insurance (Solmonese, 2008)
• From an economic viewpoint, Denial of these benefits to gay couples is wrong they argue
• Conflict Theory suggests that as long as heterosexuals and homosexuals struggle over these contested social & financial resources, they will continue to be at odds