Civil Partnership

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how, through the struggle for equality, homosexuality has broken free from the restraints of social oppression and established itself as a legitimate lifestyle, with social order and moral and legal boundaries similar to heterosexuality. In particular, the paper looks at how far society has changed to meet the needs of homosexuals and debates whether, in essence, homosexuality has moulded itself in to a form of heterosexuality, mimicking the normal and approved sexual behaviour, demanding the same rights and privileges such as marriage. The paper debates whether society has really changed to accept this once considered criminal lifestyle, or whether the gay men and lesbians of Britain changed to suit the existing social order.

From the Paper:

"With the invention of civil partnerships a form of same-sex marriage has been legalised and the formal social control has been removed, lifting the limitations on the institution of marriage and making it available for non-heterosexual couples. This relaxed formal social control with the changes in the law regarding homosexuality and marriage has led to an increase in visibility. Homosexuals are no longer kept out of the view of society and forced to live in a covert existence. For once the law is promoting homosexuality as an alternative to the heterosexual lifestyle, by granting similliar rights (the civil partnership act is far from equal to marriage) to same-sex couples British society has began to change its view on homosexuality. Marriage is no longer divided between the dichotomy of homo and hetero sexuality, it is a right both groups can claim; although heterosexual marriage is still given more credence than a civil partnership. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Butler, J. (1989) Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity. London: Routledge
• Cott, N. (2000) Public Vows: A history of marriage and the Nation. Harvard: Harvard University Press.
• Engels, F. (1972) The Origin of the Family, Private property and the state. London: Lawrence and Wishart.
• Haralambos, M and Holborn, M. (2004) Sociology Themes and Perspectives. London, Harper Collins Publishers Ltd.
• Giddens, A. (2006) Sociology. Cambridge: Polity Press.

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