Many mythologies ascribe homosexuality and gender variance in humans to the action of gods or to other supernatural interventions. Devdutt Pattanaik writes that myths "capture the collective unconsciousness of a people", and that this means they reflect deep-rooted beliefs about variant sexualities that may be at odds with repressive social mores. The application of gender studies and queer theory to non-Western mythic tradition is less developed, but has grown since the end of the twentieth century. Researchers have long recognised the presence of LGBT themes in Western mythologies, and have studied the subject intensely. Such readings have been criticised for ignoring cultural context or mis-applying modern or Western preconceptions, for example in assuming that celibacy means only avoiding penetration or reproductive sex (hence allowing homoerotic sex), while ignoring the widespread beliefs in the spiritual potency of semen that mandate an avoidance of all sex. The queer interpretations may be based on only indirect evidence, such as an unusually close same-sex friendship or dedication to chastity. Individual myths have been denoted "queer" for rejecting a heteronormative and binary view of gender. Homoeroticism or gender variance in myths have been analysed according to modern conceptions of LGBT identities and behaviours, for example, deities that disguise themselves as, or adopt behaviors traditional to, the opposite gender for a given culture may be called transgender, and beings with no reproductive organs or with both male and female organs may be called androgynous or intersex. Myths often include homosexuality, bisexuality or transgender themes as a symbol for sacred or mythic experiences. Since the beginning of recorded history and in a multitude of cultures, myths, folklore and sacred texts have incorporated themes of same-sex eroticism and gender identity. This societal role has been posited for stories that included same-sex love, which educate people as to the correct attitude to adopt toward same-sex sexual activity and gender constructions. Myths may explain and validate the social institutions of a particular culture, as well as educate the members of that culture. Cultures may regard myths as containing psychological or archetypal truths. Myths are generally believed to be literally true within the society that created them and deemed erroneous or fictitious elsewhere. The status of mythology varies by culture. Queer manifestations of sexuality, though repressed socially, squeeze their way into the myths, legends and lore of the land.ĭevdutt Pattanaik, The Man who was a Woman and other Queer Tales of Hindu Lore Devdutt Pattanaik argues that myths "capture the collective unconsciousness of a people", and that this means they reflect deep-rooted beliefs Ībout variant sexualities that may be at odds with repressive social mores. Myths often include being gay, bisexual, or transgender as symbols for sacred or mythic experiences. The presence of LGBT themes in mythologies has become the subject of intense study. Many mythologies ascribe homosexuality and gender fluidity in humans to the action of gods or of other supernatural interventions. These myths are considered by some modern queer scholars to be forms of lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) expression, and modern conceptions of sexuality and gender have been retroactively applied to them. LGBT themes in mythology occur in mythologies and religious narratives that include stories of romantic affection or sexuality between figures of the same sex or that feature divine actions that result in changes in gender.
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