Sexuality As Gendered: Understanding the Intertwining of Sexual Orientation and Gender Across Individual and Sociocultural Domains

The theory of sexuality as gendered holds that sexual orientation and gender are inseparably linked, shaping individual experience and perceptions as well as sociocultural systems. Although long recognized in feminist and queer theory and analyzed in some domains in the psychological sciences, this connection has the potential for much broader reach. This article advances the framework by outlining three broad hypotheses: Beliefs and behaviors toward lesbian, gay, and bisexual people will be grounded in gender norms; institutional treatment of sexual minorities will mirror patterns of gender equality and treatment of women; and known gender differences will reveal analogous differences by sexual orientation. Together, these hypotheses highlight the generative scientific potential of viewing sexuality and gender as intertwined rather than separate dimensions.