In his article "Capitalism and Gay Identity", John D'Emilio shows how the changing economy has directly affected sexuality and sexual identity. He begins by discussing the colonial era in America, when families were "self-sufficient, independent, and patriarchal." Sex was for procreation purposes, to create more children to labor. There was no "social space" in this era for homosexual identity (although the behavior did occasionally exist).
[...] D'Emilio, John “Capitalism and Gay Identity” Lesbian and Gay Studies Reader. New York: Routledge In his article “Capitalism and Gay Identity”, John D'Emilio shows how the changing economy has directly affected sexuality and sexual identity. He begins by discussing the colonial era in America, when families were sufficient, independent, and patriarchal.” Sex was for procreation purposes, to create more children to labor. There was no “social space” in this era for homosexual identity (although the behavior did occasionally exist). In the nineteenth century the economic system shifted from household production to trade and wage labor, causing women to work outside the home until they were married, then relying on their husband's wages to survive. [...]
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