Familial Dysfunction And Gender Roles In The Mormon Church

In “Why Would Our Heavenly Father Do that to Anyone’: Oppressive Othering through Sexual Classification Schemes in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints,” J.E. Sumerau and Ryan T. Cragun (2014) examines how the LDS Church, a denomination of Christianity, claims that homosexuality is a result of social dysfunction of individuals. As a result of this dysfunction, these nonheterosexual individuals are seen as less worthy and inadequate Others. Additionally, this article examines different causes of homosexuality such as familial dysfunction and sexual immorality. In this summary, I will explain what oppressive othering is, explain the beliefs of the LDS Church, and how familial dysfunction and gender roles play a role in the sexual immorality

These gender roles provide the underpinning for both heterosexuality and Mormonism families. The male roles are “to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and the protection of their families” (Sumerau and Cragun 2014:11). The women’s roles are “primarily responsible for the nurture of their children” (Sumerau and Cragun 2014:11). Homosexuality is seen as a failure of an individual to adopt these specific gender roles. Additionally, it’s considered a violation of inspired gender roles. Religious texts are used to show homosexuality as adversarial to the masculine and feminist natures of both men and women (Sumerau and Cragun

LDS members believe that the intake of pornographic material corrupts sexual morals and can lead to sexual deviance, like homosexuality. Due to this, it’s seen as something that can be overcome because it’s a learned behavior. Elites of the Church claimed that homosexuality is a side effect of other sexual immoralities, such as adultery and sexual fantasy, of an individual. Additionally, members of the LDS Church associate it with violent encounters, such as rape and domestic violence. Doing this is seen as a step in many immoral practices of that specific individual. Homosexuality, as classified by LDS elites, is “a deficit created through previous experiences with other sexually immoral activities and desires” (Sumerau and Cragun 2014:16). Any sexual activity other than heterosexuality in a marital setting is seen as “inherently unsatisfactory, socially dangerous, frightening, and morally inferior (Sumerau and Cragun