Why do we say a woman is a lesbian but we say a man is a homosexual?

Question

Why do the ladies get their own term?

Answer 1

The word "homosexual" is mostly used for males. However, it is a term which (in the correct sense) can be used for women as well. The prefix "homo" means "same." The prefix "hetero" (as in heterosexual) means "different."

The word "lesbian." Is derived from the Greek island of Lesbos. It is a term which is used only for women because supposedly the Greek poet, Sappho (who lived in Lesbos), wrote poetry which was interpreted as her sexual love for other women. (Although, her love for other women may have only been platonic or merely emotional.)

Answer 2

The Term Lesbian comes from a mythical island of women, called Lesbos. The term homosexuality comes from Frued, and can apply to a Female or male

Answer 3

Beacause 'Lesbian' actually derives from an island outside of Greece called Lesbos. This island is believed to be occupied by a greek goddess and her sexual partners who were female. So the word 'lesbian' actually means someone from the island of Lesbos but because of mythology has evolved to mean a homosexual. Moreover a homosexual has no specific gender assignment and can refer to both men and women.

Answer 4

They are technically both homosexual..lesbian is a slang-esque term (like the word gay or even fag) referring to women from the island of lesbos in the mediterranean. Obviously, other "select terms" have other roots and meanings. Homosexual is the just the PC term to use.

Answer 5

It's just the terminology that people choose to use. People tend to be more softer with women when it comes to terminology dealing with sexuality. It's more acceptable for a woman to be gay, than for a man to be. Especially by society's standards - one person just stated that "using the word "f*gg*t is too harsh" - a statement that shows how much homophobia is shown toward men as opposed to women.Homosexual is just society's way of expressing their homophobia. Women are gay/lesbian, men are homosexual/gay.

Homosexual seems so textbook, a medical term, a disease.

Answer 6

A woman is lesbian, a man is gay, and they are both homosexual.

The defination of homosexual is:

adj.
Of, relating to, or having a sexual orientation to persons of the same sex.
n. Usage Problem
A homosexual person; a gay man or a lesbian.

Answer 7

Ladies or men are homosexual, men are gay, and women are lesbians. They each get their own terms, but some people call women gay instead of lesbian.

Answer 8

Well the meaning of Lesbian has nothing to do wirth the true feeling of one another when one is lesbian, or in the other hand the meaning of homosexual is sexual atraction for the same sex. so truly it is not a term.

Answer 9

Because the last time I referred to a gay woman as "homosexual", she got right in my face and said "I'm a LESBIAN, damnit!" And she looked like she could whoop my butt about five times over...so it's "lesbian" for me from now on.

Answer 10

Actually, the origianl term was 'sodomite'. This term originated from the biblical city "Sodom". Its inhabitants practiced, (what modern society now calls), "homosexuality". The men in this city would penetrate each other anally. Thus, when a man penetrates another anally, it is called "sodomy". This city's name became the ancient term for men or women who have sex with their own sex.