[Golotop]

The Saññoga Sutta, with its mention of women "in bondage with reference to men" and men "in bondage with reference to women" seems to be addressing attraction ("wants whatever pleasure & happiness that arise based on that bond") of the heterosexual variety. Furthermore, what is meant by "feminine desires" and "masculine desires"? I think an argument can be made that this sutta is about more than gender roles, and touches upon sexuality amongst heterosexual laypeople.

From my perspective, the suttas that make any reference to gender all appear to be of a heteronormative bent. Take for instance...

Saleyyaka Sutta (MN 41)

"He is given over to misconduct in sexual desires: he has intercourse with such (women) as are protected by the mother, father, (mother and father), brother, sister, relatives, as have a husband, as entail a penalty, and also with those that are garlanded in token of betrothal."

[...]

"Abandoning misconduct in sexual desires, he becomes one who abstains from misconduct in sexual desires: he does not have intercourse with such women as are protected by mother, father, (father and mother), brother, sister, relatives, as have a husband, as entail a penalty, and also those that are garlanded in token of betrothal."

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....041.nymo.html Is it implied that a man should not have intercourse with men who are protected by their mother, father,...,who have a wife, etc.? It would be a bit of a stretch to assume this is what was meant.

I am merely curious as to why the Buddha did not state "men and women" where only "women" is stated, or otherwise append these teachings to address what is meant by misconduct for those who fall outside of the so-called standard male-female coupling. It is not as if homosexuality was non-existent.