CCR-Block: Internalized Homophobia Within the LGBTQ community, internalized homophobia is an extremely prevalent occurrence. One in which members of the LGBTQ community believe that the negative connotations and stigmas towards LGBTQ individuals are true. This, in part, is due to anti-gay and heteronormative social environments which have mental health effects on gays and lesbians. Ilan H. Meyer, a psychiatric epidemiologist, has referred to these negative social environments as a form of minority stress and has done extensive research on describing its effect on mental health. Gregory M. Herek states that “At the core of minority stress is some kind of conflict or disharmony between the minority member and the dominant social environment.” The most insidious attribute of internalized homophobia is that the people who experience it may not realize that it is directly related to the person’s low self-regard …show more content…
Internalized homophobia makes the offender express and vocalize their own personal self-hate and then project it on others. Not only do offenders then contribute to the negative stereotypes, stigmas, and attributes made up about LGBTQ people, but they also perpetuate the homophobic attitudes and heteronormative ideals which cause low self-worth and internalized homophobia in the first place. Offenders might also argue that they were not raised around people who made negative remarks towards anyone in the LGBTQ
Internalized homophobia is when negative attitudes from the primary group, mainly family but also the surrounding community, cause negative homophobic thoughts in a person that has same-sex attraction, but may not identify with it. This kind of internalization creates lack of self worth for those that do not “come out”. Research supports that internalized homophobia contributes to lower self-acceptance, loneliness, depression, and the lessened ability to come out to others. Internalized homophobia has a high impact on lesbians because society’s norms are to be married to a man and reproduce, and this norm is the majority in small, rural communities. Because of this norm, lesbians try to maintain a “normal”, “acceptable” lifestyle, and get married and have children, while fighting within themselves about their identity. “A number of studies have found that the degree of internalized homophobia was inversely related to relationship satisfaction in lesbians” (Spencer, 2007, pg. 258).
The article “How Homophobia Hurts Everyone” by Warren J. Blumenfeld describes the effects that homophobia has on all people, not just the person who is homosexual. The article tells the story of two siblings and one thing that stood out to me was “throughout our school years, she was constantly teased for having a ‘faggot’ brother”. In addition to this, she was questioned about her own sexuality and peer pressure, that resulted with her being less close to her brother for her own protection. It is not fair that the author was bullied for being the person that he is, and it is definitely not right that his sister was bullied for who her brother is.
HIV/AIDS is a major risk factor affecting a large portion of the LGBT community, especially gay men. CDC.gov (2013) found that gay and bisexual men of all races continue to be at high risk for developing HIV. According to Krehely (2009) the drug and substance abuse risk factor, as well as mental health issues in the LGBT community often occur and are related to high rates of stress due to the lack of family acceptance of the LGBT lifestyle, systematic discrimination, and the lack of cultural competency in the health care environment. Sexu...
Gender Treachery: Homophobia, Masculinity, And Threatened Identities The paper mentioned above, was written by Patrick Hopkins, is all about gender and the role that gender plays in our society. Sexuality, Heterosexuality, Gender roles, Identity and identity development are the issues of discussion here. It is all about gender treachery the way we use genders to look up to people and look down upon certain misfortunate ones. Prejudice against lesbians and gay men, is widespread in our society. Although attitudes toward lesbians and gay men have become less negative over the course of the past 30 years, and especially during the last decade, the majority still view homosexuality as morally unacceptable. That’s what makes it such a threatened identity. Homophobia is the common issue at stake here, but the question that arises in our minds is why can’t we just accept things as they are. Homosexuality and cross dressing represent human sexuality diversity. Since these lifestyles are generally not acceptable, homophobia and discomfort of cross dressers exist. Hopkins suggests that educating heterosexuals about homosexuality results in a reduction of homophobia. The idea is to create awareness in the society; these issues just can’t be hid behind and forgotten about, if they are present we have to sit up and take notice. Mr. Hopkins rightly calls such an attitude totally biased. The bias against women is closely related to the bias against homosexuals. It appears at first that the bias against male homosexuals is based on what they do in bed. But the deeper reason is that homosexual males are not loyal to their gender. In other words it is because they do things that are not manly. Psychological sophistication and social critique revea...
It is very reasonable to conclude that research on depression of those who identify as gay, lesbian or transsexual is not accurate; there is an underreporting of people who identify as these sexual orientations because of the fear of being different. It is understood that those apart of the LGBTQ community actively hide their identity in hopes to avoid being rejected or abused (Bird, 2013). Once the reporting issue of having a smaller percentage of the actual representation of the LGBTQ population is put aside, there is evidence that highly suggests that lesbians and gay men are at higher risk for psychiatric disorders than heterosexuals (Cochran, 2001). Even after underreporting, there is still enough information to conclude that sexual discrimination can have harmful effects on the quality of life. Common factors that have been observed in lesbians and gays that can potentially increase depression during Cochran's study are anxiety and mood disorders and decreased self esteem. Cochran and her partner also noted that dissatisfaction with how one is treated beca...
By reducing LGBTQ+ individuals to a label of mental instability, this stereotype overlooks the diversity of their lived experiences and struggles, failing to acknowledge the diverse set of factors that shape an individual’s mental health. The statement ‘LGBTQ+ people are just confused and need psychological help’ embodies this stereotype, employing an Ad Hominem that discredits the validity of LGBTQ+ identities by abnormalizing them as merely confused or mentally unstable. Such diction not only perpetuates harmful stigmas but also fosters Othering, the cognitive bias of viewing individuals from marginalized groups as fundamentally different or inferior. This continuation of stereotypes not only fails to recognize the complexities of LGBTQ+ experiences, but also contributes to the social marginalization and discrimination they face. Furthermore, the Ad Hominem aspect of this stereotype directly attacks the character of LGBTQ+ individuals, diverting attention from substantive discussion about their experiences and needs.
Kelleher, C. (2009). Minority stress and health: Implications for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) young people. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 22(4), 373-379. Retrieved April 21, 2014, from http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09515070903334995
Homophobia is a terrible form of bullying and it is one of the largest issues in secondary schools today. The perceived opinions and concepts that come out of this type of harassment causes young adolescents who are part of the LGBTQ community or ones that remains closeted to fall into a stigma that can be extremely harmful. By falling into this stigma it opens the youth up to whole world of harassment, ridicule, physical altercations and numerous other acts that can ultimately diminish a person to nothing; which, in some cases can end unfortunately. One of the major questions you should ask is if we live in such a progressive society, why are youth in schools today stigmatized because of their sexuality? And where does this stigma come from? The reading suggest that there are many ways to put an end to this stigma but some only work in certain situations why others seem good in theory but fail in practice. This is means that we as a community have to come together as one to stop the spread of homophobia at first sight so that is does not escalate.
The people we include in our social lives and our families impact our well-being and our mental health. Discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community doesn’t just impact one's mental state, but impacts how we interact with people. This discrimination doesn’t have to be directed at an individual for them to feel discriminated against. As I am living with my parents, whom I have not come out to yet, display obvious signs of homophobia through faces of disgust and annoyance. I have been living in a constant state of stress and worry about what my parents would think and do if/ when they found out.
In a study conducted by Stellers, et al, 2003, the researchers investigated possible direct, mediating, and moderating relationships among racial identity, racial discrimination, perceived stress, and mental health out comes in a longitudinal study of 555 African American young adults. And they found a relationship between racial identity variables and African American psychological functioning suggesting that stress may be one pathway by which experiencing racial discrimination may have deleterious effects on individual’s mental health. Racial hassles seem to make life more stressful for African Americans, which, in turn, have an affect on their levels of anxiety and depression. Interestingly racial identity was protective factor for some. Those who considered their race as a central identity to who they are were shielded from the negative effects of discrimination and stress. A possible explanation for protective factor could be that because their self-confidence about being black helps them dismiss the experience rather than internalize it as one about their selves. However, racial and ethnic minorities have health that is worse overall than the health of White Americans (Bahls, 2011). So it appears that discrimination in this case, caused increased psychology stress ultimately leading to mental health issues. Just like race, sexuality can be a subjected to
In a study done by the National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, 71 percent of transgender people said they hid their gender or gender transition to try to avoid discrimination. Heteronormativity is a term used by sociologists to describe the cultural presupposition that heterosexuality is the appropriate standard for sexual identity and practice and other alternative sexualities are deviant, abnormal, or wrong. In the literature article I chose titled, Stigma, Mental Health, and Resilience in an Online Sample of the US Transgender Population, the main purpose of the authors and research conductors was to assess the association between mental health, minority stress and potential ameliorating factors in a large, community-based, geographically diverse sample of the US transgender population. Among a Minnesota sample of 181 transgender participants in a sexual health seminar, 66% reported being discriminated against because of their gender identity or presentation (Brockting et al.). Even for those that grow up receiving the help they needed to live a healthy transgender life, society is still harsh on them, simply because they aren’t following the norm. In a US study of 402 transgender persons, 56% reported experiencing verbal harassment; 37%, employment discrimination; and
I feel homosexuals go through a lot in society such as not being accepted for who they truly are, not being able to pursue their careers, and not getting the appropriate respect they need. I am acquainted with a couple of people who are in the LGBTQ community (outside of my family), and most of them are afraid to be themselves around non-LGBTQ people. These acquaintances have confided in me people might think the worst of them. On the other hand, some of these acquaintances opinions from other people do not matter to them; however, it is the opinions coming from their family members that matter the most. I have come to believe that if you are not stepping out of your comfort zone, then you are not comfortable with being whom you are. This is how society affects the members of the LGBTQ community. Another key point to this essay is that people who really do not have a problem with homosexuals, let the people around them corrupt their mind to the point where they are not thinking for themselves and witnessing that type of thinking can really take a toll on your moral
They are also prone to being victimized by homophobic individuals and this along with other factors can often lead to poor psychological issues (Hackimer, & Proctor,
Genders and sexuality cannot leave homosexuality behind, however this is not so true for the traditional society. Just because “homosexuals, bisexuals, and transgender were not seen very often does not mean they are invisible” (Levy, D. L. 2009). The reactions of individuals in the society to these particular sexes lead the homosexuals, transgender, and bisexual being seen as different which tends to people being more depressed and anxious. This brings about the ideology of superior over inferior (Dukeminier 2018). There is a sense of shame attached to these sexes, where they cannot freely express their identity and be themselves.
When one hears the words “LGBT” and “Homosexuality” it often conjures up a mental picture of people fighting for their rights, which were unjustly taken away or even the social emergence of gay culture in the world in the1980s and the discovery of AIDS. However, many people do not know that the history of LGBT people stretches as far back in humanity’s history, and continues in this day and age. Nevertheless, the LGBT community today faces much discrimination and adversity. Many think the problem lies within society itself, and often enough that may be the case. Society holds preconceptions and prejudice of the LGBT community, though not always due to actual hatred of the LGBT community, but rather through lack of knowledge and poor media portrayal.