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Sexual orientation, social identity, etc
Sexual orientation and gender identity in society
Sexual orientation, social identity, etc
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Issues faced by those struggling with sexual orientation and gender identity have become more public in today's society, thanks partially to changing societal views and an increased level of acceptance of individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT). However, despite the increase in visibility and acceptance in society, these individuals still experience much negativity, including discrimination, oppression, and violence and victimization because of their sexual orientation and gender identity. Adolescence and young adulthood can be a tumultuous time of change and development in the life of a person, as they attempt to discover their own individuality and place in society. Brewster and Moradi (2010, p. 406) noted this to be a time of exploration and experimentation with in aspects of their developing lives, including dating, relationships and intimacy. Zastrow and Kirst-Ashman (2013, p. 339) quoted Dotinga and Mundell (2010) as stating “adolescence renders young people especially vulnerable to harassment, and the difficulties of grappling with sexuality can complicate that further”. Thus for a young person who is attempting to discover their own gender identity sexual orientation, it can be increasingly difficult, in part due to continued negative societal views of gender identification that differs from one’s gender at birth. Shilo and Savaya (2011, p. 318) noted that research conducted in the last 20 years shows serious mental health disparities when comparing LGB youth and heterosexual youth (as originally noted by D'Augelli, 2006; Ryan, Huebner, Diaz, & Sanchez, 2009), including higher rates of mental distress, suicidal ideation, victimization and substance abuse. They further noted that so... ... middle of paper ... ...er, J. (2011). Different patterns of sexual identity development over time: Implications for the psychological adjustment of lesbian, gay, and bisexual youths. Journal of Sex Research, 48(1), 3–15. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases. Shilo, G., & Savaya, R. (2011). Effects of Family and Friend Support on LGB Youths' Mental Health and Sexual Orientation Milestones. Family Relations, 60(3), 318-330. doi:10.1111/j.1741-3729.2011.00648.x. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases. Van Den Bergh, N., & Crisp, C. (2004). Defining Culturally Competent Practice with Sexual Minorities: Implications for Social Work Education and Practice. Journal of Social Work Education, 40(2), 221-238. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases. Zastrow, C., & Kirst-Ashman, K. (2013). Understanding human behavior and the social environment (9th ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.
Zastrow, C., & Kirst-Ashman, K. K. (2007). Understanding human behavior and the social environment. Australia; U.S.A.: Thomson Brooks/Cole.
Johnson, M. M. & Rhodes, R. (2010). Human behavior and the larger social environment: A new synthesis (2nd ed.). Boston: Pearson.
Throughout research, there is an understanding of the possibility of there being a relationship connection between past traumatic events of adolescents to changing their life style from heterosexual to homosexual. What is considered an adolescent for this study are adolescents between the ages of 13-17 because once you are the age 18 you are considered a legal adult in the United States. The study will take place looking at the age bracket of adolescents, which live in the United States. In this, the research will be looking at th...
Zastrow, C. H., & Krist-Ashman, K. K. (2013). Understanding Human Behavior and the Social Environment (9 ed.). Belmont:
Andrew Sullivan, author of, What is a Homosexual, portrays his experience growing up; trapped in his own identity. He paints a detailed portrait of the hardships caused by being homosexual. He explains the struggle of self-concealment, and how doing so is vital for social acceptation. The ability to hide one’s true feelings make it easier to be “invisible” as Sullivan puts it. “The experience of growing up profoundly different in emotional and psychological makeup inevitably alters a person’s self-perception.”(Sullivan)This statement marks one of the many reasons for this concealment. The main idea of this passage is to reflect on those hardships, and too understand true self-conscious difference. Being different can cause identity problems, especially in adolescents.
Tori, DeAngelis. "New data on Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Mental Health." www.apa.org/monitor/feb02/newdata.aspx . N.p., 12 february 2002. Web. 9 Apr 2014.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals people make up more than ten percent of the population; that means if you are sitting in a classroom of thirty, then more than three of those people are LGBT individuals. However, this overwhelmingly large minority group continues to be one of the least protected by the government as well as most heavily targeted by discrimination and hate crimes. Regardless of the powerful shift in public opinion concerning LGBT individuals during the last twenty years, the laws concerning hate crimes have remained invariable.
Kirst-Ashman, K. (2011). Human behavior in the macro social environment. (3rd ed., pp. 68-77). Belmont, CA: Brookes/Cole.
Mercer, L. R. & Berger, R. M. (1989). Social service needs of lesbian and gay adolescents. Adolescent Sexuality: New Challenges for Social Workers. Haworth Press.
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...
There is very little research that has been done in the past on the mental health of LGBT individuals. In 1997 the federal center for Mental Health Services called for information to be compiled on the topic (Lucksted 3). Most of the information came from small publications, grass root information and self-reporting and even this information was incomplete because of the lesser reporting on people of the transgender and bisexual communities. This older report shows what the state of affairs was in ...
Zastrow, C., & Kirst-Ashman, K. K. (2013). Understanding human behavior and the social environment. Australia: Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning.
Vrangalova, Z., & Savin-Williams, R. C. (2012). Mostly heterosexual and mostly gay/lesbian: Evidence for new sexual orientation identities. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 41, 85-101. doi: 10.1007/s10505- 012-9921-y.
Today, there are many new advances and changing views in terms of gender identity. Opinions of the general public are now becoming more open minded and more accepting of individuals who are a part of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgendered (LGBT) community. Traditional male and female stereotypes are now becoming obsolete. Furthermore, a new practice, referred to by psychiatrists and psychologists as gender neutrality, is being encouraged, in which there are no gender stereotypes and individuals are not distinguished by their genders, in hopes that children will become more comfortable with themselves and their feelings.
Huegel, Kelly. GLBTQ: The Survival Guide for Queer and Questioning Teens. Vol. 1. Free Spirit Publishing, 2003. 1 vols.