Sexual orientation, sexual identity and sexual minority stress

Question 1

What are 3 theories/ perspectives in history that have shaped ideas about sex, sexuality and gender?

Answer 1

STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALISM: family structure and division of labour at home and at work (imbalance when men came back from war)
CRITICAL SOCIOLOGY: society structured by relations of power and domination (dominant vs the subordinate)
FEMINIST THEORY: inequalities
SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM: doing gender creates expectations of behaviours when we interact with one another (& the looking glass - we see us as everyone else sees us)

Question 2

What is the difference between sexual orientation identity and sexual orientation?

Answer 2

identity = a label 
orientation = internal mechanisms

Question 3

How has sexual orientation been measured in the past?

Answer 3

implicit measures (viewing time etc.) 
sexual behaviour (history & preference)
self-report measures (patterns of attraction/ fantasy)

Question 4

What are the milestones in sexual identity development?

Answer 4

First awareness 
Exploration 
Privately adopting a label 
Disclosing identity to others 
Becoming involved in a relationship

(not necessarily in that order)

Question 5

What are the stages in sexual identity development?

Answer 5

confusion: inner turmoil
comparison: tentative response
tolerance: not alone
acceptance: it will be okay
pride: letting people know
synthesis: sexuality only one part of whole self (not all consuming)

(completion of all stages = healthy psychosexual development)

Question 6

Non-heterosexual people are more likely to have health problems attributed to:

Answer 6

Depression
Substance abuse
Anxiety
Self-harm / suicidal behaviour

Question 7

What type of stresses do minority groups face?

Answer 7

DISTAL: societal discrimination 
PROXIMAL: internalised homophobia, consciousness fo stigma, concealment 
Geographical
Connectedness to community 
General stressors

Question 8

What can the internalisation of negative societal messages about homosexuality do to an individual?

Answer 8

= INTERNALISED HOMOPHOBIA  
= Shame and self-stigma 
= Discomfort disclosing 
= Disconnectedness from other GLB’s
= Explicit negative beliefs toward homosexuality
= Discomfort with same-sex activity
= Inner conflict, lowered self-esteem, self-deprecating attitudes
= HIGHER HIV RISK

Question 9

What are 3 types of minority stress scales?

Answer 9

Internalised Homophobia
Stigma Conscientiousness
Concealment

Question 10

What can we do to make rural/ remote communities better for non-heterosexual people?

Answer 10

Anti-homophobia / awareness campaigns
Awareness of impact of discrimination, internalised homophobia and concealment
Providing a positive / non-judgemental space & Referring

Question 11

What are the limitations of non-heterosexual research?

Answer 11

• Non-representative sample: Biased towards LGB individuals who are more “out
• Locality not static: people move (does that = change)
• Failed to directly assess frequency discrimination
• Unable to analyse sexual minority groups separately (e.g. gay/lesbian vs. bisexual) sample size too small