Re: Gender differences in accepting homosexuality
I just read on this a few days ago - this is data from Altmeyer's book on right wing authoritarianism. In surveys, women tended to hold somewhat negative views on homosexuality and that this was equal for men and women. Men on the other hand, were much more negative about homosexuality between men - much more neutral about lesbians. At 11:12 AM 2/23/99 -0500, Marie Helweg-Larsen wrote: >Hi Everyone > >We're currently discussing gay/lesbian issues in my Human Sexuality >class. Many students are wondering about gender differences in >acceptance of male and female homosexuality. (1) What are the >differences and (2) Why do these differences exist. As to (1) I know >that males consistently are more homophobic than females. I suspect >that men are more extreme in their attitudes toward male homosexualty >(very negative) and female homosexuality (relatively positive). But I'm >not sure about women. Are women also more accepting of female as >opposed to male homosexuality. I need data -- certainly someone has >researched this! (2) I suspect that men react the most negatively >towards male sex because men generally are more conservative and male >sex breaks more norms (both in terms of males showing affection, >possibly being affeminate, and possibily engaging in anal sex). I >suspect men might be more positive toward lesbians because it doesn't >seem as inconsistent with women's roles and they ultimately might think >they can jump into the action! But I need more ideas. > >So research for (1) and ideas/and research for (2). > >Marie > >-- >Marie Helweg-Larsen, Ph.D. >Department of Psychology >Transylvania University >300 North Broadway >Lexington, KY 40508 >Voice: (606) 281-3656 >Fax: (606) 233-8797 > > > > Deb Deborah S. Briihl, Ph.D. Dept. of Psychology and Counseling Valdosta State University Valdosta, GA 31698 (912) 333-5994 You've got so many dreams that you don't know where to put them so you better turn a few of them loose. - Fire
Re: Gender differences in accepting homosexuality
On Tue, 23 Feb 1999, Marie Helweg-Larsen went: > But I'm not sure about women. Are women also more accepting of > female as opposed to male homosexuality. Hmm. On the face of it, it seems unlikely to me--locker-room-style "stop-looking-at-me" homophobia is probably just as likely in women as in men. What did you find when you searched the literature, Marie? What I found was the following abstracts, which suggest an absence of sex differences in attitudes toward lesbians: <1> Author Baker, Janet G; Fishbein, Harold D. Title The development of prejudice towards gays and lesbians by adolescents. Source Journal of Homosexuality. Vol 36(1), 1998, 89-100. Abstract Studied the development of gay and lesbian prejudice (G/LP) in 276 White, suburban adolescents in grades 7, 9, and 11. The authors focused on 3 questions: (1) gender and age differences in G/LP; (2) the relationship between G/LP and individual differences in personality; and (3) the relationship between G/LP and race prejudice. Ss completed several measures of (sexual and racial) prejudice and personality. Results paralleled several major findings with adults: males were more prejudiced than females; this difference was greater towards gay males than lesbians; and same-sex prejudice was greater than opposite-sex prejudice. For males and females, prejudice increased between grades 7 and 9, but from grades 9 to 11 it decreased for females and increased for males. These differences were explained by the increased vulnerability of males to defensive reactions in response to the prospect of intimate relationships. None of the personality measures were significantly correlated with prejudice. Race prejudice and G/LP were significantly but weakly related. <2> Author LaMar, Lisa; Kite, Mary. Title Sex differences in attitudes toward gay men and lesbians: A multidimensional perspective. Source Journal of Sex Research. Vol 35(2), 1998, 189-196. Abstract Addressed 4 components of attitudes toward gay men and lesbians: condemnation/tolerance, morality, contact, and stereotypes. It was hypothesized that attitudes would vary by component and by the sex of the person being rated. 270 college students (aged 17-22 yrs) completed a questionnaire measuring attitudes toward homosexuality. Results indicated that men (n = 137) held more negative attitudes toward homosexuals than did women (n = 133) on all factors except stereotypes, and that attitudes toward gay men were more negative than were attitudes toward lesbians on all factors. On all subscales except stereotypes, men rated gay men more negatively than lesbians. Women rated gay men and lesbians similarly on the condemnation/tolerance subscale and the morality subscale, but rated lesbians more negatively on the contact subscale. The results confirm that to understand sex differences in attitudes toward homosexuality fully, researchers must consider both attitude component and the sex of the person being rated. <3> Author Matchinsky, Debra J; Iverson, Timothy G. Title Homophobia in heterosexual female undergraduates. Source Journal of Homosexuality. Vol 31(4), 1996, 123-128. Abstract Examined differences between the level of homophobia in psychology majors vs student with one or no courses in psychology and variables that could predict degrees of homophobia. 108 heterosexual female undergraduates the index ofhomophobia scale (W. W. Hudson et al, 1980). An additional questionnaire examined beliefs and exposure to homosexuality. Analyses indicated more positive attitudes in Ss working toward a psychology degree than in those Ss with only 1 course in psychology. A negative correlation was found between homophobia scores and belief in a biological cause of homosexuality, and a positive correlation between homophobia scores and belief in a psychologic cause of homosexuality. <4> Author Simon, Angela. Title Some correlates of individuals' attitudes toward lesbians. Source Journal of Homosexuality. Vol 29(1), 1995, 89-103. Abstract Investigated the relationship between individuals' attitudes toward lesbians and other attitudes and personal characteristics. 564 students (17-50 yrs old) completed the Attitudes Toward Lesbians Scale, along with items assessing interactions with lesbians. Social desirability and gender role self-concept were also assessed, along with the individuals' attitudes toward love and sex. Results show that attitudes were not related to the Ss' sex and gender role self-concept, and positive attitudes were associated with having positive contact with lesbians, lesbian friends and contemporary attitudes toward women. More permissive sexual attitudes were associated with more positive attitudes towards lesbians. <5> Author Kerns, John G; Fine, Mark A. Title The relation between gender and negative attitudes toward gay men and lesbians: Do gender role attitu
Re: Gender differences in accepting homosexuality
Here's a reference for #1 below: Louderback, L.A., & Whitley, Jr., B.E. (1997) Perceived erotic value of homosexuality and sex-role attitudes as mediators of sex differences toward lesbians and gay men. _The Journal of Sex Research_, 34, 175-182. Hope that helps, Karen * Karen E. Ford, Professor of Psychology * Mesa State College * P.O. Box 2647 * Grand Junction, CO 81502* * email address: [EMAIL PROTECTED]* website: www.mesastate.edu/~kford * * On Tue, 23 Feb 1999, Marie Helweg-Larsen wrote: > Hi Everyone > > We're currently discussing gay/lesbian issues in my Human Sexuality > class. Many students are wondering about gender differences in > acceptance of male and female homosexuality. (1) What are the > differences and (2) Why do these differences exist. As to (1) I know > that males consistently are more homophobic than females. I suspect > that men are more extreme in their attitudes toward male homosexualty > (very negative) and female homosexuality (relatively positive). But I'm > not sure about women. Are women also more accepting of female as > opposed to male homosexuality. I need data -- certainly someone has > researched this! (2) I suspect that men react the most negatively > towards male sex because men generally are more conservative and male > sex breaks more norms (both in terms of males showing affection, > possibly being affeminate, and possibily engaging in anal sex). I > suspect men might be more positive toward lesbians because it doesn't > seem as inconsistent with women's roles and they ultimately might think > they can jump into the action! But I need more ideas. > > So research for (1) and ideas/and research for (2). > > Marie > > -- > Marie Helweg-Larsen, Ph.D. > Department of Psychology > Transylvania University > 300 North Broadway > Lexington, KY 40508 > Voice: (606) 281-3656 > Fax: (606) 233-8797 > > >
Gender differences in accepting homosexuality
Hi Everyone We're currently discussing gay/lesbian issues in my Human Sexuality class. Many students are wondering about gender differences in acceptance of male and female homosexuality. (1) What are the differences and (2) Why do these differences exist. As to (1) I know that males consistently are more homophobic than females. I suspect that men are more extreme in their attitudes toward male homosexualty (very negative) and female homosexuality (relatively positive). But I'm not sure about women. Are women also more accepting of female as opposed to male homosexuality. I need data -- certainly someone has researched this! (2) I suspect that men react the most negatively towards male sex because men generally are more conservative and male sex breaks more norms (both in terms of males showing affection, possibly being affeminate, and possibily engaging in anal sex). I suspect men might be more positive toward lesbians because it doesn't seem as inconsistent with women's roles and they ultimately might think they can jump into the action! But I need more ideas. So research for (1) and ideas/and research for (2). Marie -- Marie Helweg-Larsen, Ph.D. Department of Psychology Transylvania University 300 North Broadway Lexington, KY 40508 Voice: (606) 281-3656 Fax: (606) 233-8797
