Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach Third Edition Chapter 6 Sexual Orientation and Heterosexism Copyright © 2018, 2014, 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Learning Objectives After reading Chapter 6, students will be able to: • Describe different types of heterosexism and heterosexual privilege. • Discuss the demography of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, and intersex population. • Explain experiences related to age and disclosure of sexual orientation. • Identify mental health consequences of heterosexism. • Describe stereotypes and assumptions made about the LGBTQI population and their relationships. • Discuss education level trends among LGBTQI individuals. • Understand the stressors LGBTQI individuals experience as a result of both heterosexism and classism. • Describe significant historical events that LGBTQI individuals have faced. • Understand counseling implications for sexual orientation. • Identify various sexual identity development models for gays, lesbians, and bisexuals. • Have an awareness of the ways to support gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth and families. Copyright © 2018, 2014, 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Learning Objectives • Understand the concept of gay affirmative counseling and what it means for counselors. • Know the Association for Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Issues in Counseling (ALGBIC) Competencies. • Connect the concept of intersecting identities (i.e., race, culture, gender, and sexual orientation) and its effects on those in African American, Asian American, Latino American, Arab American, and Native American cultures. • Discuss the prevalence of suicidal behaviors and depression in clients who experience heterosexism. • Describe the mental health consequences on LGBTQI youth. • Identify the prevalence of substance abuse and HIV/AIDS in the LGBTQI population. • Explain the social consequences of socioeconomic status, institutional heterosexism, and diminished personal relationships. • Describe a professional counselor’s role in creating a socially-just, nonheterosexist society. Copyright © 2018, 2014, 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Defining Sexual Orientation and Heterosexism • Sexual identity includes: – Physical Identity – biological sex – Gender Identity – belief a person has about his/her gender – Social Sex Role Identity – gender roles people adopt based on cultural norms for masculine & feminine behavior – Sexual Orientation Identity – a person’s sexual and emotional attraction to members of the other and/or same sex • Sexual Orientation – a set of 7 variables 1. Sexual behaviors 2. Emotions 3. Sexual fantasies 4. Sexual attractions 5. Social preference 6. Living life as a heterosexual, bisexual, or gay or lesbian 7. Self-identification Copyright © 2018, 2014, 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Defining Sexual Orientation and Heterosexism Cont’d. • Heterosexuality – romantic or sexual attraction to members of the opposite gender, most common • Homosexuality – individual or group of people who have same-sex feelings and behavior; no longer preferred term – Gay and lesbian are acceptable terms • Bisexuality – romantic or sexual attraction to members of either the same or opposite gender • Questioning – an individual who is questioning his or her sexual orientation and/or gender identity – Queer – broad term including anyone who does not identity as heterosexual; many younger people use for Q Copyright © 2018, 2014, 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Defining Sexual Orientation and Heterosexism Cont’d. • Pansexual – an individual whose sexual and/or affectional attractions are not limited based on gender identity or biological sex • Heteroflexible – someone who identifies as primarily heterosexual, but may engage in limited situational same-sex sexual behavior and does not identify as bisexual • Affectional Orientation – suggested term to describe sexual minorities (i.e., LGB individuals) because it broadens discussion beyond sexual attraction Copyright © 2018, 2014, 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Heterosexism • Heterosexism - the oppression of LGBTQI individuals • Internalized heterosexism – internalization of society’s negative attitudes toward non-heterosexuals • Homophobia - fear and hatred of LGBTQI people – Hate crimes – Recommend using the term homonegativity Copyright © 2018, 2014, 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Heterosexism • Heterosexual privilege - unearned advantages due to heterosexual orientation. • right to marry • access to medical information in the event of an emergency • legal & financial rights to property • adoptive & child rights • validation by the media & culture • being able to arrange to be in the company of other heterosexual people in most environments Copyright © 2018, 2014, 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Historical Resistance to Heterosexism • Stonewall Rebellion • Resistance led by working class, transgender people of color ignited the gay & lesbian rights movement • Important for counselors to know and teach LGBTQI clients about the historical events of liberation movements • Normalize for clients the fact that throughout history LGBTQI have been oppressed Copyright © 2018, 2014, 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Intersections of Heterosexism and Sexism • Some assert that heterosexism is a “weapon” of sexism because it functions to narrowly define gender roles and enforce compulsory heterosexuality • Shared enforcement through socialization practices • Derogatory language (e.g., faggot, sissy) that is used with a boy steps outside traditional male gender norms Copyright © 2018, 2014, 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Intersections of Heterosexism and Classism • Despite higher levels of education, home ownership is lower for partners who are lesbians and gays than married heterosexual couples – Many states have laws that prohibit unmarried couples from owning a home together • Many LGBTQI individuals live in metropolitan areas with greater tolerance • Working class gay men may not have the resources to move to higher amenity gay neighborhoods, resulting in individuals “remaining in the closet” or living in nonaccepting areas – Increased likelihood for psychological distress and physical violence Copyright © 2018, 2014, 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Current Attitudes • Homosexuality was listed as a mental disorder by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) prior to 1973 • LGB people are not protected from employment discrimination in most states & communities because sexual orientation is not included in the Federal Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits job discrimination for other minority groups • 2015 Pew Polls reveal that 55% of American support samesex marriage Copyright © 2018, 2014, 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Lesbian, Gay, bisexual Demography • Statistics do not include individuals who may be uncomfortable disclosing an LGBTQI identity, who have not yet realized they are LGBTQI, and heterosexually married individuals who may identify as LGBTQI • 2006-2008 survey for the National Center for Health Statistics including 13,495 Americans aged 15 to 44: • 6% of men and 12% of women had same-sex sexual experience by age 44 • 1% of women identified as lesbian and 3.5% as bisexual • 2% of males identified as gay and 1% as bisexual • It is estimated that there are 9 million LGB individuals in the US, which represents 3.5% of the population Copyright © 2018, 2014, 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved LGBTQI Relationship Status and Family Issues • An estimated 783,000 same-sex couples live in the US • LGBTQI couples are increasingly choosing to expand their families with over one quarter of same-sex couples raising children • Lesbian & gay parents are at least equal to heterosexual parents in terms of their mental health, parenting skills, & quality of family relationships • Research has consistently shown that children of gay & lesbian parents are no different than other children in terms of gender identity development, gender-role behavior, sexual orientation, psychological & cognitive development, social relationships, and familial relationships Copyright © 2018, 2014, 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Educational Status • Higher educational levels than their heterosexual counterparts, however: • An estimated 60% of LGB individuals do not have college degrees • LGB individuals are as likely to live in poverty as heterosexual individuals and less likely to be thriving financially • Possibly due to lack of protection against employment discrimination and lack of family support Copyright © 2018, 2014, 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved LGB Youth • 74.1% of middle and high school students reported experiencing verbal harassment, 36.2% reported physical harassment, 16.5% reported physical assault, and 49% reported being harassed via text or social media • The gay adolescent often exists in social, emotional, & informational isolation • Advocacy efforts – Equal Access Act – Gay/Straight alliances – Title IX Copyright © 2018, 2014, 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Age and Disclosure of Sexual Orientation • Lesbians and gay males in the US have mean ages in the early 40s • Counselors should take into consideration a client’s emotional age and chronological age • Common for individuals who come out as LGBTQI in adulthood to experience a late adolescence • Average age a person comes out to others is about 25 • LGB individuals are more likely to come out to their mothers • Of those who choose to come out, 10 to 15% are rejected by their parents Copyright © 2018, 2014, 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Cultural Intersections of Sexual Orientation • Issue of multiple oppressed statuses and several identity development tasks simultaneously • Morales (1989) hypothesized an overall model to apply to minorities within the gay community. – Stages: 1) Denial of conflicts, 2) Labeling of self as bisexual rather than gay, 3) Conflicts in allegiances between gay & minority communities, 4) Establishing priorities in allegiance, and 5) Integrating various identities – Considerations by racial/ethnic group Copyright © 2018, 2014, 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Spirituality among Individuals who are LGBTQ • Over three quarters of individuals who are LGB participate in religious organizations • Many queer individuals grow up in churches, mosques, or synagogues that abuse them ○ Abuse = when a religious group uses coercion, threats, rejection, condemnation, or manipulation to force submission to religious views of sexuality ○ Consequences include self-loathing, loss of close relationships, poor body image, depression, and suicide ○ May result in rejecting their LGBTQ identities, leaving religion, or integration seemingly opposing identities Copyright © 2018, 2014, 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Addressing Values Conflicts • Be aware of your own biases and serve clients with care and respect • ACA Code of Ethics (2014) provides clear guidance on mandate for counselors not to discriminate based on sexual orientation or gender identity • Ward v. Wilbanks affirms ACA’s position that counseling cannot be denied to a client based on sexual orientation and clients cannot be referred due to a value conflict • Seek training and supervision for ethical practice Copyright © 2018, 2014, 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Mental Health Consequences of Heterosexism • Historically, many mental health providers have attributed mental health problems to LGBTQI clients without considering environmental factors affecting mental well-being (attribution bias) • LGBTQI individuals seek counseling more often than heterosexual counterparts • Sterotypes foster self-defeating behaviors, self-persecution, and increased psychological distress • Result of heterosexism and homonegativism • LGBT individuals are more likely to experience depression, suicide, anxiety, and substance use disorders Copyright © 2018, 2014, 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Suicidality and Depression • LGBTQI individuals: ○ Report disproportionately higher numbers of suicidal thoughts and past suicide attempts ○ Are 7x more likely to attempt suicide and are overrepresented in the number of completed suicides • Suicide attempts more likely during development milestones associated with coming out (i.e., first recognition of same-sex attraction) • Receiving mental health or medical treatment did not prevent suicide attempts • Bisexual individuals often experience discrimination and intolerance from both heterosexual and gay communities • The risk for depression and suicidal behavior is exacerbated for people who are LGBTQI and of color Copyright © 2018, 2014, 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Stress and Self-Esteem • Minority Stress – stress associated with being a member of an oppressed group • Three main sources: – Chronic or acute outward events or conditions – Expectation of discriminatory events and the anticipatory energy this requires – Internalizing society’s negative attitudes and feelings toward individuals who are LGBTQI • Internalized homophobia negatively affects self-esteem Copyright © 2018, 2014, 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved LGBTQI Youth • Must navigate challenges of this period of development like other youth, but may lack needed coping strategies and support from family, teachers, and adult role models • Sexual minority children and youth are more likely to be sexually abused or to be abused by a parent • Many attempt to escape and self-medicate by abusing substances – LGB youth use substances 3x more often • LGBTQI students who experience heterosexism and homophobia often report distress well into adulthood • Many LGBTQI students drop out of school and may end up on the streets Copyright © 2018, 2014, 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Physical Consequences of Heterosexism • Substance use • HIV/AIDS Copyright © 2018, 2014, 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Social Consequences of Heterosexism • Negative stereotypes • Socioeconomic Status – Invisibility of poverty among LGBTQI individuals – Openly gay men make less than heterosexual men with similar backgrounds ▪ Many LGBTQI individuals cannot afford to live in metropolitan areas that are more tolerant ▪ Homeless youth ▪ Institutional heterosexism ▪ Anti-gay marriage laws ▪ Diminished interpersonal relationships Copyright © 2018, 2014, 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Counseling Strategies for Addressing Heterosexism • Both ACA and APA passed resolutions opposing prior conceptions that people who are LGB have mental orders and created ethical guidelines for their treatment • Reparative/Conversion Therapy – psychological attempts to repair or convert individuals from LGB to heterosexual – Current umbrella term – sexual orientation change efforts (SOCE); banned by federal courts for use on minors – Detrimental consequences and side effects including depression, anxiety, intimacy avoidance, sexual dysfunction, internalized heterosexism, and suicidality Copyright © 2018, 2014, 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved LGB Affirmative Counseling • LGB affirmative counseling involves working with LGB clients to minimize feeling stigmatized, validating a client’s LGB identity, acknowledging and processing the influence of oppression, and facilitating a sense of self-pride • Counselors should: – Be aware of their own strengths and weaknesses working with LGB clients – Be able to use a variety of counseling interventions – Counter the negative societal messages internalized by LGB clients – Affirm LGB identities – Not pathologize same-sex behaviors and affection – Understand issues affecting LGB individuals Copyright © 2018, 2014, 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved ALGBTIC Competencies and Counselor Training • The Association for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender Issues in Counseling (ALGBTIC), a division of the American Counseling Association (ACA), developed competencies to promote sound & professional counseling practice • Counselors should: • engage in self-exploration • explore resources that deal with queer & feminist theories • emphasize non-traditional approaches to therapy • Become familiar with the constructs of discourse, positioning, & deconstruction Copyright © 2018, 2014, 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Clinical Practice Counselors should: ▪ be aware of their attitudes & beliefs about women & LGBTQI individuals ▪ educate themselves & become culturally competent ▪ explore client & counselor meanings of gender identity & sexual orientation ▪ critically examine the counseling process & theories used with LGBTQI individuals ▪ examine the power behind the language they use with LGBTQI clients ▪ expand the meaning of the word “family” ▪ not assume that the client’s presenting problem is related to their gender or sexual orientation ▪ collaborate with clients to explore how heterosexism permeates the contextual environments of the clients & what this affects ▪ assess for experiences of discrimination, prejudice, harassment, & violence in relation to sexual orientation & gender ▪ implement the ACA Advocacy Competencies Copyright © 2018, 2014, 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Creating a Socially Just, Nonheterosexist Society Counselors should: • lobby and support policy change • give back to the community and schools • collaborate with other fields Copyright © 2018, 2014, 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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