Transcript JAN BRIDGET
Understanding Homophobia Outline: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. What is oppression? What is privilege? What is homophobia? Where does it come from? What are its effects? Developing a positive identity What is Oppression? Victimisation Power imbalance Bullying Lack of Rights Discrimination Less eligibility Disempowerment Low self worth Lack of respect Alienation Being kept down Feeling of isolation Internalised oppression Being made to feel worthless and inferior Social control disguised as being 'for the good of society' Restrictions/barriers to freedom of behaviour, speech Can be overt and covert attitudes and behaviour that stops others from being themselves Brow-beaten into another's way of living Abuse/misuse of power Not being allowed to own views Effect of socialisation What is Privilege? PRIVILEGE: The rights, advantages and immunities enjoyed by a small usually powerful group or class, especially to the disadvantage of others. Unearned Privilege Privileges or advantages one gets just because one belongs to a valued group in society, not because of individual efforts which ‘earned’ them, but simply because of involuntary membership in a privileged group ‘Being born with a silver spoon in your mouth’ Heterosexual Privilege: this is an exercise to get heterosexuals to understand the privileges they have as heterosexuals What do you think caused your heterosexuality? When and how did you first decide you were heterosexual? Is it possible heterosexuality is a phase you will grow out of? Is it possible you are heterosexual because you fear the same sex? If you have never slept with someone of the same sex, how do you know you wouldn’t prefer that? Is it possible you merely need a good gay experience? To whom have you disclosed your heterosexuality? How did they react? Who is Oppressed? Privileged? Lower Class Women BME Groups Disabled Groups Old People Young People Some religious groups LGBTs Poor Learning Difficulties Size Travellers Mental Health Drug users HIV + People Unemployed External Effects of Oppression PRIVILEGED GROUP OPPRESSED GROUP Better Education Worse Education Higher & Wider Horizons Lower & Narrower Horizons Better Employment Opportunities Worse Employment Opportunities More Job Satisfaction Less Job Satisfaction Better Pay Worse Pay Less Unemployment More Unemployment More Independent from Family More Status Less Trouble with Law Less Independent from Family Less Status More Trouble with Law Less Homelessness & Better Housing More Power Better Legal Aid More Homelessness Worse Housing Less Power Worse Legal Aid Less Harassment More Influence Less Likely Custodial Sentence More Harassment Less Influence More Likely Custodial Sentence Less Likely be victim of hate incident More Social Outlets Less Likely to be Victim More Likely be victim of hate incident Fewer Social Outlets More Likely to be Victim Internal Effects of Oppression PRIVILEGED GROUP OPPRESSED GROUP Greater Visibility Less Visibility More Positive Role Models Few Positive Role Models Few Negative Stereotypes More Negative Stereotypes More Accepance Less Acceptance Less Isolation More Isolation INDIVIDUAL SERVICES INDIVIDUAL SERVICES Stronger Identity & Self Esteem More Likely to Control Services Weaker Identity & Self Esteem Less Likely to Control Services Less Vulnerable to Suggestion More Research & Information More Vulnerable to Suggestion Less Research & Information More Confidence & Assertiveness More Visibility of Issues Less Confidence & Assertiveness Less Visibility of Issues Better Mental Health More Alternatives Available Worse Mental Health Less Alternatives Available Less Need and Use of Alcohol & Drugs More Likely to Demand Services More Need and Use of Alcohol & Drugs Less Likely to Demand Services Better General Health Better Services Worse General Health Worse Services Exercise: best done in pairs Identify which oppressed and privileged groups belong to Share an example of oppression and an example of privilege you have experience What is homophobia? HOMOPHOBIA HETEROSEXISM The recognised or unrecognised fear or hatred of homosexuals or homosexuality that is present in both heterosexuals and homosexuals. Discrimination against homosexuals based on the belief that heterosexuality is better than homosexuality. EVERYONE is taught to be homophobic! Heterosexism is built into ALL of our INSTITUTIONS Putting it another way… Similar definitions for racism, sexism, disablism, ageism, classism…. Two sides to coin: oppression/privilege Works in similar way against all oppressed groups (although there are some important differences) How many of these words/phrases do you recognise? How many more can you add? lead young people astray; perverts; poof; sick; mentally Ill; dyke; lezzie; bender; not natural; all got AIDS; promiscuous; immoral; queer; brave; no grandchildren; mothers fault; fathers fault; can't be trust with children; arrested development; lesbians haven't met a real man; hormone imbalance; lesbians want to be men; lesbian hate children; lesbians are afraid of childbirth; lesbians wear male clothing; lesbians are all truck drivers; it's a phase; its a crime against nature; it's caused by a genetic defect; lesbians are ugly; gay men are limp-wristed sissies; they only live in cities; it's a western/white disease; it's a capitalist diseases; one of them; lesley; lemon; ginger; effeminate; indecent; that way inclined; hijra; chhaka; battyman; eccentric; should be shot; artistic; individual; strong; flatheeled brigade; bent; homo's; one of those; sexual deviant; fairies; queens; dangerous; outrageous; woolly woofters; ass poppers; shirt lifters; sex abusers; carry disease; ... Creation & Perpetuation of Homophobia • If I were to ask you to identify words/phrases used for women, black people, disabled people, you would probably identify a similar list of negative things. • We are not born with these ideas • Apart from language, what are the six main institutions that create and perpetuate homophobia (sexism, racism, disablism, etc) RELIGION: It’s a Sin Anglicanism: ‘homosexual genital acts fall short of the ideal’ (gay priests) Catholicism: ‘homosexuality is an aberrant deviation’ (pope) Judaism: Late Lord Jakobovits – abortion of foetus if homosexual Islam: Late Dr Siddique: elimination of gays – gays assassinated in some countries Medicine: It’s a Sickness Homosexuality classed as sickness in Britain until 1992 – put into mental institutions Causes: arrested development, a phase, immature, parent’s fault: father too distant, mother too close We can help you change – electro shock; lobotomy; Christian conversion therapy Recent research: being gay is a combination of genetic & environmental with a genetic predisposition; in other words, we do not choose to be gay! LAW: Significant Changes Until recently Age of Consent: illegal for gay men under 18/21 (lesbians invisible) until 2001 Section 28: no ‘promotion’ of homosexuality repealed 2003 Employment (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 Civil partnership 2005 Goods & Services 2007 Criminal Justice & Immigration 2008 (incitement to hatred based on sexual orientation) Single Equality Bill: make public services challenge homophobia but still allows religious homophobia; become law in 2010 MEDIA: It’s Entertainment Used to be invisible or negative images – perverts, pansies, predatory – still stereotypes Sensationalise – lipstick lesbians (or pornography), camp gay men Allow homophobes to spread hatred & ignorance ‘in the interest of balance’ Powerful editors who control what is published EDUCATION: It’s Invisible No/few visible role models Homophobic bullying goes unchallenged Few books, little information Limited content in curricula Creating homophobes Powerful head teachers FAMILY: It’s Heterosexual Brought up to be heterosexual Brought up with parents (often negative) views Parents usually ignorant of effects of homophobia on child Some disown or don’t want to know Initially often preoccupied with their own responses to be able to support child What are the effects on heterosexuals? PSYCHOLOGICAL Do not internalise stigmatised (inferior/bad) sexual identity – internalise superior/good sexual identity resulting in higher self esteem (but classism, racism, disableism, sexism) Not dealing with demons of homophobia during adolescence, not question ‘who am I?’ in relation to sexual orientation –get on with‘being straight’ developing social skills, relationship skills, communication skills, get on with education/exams Affects attitudes and behaviour ATTITUDES 1983: 50% of adults surveyed believed sexual relationships between people of samesex always wrong 1985: 59% (AIDS) 1989: 58% 1992: 41% between two men 37% between two women 23% between stable gay/lesbian couple Mori Poll (2001) 1,693 adults 15+ 95% acknowledged existence of prejudice against minority groups 36% said they held no prejudice against any minority 64% prejudiced against at least one group Of these, 16% hard core – antipathy towards 3 or more minority group Strong correlation between holding homophobic and racist views BELIEFS = BEHAVIOUR = One extreme: Less Powerful People HHC is prevalent all over the UK (remember, so is hate crime based on race, gender, disability…) Approximate levels experienced: All HHC 35-75% 55% Verbal 30-70% 45% Harassment 10-35% 17% Vandalism 10-30% 19% Physical 5-25% 12% BELIEFS = BEHAVIOUR = A second extreme Powerful People: Stopping Support Dec 1987: L.A. Tory leader, after watching film on safer sex said: “The film said how to avoid AIDS, but it did not say specifically stop being queer. It’s disgusting and diabolical. As a cure I would put 90% of them in the ruddy gas chamber. Are we going to keep letting these queers trade their filth up and down the country?” 2004: Tory councillor tries to stop grant to GALYIC. 1994: Dr Colin Newman, executive secretary of British Psychological Society said “By accepting a Section devoted to the study of lesbianism, the Society will be giving a public signal that it endorses behaviour which, by the biblical standards they personally seek to follow, is incompatible with their own standards of morality.” Took another 4 years to set up LGB section. What are the effects on LGBT Youth? Isolation from family, friends, society, peers Pressure to conform, family rejection, homelessness School: Isolation, bullying, truancy, drop-out, poor exam results Verbal, physical, mental harassment Internalising Stigmatised Identity Like all minority groups, LGBT young people internalise negative messages Some minority groups have the support and understanding of their families and friends to challenge internalised messages Rarely do LGBT young people have support and understanding from their families and friends to challenge internalised messages Other groups who sometimes don’t have understanding and support from families include disabled young people and multi racial adopted young people (black and minority ethnic young people adopted by white people). Developing a Positive Identity STAGE ONE We are unaware that we are different but have internalised negative messages STAGE TWO We become aware that we are different from the majority and try to conform to the ‘norm’ by developing various coping strategies: • Denial • Identifying with aggressor • Tolerance of discrimination STAGE THREE Can challenge internalised negative messages and replace them with positive ones through access to: • Positive role models • Accurate information • Support STAGE FOUR This then makes us more able to deal with and challenge external oppression SOME REASONS THAT PREVENT DEVELOPMENT OF POSITIVE IDENTITY Use of alcohol or drugs Remaining isolated without access to accurate information, peer and adult support, positive role models Multi-oppression Belonging to a fundamentalist religion LGBT: Remaining closeted (terrified of discovery, inappropriate support)