Transcript Sexual Orientation and Heterosexism

CHAPTER 6:
Sexual Orientation and
Heterosexism
Developing Multicultural Counseling
Competence: A Systems Approach
Second Edition
Danica G. Hays and Bradley T. Erford
Defining Sexual Orientation
•
Klein’s (1990) seven variables of sexual
orientation
•
Affectional orientation
•
Heterosexuality
•
Homosexuality
•
Bisexuality
•
Questioning
Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach
(2nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
6-2
Gay Identity Development
•
Cass’ (1979) Homosexual Identity Formation (HIF)
model set the groundwork for future gay identity
development models, and is one of the most
comprehensive models.
•
6 Stages: 1) Identity Confusion, 2) Identity
Comparison, 3) Identity Tolerance, 4) Identity
Acceptance, 5)Identity Pride, and 6) Identity
Synthesis.
•
Coleman’s (1981/1982) model was influenced by
earlier models
•
5 Stages: 1) Pre-Coming Out, 2) Coming Out, 3)
Exploration, 4) First Relationships, and 5)
Integration
Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach
(2nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
6-3
Gay Identity Development Cont.
•
Troiden’s (1979) model of gay male
identity development
•
4 Stages: 1) Sensitization, 2) Identify
Confusion, 3) Identity Assumption, and
4) Commitment
•
Comparing Cass, Coleman, and
Troiden’s models
Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach
(2nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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Lesbian Identity Development
•
Application of gay identity development
models to lesbians
•
McCarn & Fassinger (1996) proposed a
developmental model drawn from other
gender identity development models
•
Four phases of development: 1)
Awareness, 2) Exploration, 3)
Deepening/Commitment, and 4)
Internalization or Synthesis
Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach
(2nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
6-5
Bisexual Identity Development
•
Kinsey, Pomeroy, and Martin (1948)
definition of sexual orientation
•
Weinberg, Williams, & Pryor (1994)
proposed a 4 stage bisexual identity
development model:
•
Stages: 1) initial confusion, 2) finding &
applying a label, 3) settling into the
identity, and 4) continued uncertainty
Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach
(2nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
6-6
Defining Heterosexism
•
Heterosexism - the oppression of LGBTQI
individuals
•
Internalized heterosexism – internalized
devaluation of their sexual orientation
•
Homophobia - fear and hatred of LGBTQI
people
•
Internalized homophobia - negative
attitudes some LGBTQI people have about
their own sexual orientation
•
Intersections of heterosexism and sexism
Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach
(2nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
6-7
Defining Heterosexism Cont.
•
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
Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach
(2nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
6-8
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
Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach
(2nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
6-9
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
•
2011 Pew Polls reveal that 58% of American
believe homosexuality should be supported by
society, and 46% are opposed to same-sex
marriage
Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach
(2nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
6-10
LGBTQI Relationship Status &
Family Issues
•
Common stereotypes
•
Adoption and custody
•
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
Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach
(2nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
6-11
Educational Status
•
Higher educational levels than their
heterosexual counterparts, however:
•
55% of gay male couples and 75% of
lesbian couples do not have college
degrees.
•
LGB individuals are as likely to live in
poverty as heterosexual individuals.
•
Same-sex couples are more likely to live in
poverty, have less retirement income, and
no federal marriage benefits such as social
security and survivor benefits
Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach
(2nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
6-12
Heterosexism & Classism
•
Many states have laws that prohibit
unmarried couples from owning a home
together
•
Many LGBTQI individuals live in
metropolitan areas where there tends to
be greater tolerance
Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach
(2nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
6-13
LGB Youth
•
85% of middle and high school students
reported experiencing verbal harassment,
40% reported physical harassment, and 19%
reported physical assault
•
The gay adolescent often exists in social,
emotional, & informational isolation
•
Advocacy efforts
•
Equal Access Act
•
Gay/Straight alliances
•
Title IX
Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach
(2nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
6-14
Cultural Intersections of
Sexual Orientation
•
Issue of multiple oppressed statuses and several
identity development tasks simultaneously
•
Morales (1998) 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
Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach
(2nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
6-15
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
•
LGBTQI individuals seek counseling more often
than heterosexual counterparts
•
•
Not an indication of instability
•
Result of heterosexism and homonegativism
Stress and minority stress and its consequences
Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach
(2nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
6-16
Physical Consequences of
Heterosexism
•
Substance abuse
•
HIV/AIDS
Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach
(2nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
6-17
Social Consequences of
Heterosexism
•
Negative stereotypes
•
Socioeconomic Status
•
•
H.I.N.K. (High Income, No Kids)
•
LGBTQI individuals are seen as not needing
economic, social, & health-related services
•
Homelessness for youth
Institutional heterosexism
•
Anti-gay marriage laws
•
Diminished interpersonal relationships
Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach
(2nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
6-18
Counseling Strategies for
Addressing Heterosexism
•
LGB Affirmative Counseling
•
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
•
familiarize yourself with the constructs of discourse,
positioning, & deconstruction
Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach
(2nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
6-19
Counseling Strategies for
Addressing Heterosexism Cont.
Counselors should:
•
be aware of their attitudes & beliefs about women & LGBTQI
individuals
•
educate themselves & become culturally competent
•
be aware of how their race, gender, age, class status, ability
level, & sexual orientation impact the counseling relationship
•
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
Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach
(2nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
6-20
Counseling Strategies for
Addressing Heterosexism Cont.
Counselors should:
•
collaborate with clients to explore how heterosexism
permeates the contextual environments of the clients & what
this affects
•
integrate ethnic, gender, & sexual identities when working
with clients of color
•
assess for experiences of discrimination, prejudice,
harassment, & violence in relation to sexual orientation &
gender
•
implement the ACA Advocacy Competencies
•
give back to the schools
•
speak with colleagues in different disciplines to gain
knowledge about women & LGBTQIs.
Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach
(2nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
6-21