This study explores the identity development and psychological adjustment of bisexual individuals (n = 138) as compared to homosexual (n = 45) and heterosexual participants (n = 558). Undergraduate students recruited from psychology classes at a large metropolitan university in Florida (67% female, 65% Caucasian) took an online survey for course extra credit. Bisexual and homosexual participants scored higher in identity exploration than the heterosexual participants. Bisexual participants scored significantly higher in psychological symptom severity than heterosexual participants. The three groups were not significantly different in identity commitment nor in identity distress. Female bisexual participants scored more similar to the homosexual participants in identity exploration, while the male bisexual participants were more similar to the heterosexual participants. Among males, bisexual and homosexual participants reported greater psychological symptom severity than heterosexual participants. There were no differences between groups for female participants in regard to symptom severity. This study highlights the need for more research into the psychological correlates of bisexuality as a distinct group from homosexuality, as well as the need to focus on gender as a significant moderator of these relationships.

No description available.

Bakgrund: Lesbiska och bisexuella kvinnor har sämre fysisk och psykisk hälsa än heterosexuella kvinnor. De är en osynliggjord grupp inom vården. Inom kvinnosjukvården (gynekologi och obstetrik) finns en tradition av heterosexualitet i och med dess fokus på reproduktion. Tidigare studier har visat att lesbiska och bisexuella undviker gynekologisk vård på grund av dåligt bemötande. Obstetriken kommer framöver att få ta emot alltfler samkönade par. Det blir därför viktigt att förstå hur kvinnosjukvården upplevs av lesbiska och bisexuella kvinnor. Syftet är att belysa lesbiska och bisexuella kvinnors upplevelser av kvinnosjukvården. Metod: Litteraturöversikt av 13 forskningsstudier. Textanalys med beskrivande sammanställning av inkluderade studiers resultat. Teoretiska referensramar är vårdrelation och heteronormativitet. Resultat: Det finns heteronormativitet och homofobi inom kvinnosjukvården på både individuell och strukturell nivå. Brister i bemötandet handlade om att bli exkluderad, samt att mötas av fientlighet, omedvetenhet eller okunskap. Detta fick negativa konsekvenser för studiernas deltagare, och ledde till olika strategier för att hantera och förebygga negativa vårdsituationer. Positiva upplevelser av vården relaterades till medvetenhet och kunskap kring sexuell läggning i form av öppenhet och kommunikation, samt när vårdpersonal signalerade acceptans och positiva attityder. Små förändringar i bemötandet kunde göra stor skillnad i mötet. Diskussion: Förutsättningarna för en god vårdrelation försvåras av heteronormativitet, och vårdpersonal behöver bli medvetna om på vilka särskilda sätt som lesbiska och bisexuella kvinnor behöver bekräftelse i form av acceptans och inkluderande. Enskild vårdpersonal kan göra stor skillnad i upplevelsen av bemötandet, och på så sätt också vara del av en större förändring kring minskad heteronormativitet inom kvinnosjukvården. / Background. Lesbian and bisexual women have worse physical and mental health than heterosexual women. They are an invisible group in health care. Within women's health care, (gynecology and obstetrics) there is a tradition of heterosexuality due to the focus on reproduction. Previous studies have shown that lesbians and bisexuals avoid gynecological care due to the way they are received. Obstetrics will now be receiving more and more same-sex couples. That makes it important to understand how lesbian and bisexual women experience women’s health care. The aim is to highlight lesbian and bisexual women's experiences of women's health care. Method. Literature review of 13 research studies. Text analysis with descriptive summary of included studies' results. The theoretical frameworks are the nurse-patient relationship and heteronormativity. Results. Heteronormativity and homophobia exist within women's health care. Deficiencies in the the ways lesbians and bisexual women were received involved being excluded and encountering hostility, unawareness or ignorance. This led to the need for various strategies to manage and prevent adverse health situations. Positive experiences of care related to awareness and knowledge of sexual orientation in terms of openness and communication, as well as health professionals signaling acceptance and positive attitudes. Marginal changes in health professionals’ response could make a big difference for the lesbian and bisexual women. Discussions. The prospects of a good caring relationship is complicated by heteronormativity. Health professionals need to be aware of the specific ways in which lesbian and bisexual women may need confirmation. Individual health professionals can make a big difference to the way lesbian and bisexual women experience health care, and thereby also contribute to a wider improvement related to reduced heteronormativity in women’s healthcare.

No description available.

[pt] O estudo da Semiótica é amplamente reconhecido no que tange à compreensão dos símbolos, signos e processos de significação. Apesar disso, ainda existem muitas lacunas na área de Consumer Culture Theory com relação à exploração desse viés teórico-metodológico. O presente estudo tem como objetivo analisar os significados associados às mulheres sáficas em três telenovelas brasileiras da TV Globo de períodos bastante distintos: Torre de Babel (de 1998), Em Família (de 2014) e Um Lugar ao Sol (de 2021). Por meio do embasamento na teoria queer e no diálogo com Judith Butler, torna-se possível compreender e analisar a representatividade das personagens Leila e Rafaela, na primeira telenovela, das personagens Clara e Marina, na segunda telenovela, bem como das personagens Ilana e Gabriela, da mais atual. A presente pesquisa analisa se, ao longo dos anos, vem ou não acontecendo uma transformação dessa representatividade. Também analisa a presença de representações estereotipadas e estigmatizadas que estiveram presentes durante esse percurso histórico. Foi possível concluir que de fato houve um aumento da representatividade. No entanto, ainda existem muitas questões que podem ser modificadas para chegar a uma maior naturalização social e equidade de personagens lésbicas e bissexuais em relação aos que seguem um percurso heteronormativo. Isso porque percebe-se a existência de alguns estereótipos quanto às vivências sáficas, bem como uma não exploração de algumas realidades, mesmo depois de grandes intervalos de tempo entre uma novela e outra. / [en] The study of Semiotics is widely recognized in terms of understanding symbols, signs and signification processes. Despite this, there are still many gaps in the area of Consumer Culture Theory regarding the exploration of this theoretical-methodological bias. In this context, the present study aims to analyze the meanings associated with sapphic women in three Brazilian soap operas of TV Globo from quite different periods: Torre de Babel (from 1998), Em família (from 2014) and Um lugar ao sol (from 2021). Through the foundation in queer theory and dialogue with Judith Butler, it becomes possible to understand and analyze the representativeness of the characters Leila and Rafaela, in the first soap opera, the characters Clara and Marina, in the second soap opera, as well as the characters Ilana and Gabriela, of the most current. This research analyzes whether, over the years, a transformation of this representativeness has been happening, while also analyzing the presence of stereotyped and stigmatized representations that were present during this historical path. It was possible to conclude that there was indeed an increase in representativeness. However, there are still many issues which could be modified in order to achieve greater social naturalization and equity of lesbian and bisexual characters towards others who follow a heteronormative path. This is because one perceives the existence of some stereotypes regarding sapphic experiences, as well as a non-exploration of some realities, even after long intervals of time between one novel and another.

The purpose of this research was to explore social hardships of non-gay identifying, [behaviorally] bisexual, and “other” marginal LGBTQ+ men who are sexually intimate with men in a heteronormative and [toxic] masculine world. Relatedly, hegemonic masculinity dominates the patriarch through regulating behavioral norms that often stigmatize and discriminate opposing traits, ideologies, or groups, such as LGBTQ+. This has been known to affect and mediate health outcomes and “outness.” Therefore, this study explored how minority stressors impact self-concept, mental health, well-being, and motivations to disclose and/or conceal. Data collection involved survey and interview formats (mixed-methods cross-sectional design) that assessed internalized homophobia, conformity to masculine norms, subjective masculinity stress, disclosure, and concealment in relation to lifestyle and social context. While all variables had expected linear associations, not all were causal. Those who conformed to masculine norms significantly experienced internalized stigma/homophobia. Hence, it can be hypothesized that participants who conformed sought to conceal stigma under pressure of heteronormative culture and the patriarch. However, subjective masculinity stress was nonsignificant, exemplifying hegemonic influence as more defining to their self-concept than their own. Further, minority stress constructs (masculine norms, internalized stigma/homophobia, and subjective masculinity stress), when age, regional location, and faith were controlled, significantly predicted less disclosure and more concealment in social contexts. This reinforces the power of modern patriarchy/masculine norms/minority stress and its adverse effects on mental health, well-being, and outness in marginalized populations of LGBTQ+. Relatedly, qualitative data validated these quantitative findings but generally over the lifecycle of “coming out” as opposed to respondents’ current growth and development in outness, mental health, and well-being. However, to further affirm such quantitative findings, both survey and interview data did report distress regarding modern day masculinity and its ill standards that place unrealistic expectations on men, which continue to create disparities among and between many communities and humanity.

"A Master's paper submitted to the faculty of the School of Information and Library Science of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Library Science." / Title from PDF title page (viewed on May 21, 2006). Includes bibliographical references (p. 22-23, 28-33).

The system of higher education in the United States of America has retained some of its original character yet it has also grown in many ways. Among the contemporary priorities of colleges and universities are undergraduate student learning outcomes and success along with a growing focus on diversity. As a result, there has been a growing focus on ways to achieve compositional diversity and a greater sense of inclusion with meaningful advances through better access and resources for individuals from non-dominant populations. The clearest result of these advances for sexual and gender diversity has been a normalization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) identities through positive visibility and greater acceptance on campus. However, it appears that relatively few institutions have focused on improving academic diversity and students’ cognitive growth around LGBTQ issues. Through historical inquiry and a qualitative approach, this study explored the fundamental aspects of formal LGBTQ studies academic programs at some of the leading American research universities, including Cornell University, the University of Maryland, College Park, and the University of Texas at Austin – a purposeful sample chosen from the Association of American Universities (AAU) member institutions with organized curricula focused on the study of sexual and gender diversity. The analysis of primary and secondary sources, including documents and interviews, helped create historical narratives that revealed: a cultural shift was necessary to launch a formal academic program in LGBTQ studies; this formalization of LGBTQ studies programs has been part of the larger effort to improve the campus climate for sexual and gender diversity; and there has been a common pattern to the administration and operation of LGBTQ studies. Clearly, the research shows that LGBTQ studies, as a field of study and formal curriculum, has become institutionalized at the American research university. A key outcome of this research is the creation of a historiography of curricular development around sexual and gender diversity at a sample of premier research universities. This work also begins to fill the gap in the study of academic affairs at the postsecondary level of education related to LGBT and queer studies and the organization and administration of learning about diversity and inclusion. Ultimately, the results of this study can influence the continued advancement and maturity of this legitimate field of study as well as academic diversity and social transformation around sexual and gender diversity.

Cette thèse se donne pour objet de tester, dans le contexte spécifique du droit français, la véracité et la pérennité des critiques féministe puis genrée de la définition du réfugié consistant à dénoncer la non-prise en compte des persécutions subies par les femmes et les minorités sexuelles dans le cadre de l’élection audit statut. Et c’est un constat mitigé qui ressort de l’étude car, en dépit des nombreuses pressions internationales et européennes invitant à une analyse genrée de la notion, ces critiques héritées des années 1980 apparaissent, dans une large mesure, encore d’actualité. Certes, le phénomène d’exclusion des persécutions liées au genre qu’elles dénonçaient s’est quelque peu affaibli, en ce que les persécutions subies par les femmes et les membres des minorités sexuelles ne sont, par principe, plus exclues du champ de la définition du réfugié. Mais il n’existe cependant toujours pas de volonté, politique ou juridictionnelle, visant à les intégrer pleinement dans l’analyse. En effet, les efforts consentis pour leur prise en compte se révèlent encore insuffisants, laissant demeurer des obstacles subtils à leur intégration, des obstacles d’autant plus délicats à identifier et à surmonter. / The purpose of this thesis is to test, in the specific context of French law, the veracity and durability of feminist and gendered review of the refugee definition, which consists in denouncing the failure to take into account persecutions suffered by women and sexual minorities in the election process. It is a mixed conclusion that emerges from the study because, despite the numerous international and European pressures calling for a gendered analysis of the concept, these criticisms inherited from the 1980s still appear, to a large extent, to be relevant. Admittedly, the exclusion of gender-related persecution that they denounced has somewhat weakened, because persecutions suffered by women and members of sexual minorities are no longer excluded, as a matter of principle, from the scope of the refugee definition. However, there is still no political or jurisdictional will to fully integrate them into the analysis. Indeed, the efforts made to take them into account are still insufficient, leaving subtle obstacles to their integration, obstacles that are all the more difficult to identify and overcome.

MGS / Institute for Gender and Youth Studies / This study seek to explore the challenges that are faced by youth in lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) relationships at Mkhuhlu location. The study argues that this cohort, just like any other, should be afforded human rights, and the choice to be in lesbians, gays, bisexual, transgender and intersex relationships. Research has shown that those who believe sexual orientation is inborn are more likely to have tolerant attitudes towards lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender and intersex people, whereas those who believe it is a choice have less tolerant attitudes. The study was undertaken at Mkhuhlu location and the respondents were males and females in lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender and intersex relationships. A feminist epistemological approach to doing research guided the process of data collection while also employing a qualitative approach in interpreting the data. An exploratory design was used to gain a broader understanding in the challenges that youth in lesbians, gays, bisexual, transgender and intersex relationships are faced with every day. A Sample of 10 respondents from Mkhuhlu location was selected. Non-probability sampling was used and snow-ball sampling method was also used to draw the required sample. The data was collected through the use of guided unstructured interviews. The findings in this study reveal that LGBTI youth have faced various challenges in their daily lives. LGBTI people face considerable levels of stigmatization, discrimination and harassment in their daily lives. These challenges have negative impact in the lives of LGBTI youth and also bring various emotions, which include intense sadness, anxiety, loneliness, discomfort in social situations, and feeling overwhelmed. The study also found that there are strategies that can be employed in order to alleviate the challenges of LGBTI youth, through education the misperception that LGBTI sexual interest is uncommon and sinful may be corrected if realistic, developmentally appropriate sex education is made accessible to the public. / NRF