Some romantic relationship types have a greater likelihood of receiving parental support than do others. Specifically, adults in traditional romantic relationships (i.e., same-race, opposite-sex) perceive more parental support for their relationships than do individuals in socially stigmatized relationships (e.g., interracial, same-sex relationships; Lehmiller & Agnew, 2006). The goal of the current study was to understand better what motivates parents to provide support for their adult children’s romantic relationships. To address this question, the original and a modified version of the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA; Ajzen & Fishbein, 1975) were tested. The TRA was implemented to measure whether parents’ attitudes toward showing support and the parents’ subjective norms were associated with the parents’ intentions to provide support for their children’s relationships in the future. In the modified model, subjective norms was reconceptualized to include parents’ perceptions of stigma by associating with their children’s relationships and the perceived threat of sanctions from the parent’s social networks if the parents were to provide support for their children’s relationships in the future. To improve predictive ability of the models, theoretically relevant covariates were included in each model. To capitalize on a variety of viewpoints, this study included parents whose children were either single or in dating relationships. Parents whose child was single completed the questionnaire while imagining his or her child in a traditional, interracial, or same-sex relationship whereas parents whose child was in a dating relationship reported on his or her child’s current relationship. A sample of 438 parents completed an online survey. Overall, across all groups, parents’ attitudes toward providing support were consistently associated with parents’ intentions to provide support. Associations between the parents’ subjective norms and intentions to provide support varied across groups and were not always significantly associated with parents’ intentions to provide support in the future. Furthermore, parents’ motivations to provide support differed among parents who imagined their children in relationships compared to parents whose children were in real relationships, suggesting parents may overestimate problems with their children’s interracial and same-sex relationships and underestimate problems with their children’s traditional relationships than may occur in real-life situations. / text

Šiuolaikinė vartotojiška visuomenė žmogaus kūną akcentuoja, kaip ženklą, kuris gali reprezentuoti rasę, lytį, amžių, socialinį statusą ar vaidmenį, o kūno kalba – emocijas ir jausmus. Visuomenę galima analizuoti remiantis lyčių diskursu, turtingu socialinių, politinių ir kultūrinių procesų, formuojančių lyčių identitetą, stereotipus ir idealus. Vykstant XX a. socialiniams pokyčiams, keitėsi moters vaidmuo ir požiūris į ją. Lygiagrečiai kito ir vyro tapatumas. Kai kurios socialinės subkultūros istorijoje ir moksluose ilgą laiką nebuvo išryškintos ir nagrinėjamos. Tai – marginalinės (homoseksualai – gėjai ir lesbietės bei neįgalieji) grupės. Jos dažnai jautė savos visuomenės ignoravimą, diskriminaciją ir agresiją. Feministinis judėjimas XX a. antrojoje pusėje paspartino įvairius sociumo pokyčius visame pasaulyje. Tuo pačiu metu atsirado ir šiuolaikinis šokis – sudėtingas reiškinys mene. Tyrėjai nenubrėžia aiškios jo pradžios ar pabaigos, jame persipina įvairios šokio technikos, o šokėjai išlaisvinami iš griežtos judesio abėcėlės. Šiuolaikiniame šokyje pateikiama ir kvestionuojama tradicinė (moters ir vyro) ir marginalinė (homoseksualų ir neįgaliųjų) kūno raiška paskatino analizuoti šiuolaikinį šokį socialiniame ir kultūriniame kontekste. Diplominio darbo objektas yra kūno socialiniai atspindžiai šiuolaikiniame šokyje: tradiciniai (moters ir vyro) ir marginaliniai (homoseksualų ir neįgaliųjų). Darbo objekto laukas – Europos ir Lietuvos šiuolaikinio šokio spektakliai, sukurti per... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / A contemporary consuming society emphasizes a human body as a sign that represents a race, gender, age, social status or role and a body language that highlights emotions and feelings. A society could be analysed on the basis of a gender discourse. It is rich with social, political and cultural processes shaping gender identities, stereotypes and ideals. Changes in the 20th century influenced the alterations in a woman’s roles ant attitudes towards her. A man’s identity was changing as well. Some social subcultures have not been defined and analysed in history or in science. These subcultures are considered to be marginal groups: gays, lesbians and disabled. Very often they felt the ignorance, discrimination and aggression. In the second half of the 20th century the feminist movement speeded social changes all over the world. At that time a contemporary dance appeared as a complex phenomenon in art. Researchers do not outline its clear beginning or the end. It is a mix of various techniques and dancers are free from a strict movement alphabet. Representation and questioning of traditional (a woman and a man) and marginal (homosexuals and disabled) reflections of a body in a contemporary dance influenced the analysis of a contemporary dance in the social and cultural context. The subject of a diploma paper is the body’s social reflections in a contemporary dance: traditional (a woman and a man) and marginal (homosexuals and disabled). The field of the subject is European and... [to full text]

The subject of master work is homosexuality. Main goals: clearly represent such topics as homosexual communities, discrimination, love, sex, individual alienation; to show more exposed and more honest version of individuality, personal features, that could be built only on individual preferences and life experience; examine the origins of the phenomenon of "homophobia" by analyzing the concept of "sexuality" and "homosexuality" in the Soviet era; the causes of lack of knowledge or awareness on homosexual topic in the post-soviet time; analyze how "authoritative importunity" of public conscience cultivates homophobic reactions; present a final project in the format of photo-book that could be a “deconstructor“ of the logic of public thinking towards the perception of LGBT-communitis in Belarus and Lithuania. Visual representation: a series of photographs of homosexual people , mostly portraits, that clearly represents each person’s identity and unique features of character with strong attempt of understanding a contradictory of individual essence and personal establishment. The project is represented as a photo-book under the name “Sweet dreams“. The master work is focused on: the sphere of homophobic problematic with the help of photo-visual explanation of personal meaningfulness and importance in social being and everyday life development without any references to stigmatic dogmas of sexual orientation that still save unreasonable character... [to full text] / Darbo tikslas - pristatyti tokias temas kaip homoseksuali visuomenė, diskriminacija,meilę,individualus atsiskyrimas. / Итак, исходя из сказанного выше, необходимо обозначить, что объект магистерской работы – гомосексуальность. Целью работы является привлечение внимание общественности к проблеме “закрытости” гомосексуалов на постсоветском пространстве, а также связанных с этим ряде других факторов, оказывающих негативное влияние на формирование гомосексуальной идентичности. Задачи, которые необходимо рассмотреть в данной работе, заключаются в следующем: исследовать истоки формирования такого явления как “гомофобия”, анализируя понятие “сексуальности” и “гомосексуальности” в эпоху советскости; также причины нехватки знания или осведомленности общества по вопросам гомосексуального характера в постсоветское время; проанализировать, каким образом “властная навязчивость” общественного сознания культивирует гомофобную реакцию; представить итоговый проект в формате фото-книги, который бы являлся “деконструктором” логики общественного мышления по отношению к ЛГБТ-сообществам Литвы и Беларуси. Визуальными средствами репрезентации является постановочная фотография, фото-книга. Проект ориентирован на широкую аудиторию таких стран, как Литва и Беларусь. Магистерская работа может быть полезна людям, работающим в сфере фотографии, дизайна, работникам по гендерной теории, студентам художественных специальностей.

Syftet med uppsatsen är att försöka få en inblick i och förståelse för hur homosexuella män upplever fördomar, möjligheter att vara öppna och möjligheter att stå emot den makt som heteronormativiteten innebär. Studien är kvalitativ med hermaneutiken som vetenskaplig ansats, och jag har genomfört sex djupintervjuer med homosexuella män för att ta reda på hur synen på deras egna platser i tillvaron påverkas av samspelet med den sociala omgivningen. Resultatet visar att homosexualiteten som stigmat består av samt det offentliga samhällets struktur begränsar den homosexuella mannens livsmöjligheter, och hur väl den homosexuella mannen lyckas integreras i samhället beror på hur den sociala kontexten ser ut, men även på vilken relation den homosexuella mannen själv har till homosexualiteten. Ingen av respondenterna upplever dock ett omfattande utanförskap. Vidare visar resultatet att det finns flertalet olika strategier för att hantera sin öppenhet och att dessa varierar beroende på situation, och att männens band till vänner och familj i stor utsträckning inte påverkas negativt av stigmat. / The purpose of this article is by dint of using stigma theory try to get an insight into and understanding of how gay men feel about their place in the social environment. The intention of this paper is to try to get an insight into and an understanding of how gay men experience prejudice, opportunities to be open and opportunities to resist the power that heteronormativity means.The study is qualitative with a hermaneutic scientific approach, and I have conducted six in-depth interviews with gay men to find out how the perception of their own places in life is influenced by the interaction with the social environment. The result shows that the homosexuality that the stigma comes from and the public social structure limits the gay man's life chances, and how well the gay man succeeds in integrating into society depends on the social context, but also on what relationship the gay man himself has to homosexuality. None of the respondents, however, experienced a widespread alienation. Furthermore, the results show that there are several different strategies to deal with openness and that these vary depending on the situation, and that men's relationships to friends and family to a great extent is not adversely affected by the stigma.

In the last decade several western countries have greatly enhanced the rights of sexual minorities in their societies. Same-sex marriage is now legal in most states in the United States, while about twenty three countries in Europe presently allow same-sex marriage or some form of civil partnership. Africa on the other hand is witnessing a rise in the number of countries further criminalizing sexual minorities and homophobia is rising across the continent. Homosexuality is illegal in 76 countries in the world, 38 of which are in Africa and of these 38, homosexuality is punishable by death in 4. Though a growing discourse, existing literature and scholarly papers till date have rarely focused on the impediments to LGBT rights in the African continent. The few existing literature have looked at LGBT rights in Africa from the policy perspective without taking the popularity of anti-gay laws into consideration as seen in a country like Nigeria where 98 percent of the population supports anti-gay measures. An explorative qualitative research study was used to explore the impediments to LGBT rights in Nigeria and how they can be addressed. Secondary data from verifiable sources and primary data from semi-structured, formal, open ended interviews with individuals deeply informed of the discourse in Nigeria was used for the research. Data retrieved was analysed using thematic analysis to identify recurrent themes from the interview transcripts before a comprehensive discussion and triangulation of both primary and secondary data was conducted. The research found that religious beliefs and the existence of LGBT knowledge gaps are the major impediments to LGBT rights in Nigeria. The research findings suggests that closing these LGBT knowledge gaps through enlightenment will over time repress the strong religious and ideological views held against LGBTs. With the decline of these views, the research suggests that LGBT rights will naturally emerge. The study also developed three testable hypotheses for future studies.

Syftet med denna studie har varit att beskriva och analysera attityder hos socialsekreterare till homosexuella par som familjehemsföräldrar. Våra frågeställningar som har genomsyrat studien har varit centrerade kring vilka attityder till homosexuellas lämplighet som familjehemsföräldrar det finns hos socialsekreterare som arbetar med målgruppen barn och familj, samt hur attityder till homosexuella som familjehemsföräldrar ser ut beroende på de homosexuella parens kön. Socialsekreterarna som har medverkat i studien arbetar inom kommuner i södra Sverige med ärenden som rör målgrupperna barn och familj. Studiens empiriska data har inhämtats med hjälp av enkäter som består av frågor och påståenden som är baserade på tidigare forskning. Vi har analyserat vår data i förhållande till diskurs inom socialt arbete som profession och heteronormativitet. Resultaten visar att socialsekreterarnas attityder till homosexuella som familjehemsföräldrar är övervägande neutrala till positiva, även om det finns uppfattningar om att barn till homosexuella löper större risk än barn till heterosexuella att bli utsatta för mobbing och negativa attityder från den sociala omgivningen. Resultaten visar även att socialsekreterarna inte gör skillnad på homosexuellas lämplighet beroende på kön.

Romantic relationships are one of the most important relationships a woman will develop in her life. Women are often socialized to be compliant within their relationships, and are reminded of how a thin body type is ideal. The implications of this socialization can affect the way a woman feels about her body. The current study included 207 women who ranged in age from 18-30, were in a relationship (neither married nor engaged) for 6 months or longer, and identified as either being attracted to the same or opposite sex. Results of the study indicated a significant effect of higher levels of body dissatisfaction between both negative relationship quality, and increased engagement in unhealthy dietary behaviours. In addition, self-silencing was found to be a significant mediator in the relationship between relationship quality and both body dissatisfaction and unhealthy dietary behaviours. Limitations of the study and directions for future research are discussed.

Romantic relationships are one of the most important relationships a woman will develop in her life. Women are often socialized to be compliant within their relationships, and are reminded of how a thin body type is ideal. The implications of this socialization can affect the way a woman feels about her body. The current study included 207 women who ranged in age from 18-30, were in a relationship (neither married nor engaged) for 6 months or longer, and identified as either being attracted to the same or opposite sex. Results of the study indicated a significant effect of higher levels of body dissatisfaction between both negative relationship quality, and increased engagement in unhealthy dietary behaviours. In addition, self-silencing was found to be a significant mediator in the relationship between relationship quality and both body dissatisfaction and unhealthy dietary behaviours. Limitations of the study and directions for future research are discussed.

Research Doctorate - Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology / Since 1973, mental health professionals have rejected the historical view of homosexuality as being inherently pathological (American Psychiatric Association, 1973; Le Vay, 1996). However, research shows that some, but not all, gay men are at increased risk of a range of difficulties, including substance use, depression, anxiety, and suicide (e.g., Ashman, 2004; Fergusson, Horwood, & Beautrais, 1999; Gonsiorek, 1988; Kulkin, Chauvin, Percle, 2000; Meyer, 2003). The current research aimed to investigate (a) whether psychosocial well-being varied according to stage of gay identity development based on Cass’ (1979) model of homosexual identity formation (HIF); and (b) why such stage-based variations in well-being occur. Participants were self-identified gay men who completed internet-based questionnaires. Studies 2, 3 and 4 included experimental manipulations. Study 1 revealed that the relationship between HIF stage and psychosocial well-being represented a U-shaped function. The early confusion and comparison stages and late pride and synthesis stages of HIF were associated with good psychosocial well-being. In contrast, the middle tolerance and acceptance stages of HIF were associated with poor well-being. Study 2 revealed that acceptance stage participants demonstrated more closeting, lower in-group identification, lower membership collective self-esteem, and lower private collective self-esteem than did synthesis stage participants. However, none of these variables mediated the effects of HIF stage on well-being. In Study 3, I used improved measures of in-group identification and closeting and found that, compared to synthesis participants, acceptance participants reported greater identity salience and less global identification and used acting straight and closeting strategies to a greater extent. Importantly, in Study 4, I found that global identification, identity salience and the acting straight strategy independently mediated the effects of HIF stage on psychosocial well-being. These latter findings suggest that acceptance stage people have poorer well-being because (a) they identify less with the gay in-group, (b) they are more preoccupied with their gay identity, and (c) they make greater use of an acting straight strategy to manage their identity. Taken together, these findings lend empirical support to Cass’ (1979) model of HIF and contradict the notion that homosexuality is inherently pathological. Rather, individuals’ responses to membership of a negatively valued social group hold significant implications for their well-being. Two key implications follow from this research. First, at the individual level, the nature and timing of clinical interventions to assist gay men must be appropriate to their stage of HIF. Second, at the society level, broad social change is required to reduce stigma associated with gay identity.

Rose... assim era denominada a primeira revista gay editada no Brasil entre fins da década de 1970 e princípios de 1980. Em suas páginas eram publicadas informações do cenário artístico-cultural da época, contos eróticos, estórias em quadrinho, cartuns, anúncios de homens interessados em corresponder-se com outros homens, artigos que versavam sobre a homossexualidade masculina. Nessas páginas havia, também, uma profusão de corpos masculinos tendendo a nudez. Entretanto, nos limites dessa dissertação a revista Rose, não foi considerada apenas como veículo de comunicação e entretenimento, mas, antes disso, tomada como fonte histórica. Enquanto portadora de um conjunto de pedagogias do gênero e da sexualidade, a revista está implicada na produção de um modelo de masculinidade homossexual normalizada. A partir do referencial teórico dos Estudos de Gênero, desde uma perspectiva feminista e pós-estruturalista, analiso o enunciado que articula a masculinidade homossexual a comportamentos efeminados. E é a abjeção a tais comportamentos que servirá de base para a construção do homem gay discreto, marcadamente masculinizado. Portanto, a discrição – enquanto signo de masculinidade – parece assegurar a inteligibilidade social desses homens, “autorizando” sua própria existência. De qualquer maneira, a revista não deve ser reduzida a problemática aqui desenvolvida, uma vez que nela estão presentes outros enunciados. / Rose... so it was named the first gay magazine edited in Brazil between late 1970s and early 1980s. On its pages, information about the cultural-artistic scene of that time, erotic stories, stories in comics, cartoons, advertisements of men interested in corresponding with other men, and articles that dealt with male homosexuality were published. On those pages there was also a profusion of male bodies tending to nudity. However, within the bounds of this dissertation, Rose magazine has not been considered only as a vehicle of communication and entertainment, above all, it has been taken as a historical source. As a carrier of a set of pedagogies of gender and sexuality, the magazine is involved in producing a normalized model of homosexual masculinity. Based on the theoretical referential of Gender Studies from a feminist and post-structuralist perspective, it was analyzed the “enunciation” that articulates the homosexual masculinity to feminine behaviors. It is the degradation of such behaviors that will serve as the basis for the construction of a discrete gay man, with a distinct male-like behavior. Therefore, discretion – as a sign of masculinity – seems to ensure the social intelligence of those men, "authorizing" their own existence. However, the magazine should not be reduced to the problematic here developed, since there are other issues presented in it.