Syftet med den här studien är att synliggöra sexuellt våld som sker i lesbiska relationer. Med en kvalitativ ansats ligger ett fokus på lesbiska kvinnors upplevelse och erfarenhet av sexuellt våld i en tidigare samkönad relation. Datainsamlingen har skett i form av fem semistrukturerade intervjuer med lesbiska kvinnor som utsatts för sexuellt våld i en tidigare lesbisk relation. Empirin analyseras utifrån teoretiska ramverk och begrepp.Resultaten i studien indikerar att det sexuella våldet är internaliserat bland lesbiska offer och utgör en del av andra former av våld. Det förekom psykisk ohälsa hos förövaren. Uppbrottsperioden för de lesbiska offren var långvarig och samtliga deltagare sökte professionellt stöd. Samtliga offer hade psykisk ohälsa som ett resultat av att ha utsatts för kronisk misshandel. Dessa resultat är viktiga för fortsatt forskning inom samkönat våld för att kunna synliggöra det osynliga. / The aim of this study is to visualise sexual violence in lesbian relationships. With a qualitative approach there is a focus on lesbian women’s experience of violence from a previous same-sex relationship. Data collection has been undertaken by five semi-structured interviews with lesbian women who have been exposed to sexual violence in a previous relationship. Theoretical frame works and terms will be utilized to analyse the empirical material. The results in this study indicate how the sexual violence is internalized by lesbian victims, thus hard to vocalize. Further to this, sexual violence is only one by many different forms of violence. The perpetrator show signs of mental health problems. The break up period was a long struggle for the victims and all of the victims had mental health problems as a result of long term abuse which they sought professional help for. These findings are pivotal for further research regarding same-sex violence in order to visualize the invisible.

Lesbian athletes face criticism and discrimination from coaches, fans, and society. Researchers have suggested that female sport is stigmatized due to perceived masculinity and homosexuality, causing athletes to focus on heterosexual and feminine behaviors. The dichotomy of athleticism and femininity in sports has been extensively studied in the heterosexual population. However, the impact of the overt discrimination and pressure to conform to societal standards of femininity and heterosexuality has not been studied in lesbians. Therefore, the purpose of this quantitative study utilizing survey design was to examine the relationship among sport participation, gender schema, athletic identity, and internalized homophobia. A network-based snowball sampling method was used to survey 226 lesbians, 18 years of age and older. Surveys issued via Internet included the Bem Sex Role Inventory, Athletic Identity Measurement Scale, and the Lesbian Internalized Homophobia Scale. Data were analyzed using Chi-square, t tests, and Pearson Correlation. No significant difference in sports participation was found in lesbians with different gender schemas. There was a significant difference in the athletic identity of participants who were more or less active in sports, but there was no significant difference in internalized homophobia for participants who were more or less active in sports. There was no relationship between athletic identity and internalized homophobia. This study contributes to the existing literature on women and sport. It promotes social change by further investigating the influence of gender schema, athletic identity, and internalized homophobia related to behaviors and attitudes in sports.

Sexual identity in the workplace is an exploratory topic in an age when sexuality is becoming a topic of discussion. However, protection of sexual minorities (Lesbians, Gays, and Bisexuals) is not universal despite evidence that heterosexist climates are disadvantageous for employers. In this study, I examined if sexual minorities who perceive their place of employment to be relatively free of heterosexism would be more satisfied with their jobs, perceive more organizational fit, and report less work stress. In addition, I sought to determine if selected personality variables would mediate the relations among critical study variables. The personality variables were internalized homophobia, level of “outness,” and cynicism. Two samples of university students consisting of sexual minorities (n =43) and heterosexuals (n = 67), completed questionnaires online. Results revealed a positive correlation for both groups between organizational climate (i.e., less perceived heterosexism) and job satisfaction, although the correlation for the sexual minority group did not achieve statistical significance, likely due to the small sample size. Due to statistical conditions not being satisfied, partial correlations were performed instead of mediational analyses. Internalized homophobia was found to partially account for the relations between perceived organizational climate and job satisfaction and perceived organizational climate and work stress, respectively. This study encourages further investigation into the role of sexual identity in the workplace, particularly the role of internalized homophobia as possibly influencing sexual minorities to perceive their workplace environment more pejoratively than necessary.

No description available.

Sexual minority men are at an increased risk for negative outcomes, including mental health disorders, suicide, substance abuse, and sexual risk behaviors. Internalized Homophobia (IH), roughly defined as sexual orientation-related self-hatred among gay men, has been linked to these outcomes. Since its publication in 1983, the predominant measure of IH used in psychological research has been the Nungesser Homosexual Attitudes Inventory (Nungesser, 1983). The scale is potentially dated, and there is a relative paucity of investigation into its psychometric properties; findings derived through its use may be in question. The current effort describes two studies designed to address these concerns. Study I includes a principal components analysis of the scale using data obtained from an internet sample (N = 486), resulting in suggested revisions for the broader scale, and proposed brief versions of the Self and Disclosure subscales. Study II used data obtained from a second internet sample (N = 884) to further evaluate scale structure and properties. Analyses include confirmatory factor analyses of the original scale, Shidlo's revised version (1994), the suggested alternative, and the Brief Self and Disclosure scales proposed in Study I. Of the three versions of the overall scale, the suggested alternative proposed in Study I exhibited the most favorable fit and highest item loadings. Internal consistency for the suggested alternative was equal to that of the larger NHAI and Shidlo-revised scales. External validity was evaluated through correlations with mental health and suicide, substance use, sexual risk, and orientation-based victimization. Strong results in the expected direction were found only in the instance of mental health, with negative attitudes towards homosexuality being associated with increases in depression and anxiety scores as measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. The suggested scale alternative and Brief Self and Disclosure scales performed similarly to the more extensive NHAI and Shidlo-revised scales, leading to a recommendation for their use in research. Finally, findings from the current effort are discussed in relation to the broader social context impacting the lives and development of sexual minority men. / Psychology

Sexual anxiety is a prevalent issue among men who have sex with men (MSM) that negatively affects sexual satisfaction and wellbeing. However, research investigating sexual anxiety among MSM has been scarce. This descriptive phenomenological study was conducted to address knowledge gaps and identify the predominant underlying causes of sexual anxiety among non-monogamous MSM. Using purposive sampling, eleven sexually active, non-monogamous MSM were recruited for this study (N=11). Data were collected using audio-recorded, semi-structured interviews, and analyzed using Moustakas’ (1994) structured approach to data analysis in phenomenological research. Participant descriptions of their lived experiences of sexual anxiety identified six prevalent causes among MSM individuals. These included performance anxiety, fear of HIV, fear of bacterial STIs, internalized homophobia, body image dissatisfaction, and history of sexual abuse. Not surprisingly, fear of HIV was the dominant cause of sexual anxiety among most participants. Recommendations to prevent and reduce sexual anxiety among MSM are provided.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health, 2009. / Advisor: Michael W. Ross. Includes bibliographical references.

The purpose of the study was to explore the complex ways in which chemsex and internalised homophobia may be linked. The study sought to: Elucidate the concept of internalised homophobia; determine the challenges experienced by gay men and how psychoactive drugs influence their sexual relationships with other men; and also explore a possible relationship between chemsex and internalised homophobia. The study hopes to contribute to a better understanding of the challenges that are faced by gay people and the reasons why some gay men participate in chemsex. A total of eleven participants were identified from an LGBTIQ+ friendly drug rehabilitation centre and a gay bath house in Cape Town. A qualitative approach was used to conduct the study by conducting semi structured interviews with each participant. The theoretical framework used to elucidate the concept of internalised homophobia among the LGBTIQ+ community was underpinned by the minority stress model. This model was used to explain the concepts of homophobia and internalised homophobia. The methodological framework used was qualitative research, which focuses on the stories of individuals and is concerned with the social construction of the individual’s life, and specifically Thematic Analysis which assisted in identifying patterns or themes in people’s accounts. The findings were that even though there is a relationship between internalise homophobia and chemsex, there are many other factors and influences that play a role, such as the individuals' backgrounds, their experiences in coming out as gay, and other life circumstances. In conclusion, the study suggests that there is much more that can be done to break down the stigma and prejudice facing the LGBTIQ+ community, which is a first step towards addressing the chemsex phenomenon and related psychological consequences. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Kent State University, 2004. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on Apr. 27, 2006). Includes bibliographical references (p. 175-209).