scholarly journals “I Don’t Even Want to Come Out”: the Suppressed Voices of Our Future and Opening the Lid on Sexual and Gender Minority Youth Workplace Discrimination in Europe: a Qualitative Study

Author(s):  
Radhika Seiler-Ramadas ◽  
Lovro Markovic ◽  
Chase Staras ◽  
Laura Llop Medina ◽  
Jelena Perak ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction In Europe, young sexual and gender minority (SGM) people continue to face discrimination in the labour sector despite advances in legislation towards their acceptance and equal treatment. Non-discrimination policy strategies helping SGM individuals are not equally enforced in all contexts, making it difficult for many SGM individuals to disclose their identity, hence undermining their health and well-being. Methods Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted between October 2020 and February 2021 with 55 SGM youth (18–27 years) having work experience from Austria, Croatia, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain and the UK. Results From the analysis, three overarching themes were significant: (1) societal discrimination played a major role in sociocultural factors and policy considerations, (2) workplace discrimination had distinct factors and impacts on SGM individuals and (3) SGM inclusion should use strategies to ensure workplace diversity and equality. Conclusions SGM individuals from contexts of poor acceptance tended to hide their identity in the workplace, while transgender and non-binary individuals were prone to experience force-disclosure and discrimination in all aspects of employment. There is a lack of resolute reaction from policy makers in managing problems faced by SGM people in workplaces. New laws improving the status of SGM people need to be further adopted, staff training should be implemented, and managers are crucial in achieving an inclusive climate in the workplace. Policy Implications It is essential to implement policies on how to effectively handle problems faced by sexual and gender minority people in the workplace.

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordan A. Levinson ◽  
Patricia M. Greenfield ◽  
Jenna C. Signorelli

Sexual and gender minority youth are at risk for negative mental health outcomes, such as depression and suicide, due to stigma. Fortunately, sense of community, connection, and social support can ameliorate these deleterious effects. Youth express that most of their social support comes from peers and in-school organizations, but these sources require in-person interaction. Past research has identified social media sites as virtual and anonymous sources of support for these youth, but the role of YouTube specifically in this process has not been thoroughly explored. This study explores YouTube as a possible virtual source of support for sexual and gender minority youth by examining the ecological comments left on YouTube videos. A qualitative thematic analysis of YouTube comments resulted in six common themes in self-identified adolescents' YouTube comments: sharing, relating, information-seeking, gratitude, realization, and validation. Most commonly, adolescents shared feelings and experiences related to their identity, especially when they could relate to the experiences discussed in the videos. These young people also used their comments to ask for identity-related advice or information, treating the platform as a source of education. Results suggest that sexual minority youth's use of YouTube can be advantageous for social support and community, identity-related information, identity development, and overall well-being.


2019 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. S101
Author(s):  
Renata Arrington-Sanders ◽  
Noya Galai ◽  
Andrea Wirtz ◽  
Jennafer Kwait ◽  
Chris Beyrer ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 135 (6) ◽  
pp. 721-727
Author(s):  
John P. Salerno ◽  
Jackson Devadas ◽  
M Pease ◽  
Bryanna Nketia ◽  
Jessica N. Fish

2020 ◽  
pp. 074355842093322
Author(s):  
Christopher J. Ceccolini ◽  
V. Paul Poteat ◽  
Jerel P. Calzo ◽  
Hirokazu Yoshikawa ◽  
Kasey Meyer

Research among sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth has suggested associations between Gender-Sexuality Alliance (GSA) involvement and better health. Emergent research has similarly demonstrated associations between family support and general well-being among SGM youth. However, the trait of bravery has received little attention in this literature, despite its relevance for youth in marginalized positions. We examined the association between level of GSA involvement, family support, and bravery among GSA members ( n = 295; Mage = 16.07), and whether those associations differed based on sexual orientation or gender identity. We then conducted one-on-one interviews with SGM youth ( n = 10), to understand how they understood bravery and experienced support in both GSA and family contexts. Greater GSA involvement significantly predicted greater bravery for all youth, whereas greater family support predicted greater bravery only for heterosexual youth. No significant moderation was found for gender minority youth. Our qualitative findings clarified how SGM youth conceptualized bravery and how they experienced it within their GSA and family settings. GSAs were associated with more frequent displays of explicit support for SGM identity, while families were perceived as providing less explicit support.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. e050092
Author(s):  
Victoria J McGowan ◽  
Hayley J Lowther ◽  
Catherine Meads

ObjectiveTo systematically review all published and unpublished evidence on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health and well-being of UK sexual and gender minority (LGBT+; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, non-binary, intersex and queer) people.MethodsAny relevant studies with or without comparator were included, with outcomes of: COVID-19 incidence, hospitalisation rates, illness severity, death rates, other health and well-being. Six databases (platforms) were searched—CINAHL Plus (Ovid), Cochrane Central (Cochrane Library), Medline (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), Science Citation Index (Web of Science) and Scopus between 2019 and 2020 in December 2020, using synonyms for sexual and gender minorities and COVID-19 search terms. Data extraction and quality assessment (using the relevant Joanna Briggs checklist) were in duplicate with differences resolved through discussion. Results were tabulated and synthesis was through narrative description.ResultsNo published research was found on any outcomes. Eleven grey literature reports found to be of low quality were included, mostly conducted by small LGBT+ charities. Only four had heterosexual/cisgender comparators. Mental health and well-being, health behaviours, safety, social connectedness and access to routine healthcare all showed poorer or worse outcomes than comparators.ConclusionsLack of research gives significant concern, given pre-existing health inequities. Social and structural factors may have contributed to poorer outcomes (mental health, well-being and access to healthcare). Paucity of evidence is driven by lack of routinely collected sexual orientation and gender identity data, possibly resulting from institutional homophobia/transphobia which needs to be addressed. Men are more at risk of serious illness from COVID-19 than women, so using data from trans women and men might have started to answer questions around whether higher rates were due to sex hormone or chromosomal effects. Routine data collection on sexual orientation and gender identity is required to examine the extent to which COVID-19 is widening pre-existing health inequalities.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020224304.


10.2196/20547 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. e20547
Author(s):  
Shelley L Craig ◽  
Andrew D Eaton ◽  
Rachael Pascoe ◽  
Egag Egag ◽  
Lauren B McInroy ◽  
...  

Background The experiences of resilience and intersectionality in the lives of contemporary sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY) are important to explore. SGMY face unique experiences of discrimination in both online and offline environments, yet simultaneously build community and seek support in innovative ways. SGMY who identify as transgender, trans, or gender nonconforming and have experiences with child welfare, homelessness, or immigration have been particularly understudied. A qualitative exploration that leverages technology may derive new understanding of the negotiations of risk, resilience, and identity intersections that impact the well-being of vulnerable SGMY. Objective The objectives of the QueerVIEW study were to (1) enhance understanding of SGMY identities, both online and offline, (2) identify experiences of intersectionality among culturally, regionally, and racially diverse SGMY in Ontario, Canada, (3) explore online and offline sources of resilience for SGMY, and (4) develop and apply a virtual photo elicitation methodological approach. Methods This is the first study to pilot a completely virtual approach to a photo elicitation investigation with youth, including data collection, recruitment, interviewing, and analysis. Recruited through social media, SGMY completed a brief screening survey, submitted 10 to 15 digital photos, and then participated in an individual semistructured interview that focused on their photos and related life experiences. Online data collection methods were employed through encrypted online file transfer and secure online interviews. Data is being analyzed using a constructivist grounded theory approach, with six coders participating in structured online meetings that triangulated photo, video, and textual data. Results Data collection with 30 participants has been completed and analyses are underway. SGMY expressed appreciation for the photo elicitation and online design of the study and many reported experiencing an emotional catharsis from participating in this process. It is anticipated that results will form a model of how participants work toward integrating their online and offline experiences and identities into developing a sense of themselves as resilient. Conclusions This protocol presents an innovative, technology-enabled qualitative study that completely digitized a popular arts-based methodology—photo elicitation—that has potential utility for contemporary research with marginalized populations. The research design and triangulated analyses can generate more nuanced conceptualizations of SGMY identities and resilience than more traditional approaches. Considerations for conducting online research may be useful for other qualitative research. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/20547


2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-41
Author(s):  
Tameeka Hunter ◽  
Franco Dispenza ◽  
Mary Huffstead ◽  
Mackenzie Suttles ◽  
Zachary Bradley

This study examined the resilience experiences of 13 sexual and gender minority persons living with disabilities, using phenomenological qualitative methodology. Researchers used in-depth, semi-structured interviews and various trustworthiness standards in the study. Participants endorsed four common resilience maximizers—self-acceptance, advocacy, social support, and a plea for recognition of humanity (an aspirational resilience maximizer)—and three common resilience minimizers—fragmentation, identity concealment, and punishment. Counseling implications and future research directions are also discussed.


Author(s):  
Helen Keeley ◽  
Fiachra Ó Súilleabháin ◽  
Máire Leane

Despite the sociolegal changes that have signalled greater acceptance of sexual diversity and gender expansive identities in the twenty-first century, worldwide studies highlight the increased risk of mental health problems and suicidality for those with a sexual and/or gender minority status. This chapter discusses this increased risk of suicidality among sexual and gender minority populations across the life course. A recurring theme is that those who are less sure of their status, are most at risk. Therefore, the capacity of an individual to overcome internalized minority stress, stigma, guilt, and shame, and to reconcile, even take pride, in their sexual/gender status, is a significant issue. While sociolegal, cultural, and familial norms may seem beyond the remit of mental health professionals, affirmative and inclusive actions can be taken to support questioning youth, unsure adults, and distrustful older people, and to help improve the resilience and well-being of their LGBTQ+ service-users.


2020 ◽  
pp. 088626052097819
Author(s):  
Emmett R. Henderson ◽  
Jordan M. Sang ◽  
William Louth-Marquez ◽  
James E. Egan ◽  
Dorothy Espelage ◽  
...  

Sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY) are more likely to experience bullying and violence compared to the youth who do not identify as SGMY, leading to increased risk of poor mental and physical health outcomes, and poor academic performance. Few studies explore the entire range of bullying experienced by sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY). The purpose of this study was to qualitatively describe the ways in which SGMY experience bullying victimization. We conducted semi-structured interviews with a diverse sample of 20 SGMY aged 14–18 years (median age 16 years) recruited from online social media. The sample included 10 participants who identified as cisgender girls, 4 who identified as cisgender boys, 2 who identified as transgender, and 4 who identified as another gender identity. Ten participants identified as bisexual, six identified as lesbian, and four identified as gay. Findings indicated six common experiences of bullying among the participants: (a) verbal harassment; (b) gender policing; (c) physical violence; (d) sexual harassment; (e) treated as sexual perpetrators and deviants; and (f) and social exclusion. SGMY described how bullying victimization ranged from overt to concealed attitudes and behaviors, and they articulated how several forms of bullying are likely not experienced by heterosexual and cisgender youth. These results support findings from prior qualitative studies and suggest that efforts to address school-based bullying may benefit from a more complete awareness of the range of bullying victimization experienced by SGMY. Development of multi-item scales of bullying that reflect the six common experiences of bullying presented in this study would allow researchers to quantitatively explore the range of bullying behaviors experienced by SGMY, and would aid in the conceptualization and successful implementation of anti-bullying interventions.


Health Equity ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa Schick ◽  
Laura Witte ◽  
Lourence Misedah ◽  
Wendy Benedict ◽  
Kinnon Falk ◽  
...  

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