Sexual Orientation Identity Formation among Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Youths: Multiple Patterns of Milestone Experiences

Development of the contemporary post-industrial society entails the increasing diversity of family life models. People, making individual choices in this field, face new challenges related to identity formation. In the text presented this issue is discussed on the example of women bringing up children in same-sex relationships. The article presents basic information on the same-sex parenting, underlines the importance of the idea of identity integration in psychology and stresses the lack of contiguity between theories of parental identity development and these ones of homosexual and bisexual identity development. An extensive discussion of the Vivienne Cass’s theory of sexual orientation identity development is the basis for the approximation of potential discrepancies in the identity system of non-heterosexual women taking parental roles. Two main factors relevant to the processes of identity formation were distinguished: the order of the development of the sexual orientation identity and parental identity (the planned and reconstructed families differ in this regard) and the way of establishing and maintaining the relationship with the child (other challenges are faced by biological and social mothers). In the summary, questions requiring future empirical exploration were notified.

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Understanding lesbian, gay, and bisexual worker stigmatization: a review of the literature

International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy ◽

10.1108/ijssp-07-2013-0077 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 34 (5/6) ◽

pp. 359-374 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Trevor G. Gates ◽

Pamela A. Viggiani

Keyword(s):

Sexual Orientation ◽

Gender Identity ◽

Design Methodology ◽

Social Classes ◽

Sex And Gender ◽

Content Type ◽

Sexual Orientation Identity ◽

Conceptual Paper ◽

And Bisexual ◽

And Gender

Purpose – Stigmatization of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) people at work is an enduring social problem, yet little is known about how those experiences differ. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the above issue. Design/methodology/approach – Using a framework of modified labeling, this conceptual paper addresses that gap by reviewing the literature on differences in LGB worker stigmatization by type of sexual orientation identity, outness, sex and gender identity, and education and social class. Findings – Findings in the literature were that LGB workers are labeled as outsiders, and treated differently in many workplaces. However, there are other distinctions, based upon type of sexual orientation identity (i.e. whether someone is lesbian, gay, or bisexual), sex and gender identity, outness at work, and education and social classes. Originality/value – Moreover, the paper proposes additional aspects of LGB worker stigmatization needing further empirical study.

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The Internet’s Multiple Roles in Facilitating the Sexual Orientation Identity Development of Gay and Bisexual Male Adolescents

American Journal of Men s Health ◽

10.1177/1557988314566227 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 359-376 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

Gary W. Harper ◽

Pedro A. Serrano ◽

Douglas Bruce ◽

Jose A. Bauermeister

Keyword(s):

Sexual Orientation ◽

Identity Development ◽

Coming Out ◽

Phenomenological Study ◽

Future Research ◽

The Internet ◽

Male Adolescents ◽

Sexual Orientation Identity ◽

And Bisexual ◽

Bisexual People

One emerging avenue for the exploration of adolescents’ sexual orientation identity development is the Internet, since it allows for varying degrees of anonymity and exploration. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the role of the Internet in facilitating the sexual orientation identity development process of gay and bisexual male adolescents. Qualitative interviews were conducted with an ethnically diverse sample of 63 gay/bisexual male adolescents (ages 15-23). Participants reported using a range of Internet applications as they explored and came to accept their sexual orientation identity, with the intended purpose and degree of anonymity desired determining which applications were used. Youth reported that the Internet provided a range of functions with regard to the exploration and acceptance of their sexual orientation identity, including (1) increasing self-awareness of sexual orientation identity, (2) learning about gay/bisexual community life, (3) communicating with other gay/bisexual people, (4) meeting other gay/bisexual people, (5) finding comfort and acceptance with sexual orientation, and (6) facilitating the coming out process. Future research and practice may explore the Internet as a platform for promoting the healthy development of gay and bisexual male adolescents by providing a developmentally and culturally appropriate venue for the exploration and subsequent commitment to an integrated sexual orientation identity.

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Retrospective recall of sexual orientation identity development among gay, lesbian, and bisexual adults.

Developmental Psychology ◽

10.1037/a0025508 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 47 (6) ◽

pp. 1658-1673 ◽

Cited By ~ 71

Author(s):

Jerel P. Calzo ◽

Toni C. Antonucci ◽

Vickie M. Mays ◽

Susan D. Cochran

Keyword(s):

Sexual Orientation ◽

Identity Development ◽

Sexual Orientation Identity ◽

Retrospective Recall ◽

And Bisexual

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Gender Nonconformity and Minority Stress Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Individuals: A Meta-Analytic Review

Perspectives on Psychological Science ◽

10.1177/1745691620968766 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 174569162096876

Author(s):

Brian C. Thoma ◽

Kristen L. Eckstrand ◽

Gerald T. Montano ◽

Taylor L. Rezeppa ◽

Michael P. Marshal

Keyword(s):

Sexual Orientation ◽

Minority Stress ◽

Gay And Bisexual Men ◽

Gender Nonconformity ◽

Future Research ◽

Bisexual Men ◽

Bisexual Women ◽

Sexual Orientation Identity ◽

Analytic Review ◽

And Bisexual

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals are less healthy than heterosexual individuals, and minority stress endured by LGB individuals contributes to these health disparities. However, within-groups differences in minority stress experiences among LGB individuals remain underexplored. Individuals are more likely to be categorized as LGB if they exhibit gender nonconformity, so gender nonconformity could influence concealability of sexual orientation among LGB individuals, carrying important implications for the visibility of their stigmatized sexual orientation identity and for how they experience and cope with minority stress. Through a meta-analytic review, we examined how gender nonconformity was associated with minority stress experiences among LGB individuals. Thirty-seven eligible studies were identified and included in analyses. Results indicate gender nonconformity is associated with experiencing more prejudice events, less concealment of sexual orientation, lower internalized homonegativity, and higher expectations of rejection related to sexual orientation among LGB individuals. Gender nonconformity is more strongly associated with experiencing prejudice events among gay and bisexual men than among lesbian and bisexual women. Gender nonconformity is systematically associated with minority stress experiences among LGB individuals, and future research must measure and examine gender nonconformity when investigating the role of minority stress in degraded health outcomes among LGB populations.

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Transference and insight in psychotherapy with gay and bisexual male clients: The role of sexual orientation identity integration.

Psychotherapy ◽

10.1037/a0036510 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 52 (1) ◽

pp. 119-126 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jonathan J. Mohr ◽

Jairo N. Fuertes ◽

Thomas I. Stracuzzi

Keyword(s):

Sexual Orientation ◽

Identity Integration ◽

Sexual Orientation Identity ◽

Male Clients ◽

And Bisexual

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Sexual Fluidity and Attitudes towards Bisexuality

puntOorg International Journal ◽

10.19245/25.05.pij.of.05.01.21.3 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1

Author(s):

Serena Sbrana ◽

Adelia de Miguel

Keyword(s):

Sexual Orientation ◽

Adult Students ◽

Demographic Data ◽

Sexual Fluidity ◽

Male And Female ◽

Sexual Orientation Identity ◽

Positive Attitudes ◽

Simple Question ◽

And Bisexual ◽

Bisexual People

This research created an instrument to assess sexual fluidity-changes over time in attractions and sexual orientation identity and has examined whether experiencing sexual fluidity is related to specific cognitions, attitudes and beliefs among sexually and non-sexually fluid individuals. Participants (435 Spanish young-adult students, 310 females and 125 males) completed an online form which assessed demographic data, sexual orientation, sexual fluidity, and attitudes towards male and female bisexuality. An empirical sexual-fluidity factor has been isolated: women scored higher than men (d = .68) and bisexual people higher than homosexual (d = 1.74) and heterosexual (d = 1.40) groups. There were gender, sexual orientation and sexual fluidity differences in attitudes towards male and female bisexuality. Women considered male and female bisexuality more stable than men (d = .29 & d = .34); sexual-fluid people showed higher positive attitudes towards male and female bisexuality (d ranged .29 - .51) than the non-sexually fluid group; bisexual individuals scored higher in male and female bisexuality attitudes than heterosexual individuals. This study confirms previous researches which showed that females were more likely than male to have fluid sexuality. Attitudes about bisexuality are not a simple question; they are affected by gender, sexual orientation and sexual fluidity factors.

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