SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND SOCIETAL DISCRIMINATION

Sexual Orientation and Societal Discrimination: Developing Social Work Practice

Namso Umoren: 321492166

University of Southampton

Table of Contents

Chapter 13

Introduction:3

Chapter 25

Method.5

Scope, Origins and Limitations of Research5

Design6

Chapter 39

A Brief History9

Chapter 413

The Existence and Effects of Societal Discrimination13

Societal Discrimination13

Types of Societal Discrimination14

Direct and Intentional Discrimination14

The Effects of Heterosexism17

The Effects of Discrimination18

Chapter 520

Current Theory and Strategy in Combating Discrimination20

Chapter 622

Social Work Values and the Emergence of Critical Postmodernism22

Social Work Value: A Brief History22

Principle Based Approaches23

Critical Postmodernism24

Chapter 727

DEVELOPING SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE27

Discussion27

Recommendations30

Conclusions35

Bibliography37

Chapter 1

Introduction:

Despite a number of developed countries recently experiencing changes in legislation resulting in sexual minority individuals' rights being acknowledged and protected, the issue of sexual orientation is still under global debate.

'New York had neglected civil rights for gays and lesbians for too long. I'm putting a stop to it', he said. 'We have a duty to make sure equality exists for everyone.” His emotional investment in the issue was on display Thursday in a 15-minute speech that placed gay marriage in the historical context of slavery, disenfranchisement of women and shunning the disabled.' (Gov. David A. Paterson, cited by Peters, New York Times April 16th 2009)

There's growing tension in America over the issue of gay marriage after a new advert campaign targeting it, and a Miss USA contestant who spoke out against it during a televised competition.' (Blake, BBC News, April 21st 2009)

'Saving humanity from homosexuality [is] just as important as saving the rainforest from destruction.' (Pope Benedict XVI, cited by Naughton, Times Online, 23rd December 2008)

With the issue remaining extremely controversial, it is unsurprising that societal discrimination continues to be a problem, even in the most progressive and developed countries.

The interest in this area stems from the author's personal experiences growing up in a society where sexual minority individual are within a conservative heterosexual family environment. In addition, the author directly had more experience having worked with a victim during one of his practice learning opportunities. The author have always observed victim struggling with feelings of a concealed gay identity, homophobic bullying, feelings of isolation and severe depression, followed by an array of negative experiences including reduced self esteem and bouts of self loathing which was unsupported due to the family being entirely unaware of the situation. In experiencing this situation and reflecting on the impact it has on the client coming through these difficulties, an ambition to better understand this subject matter, and find a way forward has led the author to the current interest in the exploration of sexual orientation, heterosexism and discrimination.

The structure of the paper therefore initially aims to provide the reader with a thorough insight into sexual minority issues through dedicating chapters three through five to the emergence, current existence, and effects of societal discrimination, ending with a focus on current strategies which are in place to tackle the problem. Subsequent chapters will explore the values and ethics of social work so as to firstly, investigate whether the profession's current critical post-modern approach to social work education could assist in the reduction of societal discrimination and secondly, ...