Evaluation of Sexist and Prejudiced Attitudes Toward Homosexuality in Spanish Future Teachers: Analysis of Related Variables

Abstract

Discrimination and inequality on the basis of gender and sexual diversity remain prevalent in today's society (Beck et al., 2010; Dispenza et al., 2012; Dugan et al., 2012; Barrientos and Cárdenas, 2013). These situations of exclusion and rejection show the need to train individuals and organizations in the prevention of violence, harassment and inequality (Kattari et al., 2018). Teacher training, both initial and ongoing, is a fundamental axis of action, and consequently, the study of the opinions and beliefs of students and teachers on these issues. This research, therefore, analyses the sexist and prejudiced attitudes toward homosexuality of future teachers in the Spanish educational system. The sample of this research is made up of 452 students in the Degree in Primary Education Teaching and in the Master's Degree in Compulsory Secondary Education, Upper Secondary Education, Vocational Training and Language Teaching (MUPES) with an average age of 24.74 (SD = 6.51). For the collection of information, a questionnaire was used consisting of questions on sociodemographic and cultural aspects, the Inventory of Ambivalent Sexism (ASI) by Glick and Fiske (1996) validated in Spanish by Expósito et al. (1998), and the Scale of Attitudes of Heterosexuals toward Homosexuals (HATH) by Larsen et al. (1980), validated in Spanish by Barrientos and Cárdenas (2010). The main results include the presence of significant differences (p < 0.01) in the levels of ambivalent sexism (hostile and benevolent) and in the maintenance of negative attitudes toward homosexuality according to sex and political ideology.

Primary School Teachers’ Perspective of Sexual Education in Spain. A Qualitative Study

“…The objective of this study was to explore the perspectives of primary school teachers regarding SE in schools in Spain. A qualitative approach to the study has allowed us to study these perspectives in detail using a wide and varied sample [ 36 ]. Using MHP [ 41 ] as the study’s lens, allows us to focus on SE in schools as a way of teaching health education that incorporates wellbeing and not just the absence or prevention of disease [ 2 ].…”

“…However, there is increasing emphasis placed on other aspects such as coeducation or studies about stereotypes. In fact, research conducted in Spain highlights the persistence of sexist behaviours and stereotypes amongst students in elementary education [ 33 ] and sexist prejudice amongst future primary school teachers [ 36 ].…”

“…Although there are studies that focus on the results of teaching innovation [ 21 ] as well as how to work with parents on the topic of SE [ 37 ], there is a scarcity of literature that delves into the perspectives of primary school teachers regarding SE in schools in Spain [ 33 ]. Exploring the perspectives of primary school teachers could contribute to understanding their own attitudes, prejudice, limitations and tools for teaching SE in schools [ 27 , 36 ]. The objective of this study is, therefore, to explore the perspective of primary school teachers regarding SE in schools in Spain.…”

English Validation of a Short Scale Designed to Detect Negative Attitudes towards Trans People (EANT)

“…Consistent with the previous literature, the differences between the means of the groups of study variables have been significant with medium to large effect sizes, indicating that gender, nationality, sexual orientation and religious adherence are discriminating variables of attitudes towards trans people. Nationality is an important variable because it is related to the legislative, educational and cultural variables of a country at a particular time [71,72]. In addition, large correlations were also obtained with other related constructs that measure negative predispositions towards homosexual people (HATH) and inclusive behaviours towards trans people (TIBS) [34].…”

Primary School Teachers’ Experiences of Sexual Education in Spain. A Qualitative Study.

“…However, there is increasing emphasis placed on other aspects such as coeducation or studies about stereotypes. In fact, research conducted in Spain highlights the persistence of sexist behaviours and stereotypes amongst students in elementary education [33] and sexist prejudice amongst future primary school teachers [36].…”