On Old-Fashioned Versus Modern Homonegativity Distinction: Evidence From Poland

Abstract

Psychological research on prejudice against homosexuals distinguishes between old-fashioned (traditional) and modern (contemporary) homonegativity, which differ with regard to their content, correlates, and consequences. The current research offers evidence for the validity of old-fashioned versus modern homonegativity distinction in the post-communist, East European context. In Studies 1 and 2 (Ns = 295 and 327, respectively) the Polish adaptations of the non-gendered and gendered Homonegativity Scale (Morrison, Parriag, & Morrison, 1999) and the Modern Homonegativity Scale (Morrison & Morrison, 2003) were developed. Furthermore, divergent (discriminant) validity of traditional and contemporary anti-homosexual prejudice was demonstrated. Old-fashioned and modern homonegativity exhibited differential relationships with social distance and support for same-sex couples' relational rights.

Two Sexes, Two Genders Only: Measuring Attitudes toward Transgender Individuals in Poland

“…In contrast, modern homonegativity reflects more covert prejudice toward sexual minorities. It manifests itself in convictions that lesbian and gay individuals' claims for social change are illegitimate, discrimination against them no longer exists, and that gays and lesbians overemphasize the meaning of sexual orientation (Górska et al 2017). We hypothesized that both traditional and modern homonegativity would be related to transphobia (Hypothesis 1) because all three have the same homophobic component (Górska et al 2017;Nagoshi et al 2008).…”

“…Previous studies have clearly shown a strong relationship between prejudices toward transgender, lesbian and gay people (Hill and Willoughby 2005;Macapagal 2013;Nagoshi et al 2008); however, no distinction between these two types of anti-gay and lesbian prejudice has been made in a single study. Traditional (old-fashioned) homophobic prejudice manifests itself by believing that same-sex relationships are sinful and unnatural and that homosexuality is related to pedophilia and thus is a pathological expression of human sexuality (Górska et al 2017). In contrast, modern homonegativity reflects more covert prejudice toward sexual minorities.…”

“…Transgender individuals act against the traditional view of gender identity according to which gender is determined by biological factors and assigned at birth. Whereas many studies have been devoted to attitudes toward lesbian and gay people (Górska et al 2017;Morrison and Morrison 2011;Piumatti 2017), who are still the targets of discrimination in many countries (Štulhofer and Rimac 2009;van den Akker et al 2013;Zick et al 2011), there is still less research concerning transgender people. Transgender individuals, like lesbian and gay people, also cross gender boundaries, but in a different manner, which is much more aligned with gender identity than with sexual orientation.…”

Evidence of Validity of a Modern Homonegativity Measure against Gays and Lesbians

“…Regarding Study 2, the single-factorial structures were suitable for the proposed model through the AFC, with satisfactory quality adjusted indices for both scales. More recent validations of the measure presented adjustment indices comparable to the Brazilian version, such as adaptations in Poland, whose indices found were satisfactory (Górska et al, 2017) and in Mexico (Romero et al, 2015), with values of CFI = 0.96 and RMSEA = 0.07, invariant on the gender of respondents.…”

“…When Górska, Bilewicz, Winiewski and Waszkiewicz (2017) discussed the diffused opinions regarding the homosexuals, they made two arguments, generally used when people argue against new rights to the LGBT population. The first is the Catholic doctrine, which opposes to homosexuality; and the second regards the supposed excess of demands made by the LGBT movements, as well as in the belief that the institutionalisation of civil union between same-sex couples would diminish the prestige of heterosexual marriage.…”