Shame, Internalized Homonegativity, and Religiosity: A Comparison of the Stigmatization Associated with Minority Stress with Gay Men in Australia and Malaysia

Abstract

2015): Shame, internalized homonegativity, and religiosity: A comparison of the stigmatization associated with minority stress with gay men in Australia AbstractIn this study we explore aspects of minority stress by comparing Malaysian (n = 234) andAustralian (n = 123) gay men on internalized homonegativity (IH) and internalized shame (IS) in a 2 x 2 multivariate analysis (country x relationship status). Religious motivation (RM) was also included as a variable due to the importance of religion in Malaysia as compared to Australia.Malaysian gay men scored higher on IH, IS, and RM. Single men reported higher levels of IS than did those in relationships. These results are discussed in terms of the minority stress model (Meyer, 2003).The effects of stigmatization on individuals have included interpersonal conflict, violence, and even wars, and the psychological impacts on the stigmatized have concerned sociologists and psychologists for many years. Allport (1954) wrote about prejudice and its consequences on those who were targeted resulting in defensive reactions such as self-hate, shyness, obsessive concern with the defining characteristic, and rebellion. Later, Goffman (1963) framed this discussion around stigmatization and how the attitudes of a dominant society could have disastrous consequences on those who were defined as minorities and subsequently marginalized and stigmatized. In this study, stigmatization was explored through the minority stress model (Meyer, 2003). Minority Stress ModelThe stigmatizing aspect of being a minority was central to Meyer's (1995;2003) minority stress model that he applied to lesbians, gay men, and bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.He identified three stressors as contributing to minority stress in these populations: 1.Internalized homonegativity (IH) was related to a poor sense of self as LGBT people turned the societal disdain inward; 2. Stigmatization was the internalization of societal stigma resulting in feelings of rejection; and 3. Discrimination, which could include violence against LGBT people, was experienced at the hands of the dominant, often disapproving culture. Meyer concluded that these three factors had a negative impact on the mental health of LGBT people due to additional prolonged stress that these individuals felt when compared with others who are part of the dominant culture. Downloaded by [New York University] at 02:16 21 July 2015 ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT 4 Variables Related to Minority Stress -Internalized homonegativity‖ was linked theoretically to minority stress by Meyer (2003), as indicated above. The term -internalized homophobia‖ was previously coined, suggesting that the homophobia in society was internalized by gay people and directed towards them leading to self loathing, mirroring the prejudice focused on them by society. However, the term is somewhat pejorative in the sense that it attaches blame towards gay people instead of society, and thus IH has thus been adopted as a more neutral term to refer to this process. Brown ...

Heteronormative Beliefs and Internalized Homonegativity in the Coming Out Process of Portuguese and Turkish Sexual Minority Men

“…Research has shown higher levels of internalized homonegativity in more conservative socio-cultural contexts and lower levels of sexual identity stigma in more inclusive sociocultural contexts (e.g., Brown et al, 2016;Herek et al, 2015;Riggle et al, 2017;Tran et al, 2018). Hence, a more comprehensive understating of sexual identity stigma and coming out of sexual minority men should examine socio-cultural differences, particularly in contexts typically underrepresented in the literature.…”

“…Based on this reasoning, we expected heteronormative beliefs to be positively associated with internalized homonegativity (Hypothesis 2). However, heteronormative beliefs and internalized homonegativity differ between socio-cultural contexts (Brown et al, 2016;Riggle et al, 2017;Tran et al, 2018), such that Portugal has more inclusive social policies and laws than Turkey (e.g., Costa, 2021;European Commission, 2019;O'Neil & Çarkoğlu, 2020). As such, we expected heteronormative beliefs to have stronger positive associations with identity stigma (Hypothesis 3) and internalized homonegativity (Hypothesis 4) among Turkish (vs. Portuguese) sexual minority men.…”

Predictors of sexual satisfaction for partnered lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults.

“…Individuals who are uncomfortable with their sexual identity may also view their sexual attractions as unacceptable or feel shame about engaging in sexual activity that is representative of a personally unacceptable identity. Alternatively, those individuals with strong positive views of their sexual identity may report higher SS as a result of holding positive feelings regarding their sexuality (Brown, Low, Tai, & Tong, 2016).…”

It’s Time to Consider LGBTQ-Affirmative Psychology in Malaysia

“…Also evident in a cross-cultural quantitative study of gay men in Australia and Malaysia, the researchers found that the latter group had a higher level of internalized homophobia. 22 This finding is perhaps unsurprising, given that Australia has legalized same-sex marriages and banned conversion practices in certain states, whereas these privileges were not enjoyed by Malaysian LGBTQ people. For researchers suggesting that LGBTQ people may wish to “return to normal life” due to internalized cisheterosexism, 11 psychologists should reflect on minority stress theory that elucidates internationalized cisheterosexism as a proximal stressor arising from distal stressors (eg, societal rejection of LGBTQ identity).…”