Attitudes and modern prejudice towards gay men and lesbians

Posljednjih nekoliko desetljeća istraživanja se u velikoj mjeri bave ispitivanjem stavova prema manjinskim skupinama, pa tako i osobama homoseksualne orijentacije. Istraživanja u rasnim i seksističkim domenama pokazala su kako predrasude postaju sve suptilnije. Stoga je cilj ovog istraživanja bio je ispitati rodne razlike u stavovima i modernim predrasudama prema osobama homoseksualne orijentacije te ispitati odnos stavova, modernih predrasuda i reakcija sudionika na neravnopravan tretman osoba homoseksualne orijentacije. U istraživanju je sudjelovalo 796 sudionika, 213 muškaraca i 583 žena. Primijenjen je upitnik koji je sadržavao demografske podatke, Skalu stavova prema osobama homoseksualne orijentacije, Skalu modernih predrasuda te pitanja o ponašajnim reakcijama na uočen neravnopravan tretman osoba homoseksualne orijentacije. Rezultati su pokazali kako muški sudionici imaju manje pozitivne stavove prema osobama homoseksualne orijentacije od žena, i to prije svega gejevima, dok su stavovi žena jednakog intenziteta neovisno o spolu objekta stava. Osim negativnijih stavova, sudionici imaju i više predrasuda prema osobama homoseksualne orijentacije od sudionica. Sudionici manje homonegativnosti izražavaju kada je mišljenje ispitivano skalom stavova u usporedbi sa skalom modernih predrasuda. Sudionici koji imaju pozitivniji stav/manje izražene predrasude su spremniji reagirati pomagački od sudionika koji imaju negativniji stav/više izražene predrasude. Pretpostavka o tome da će žene u većoj mjeri reagirati pomagački, a muškarci hostilno samo je djelomično potvrđena.Over the last few decades, there has been a significant amount of research focusing on the attitudes towards minorities, and as such towards people of homosexual orientation. Research among racial and sexual ideologies has shown that the expression of predjudice is becoming more subtle. Therefore the aim of this study was not only to assess the gender differences among attitudes and modern predjudice towards people of homosexual orientation, but also to assess the relationship of attitudes, modern predjudice, and participant reactions on the unequal treatment of homosexuals. Seven hundred and ninety six people participated in the study, of which 213 were males and 583 females. Data was collected by using questionnaires on demographics and behavioural reactions on unequal treatment of homosexual people, as well as attitudes and modern predjudice scales. Results show that male participants, moreso than female participants, have more negative attitudes towards people of homosexual orientation, particularly of gay men, while female attitudes do not differ in this respect. Other than these negative attitudes, male participants also exhibit more predjudice. With regards to the attitudes scale, as opposed to the modern predjudice scale, participants demonstrate less homonegativity. Participants with more positive attitudes/less negative predjudice are more willing to display helping behaviour than those with negative attitudes/ more negative predjudice. The assumption that women are more likely to engage in helping behaviour and that men would be more hostile is partly confirmed