An Examination of Homophobia and Social Work Practice

Transcript An Examination of Homophobia and Social Work Practice

An Examination of Homophobia and Social Work Practice: Among a Sample of School Social Workers

NASW 2013 Statewide Conference

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Overview of study Rational of the study Literature review Theoretical framework Research questions Methodology Findings Implications OUTLINE

IN MEMORY OF LAWRENCE “LARRY” KING

On Feb. 12, 2008 Lawrence “Larry” King was in the school’s computer lab with 24 other students. A classmate walked up to Larry, and shot Larry in the back of the head. Larry died on February 15, 2008, at the age of 14. The investigation into Larry’s murder revealed that Larry was shot by Brandon McInerney, age 14, due to Larry’s sexual orientation and sexual expression.

STUDY OVERVIEW The study addresses a gap in knowledge about homophobia among school social workers (SSW) and SSW’s practice with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) youth.

In this study homophobia is conceptually defined as the broad range of negative attitudes and beliefs about LGBT populations that may lead to a reduction of effective mental health services for LGBT individuals. 5,10,11,17

THE STUDY EXAMINED

The current degree of homophobia among school social workers, and relationship between homophobia and use of gay affirmative practice among school social workers. As well as, school climate’s moderating effect on homophobia and use of gay affirmative practice in school settings.

STUDY RATIONAL

Empirical evidence suggest that LGBT youth are one of the most vulnerable school populations in contemporary society.

5,8,15,16 Research also indicates that ideological contradictions may exist between our professions’ espoused beliefs and actual practice behavior with LGBT populations.

4,7,10,11,13 Yet there is a gap in knowledge about school social workers attitudes and beliefs regarding LGBT individuals and use of gay affirmative practice.

10,11,12

Seen Violence Submerged Violence Institutional Violence Cultural Violence Van Soest & Bryant (1995)

Theoretical Framework

Bandura(1977) Social Learning Theory  Observation   Modeling Imitation Hofstede(2001) Organizational Theory  Power-Individualism-Collectivism   Organizational Justice: Distributive-Interactional Justice

What is the degree of homophobia among School Social Workers? Does it vary by demographic variables that include religiosity, age, sexual orientation, personal contact with LGBT individuals, education and training about LGBT individuals?

To what extent do School Social Workers engage in gay affirmative practice with LGBT students? Does it vary by demographic variables that include religiosity, age, sexual orientation, personal contact with LGBT individuals, education and training about LGBT individuals?

Is the association between homophobia among School Social Workers and use of gay affirmative practice moderated by school climate? Does it vary by demographic variables that include religiosity, age, sexual orientation, personal contact with LGBT individuals, education and training about LGBT individuals?

Methodology

National on-line confidential survey across 42 states Purposeful sampling (N=283) • • • School Social Work Association of America (SSWAA) American Council for School Social Work (ACSSW) Affiliates of SWAA and CSSW

CONCEPTUAL MODEL

Control Variables:

Age Sexual orientation Education Training Personal contact Religiosity Social Learning Theory Organizational Theory School Climate Homophobia Gay Af irmative Practice

The sample consisted of 43 year old, White (74%), heterosexual (85.3%), females (84.2%), identified as Catholic (52%), with a Master’s degree (81%), practicing in urban settings with an average of 11 years of practice experience (44%). Age (R)21=69 N=272

Homophobia, Gay Affirmative Practice, Personal Contact

• Non-homophobic views (n=236)

(M)

66.86 • Gay affirmative practice (n=236)

(M)

65% Personal contact (1-10) Friend 55.8% Family 23% 61.62

• Homophobia and PC (n=236) personal contacts with LGBT individuals (r =.37*; p< .05) • Gay Affirmative Practice & PC (n=236) personal contacts with LGBT individuals (r =.41**; p< .01) • Personal contact (n=236) Professional development (r=29**;p.<.01)

Homophobia, Gay Affirmative Practice, Education, Training

• Homophobia (n=236) personal contact (r=.37**;p.<.01) self-directed learning (r = .33**; p< .01) professional development (r=15*;p<.05) percentage of time master’s education (r=.12*;p.<.05) class instruction master’s education (r=.16*; p.< .05) • Gay Affirmative Practice (n=236) self-directed learning (r = 38**; p < .01) percentage of time master’s education (r=16*; p.< .05) class instruction master’s education (r = 16*; p.< .05) professional development (r=.25**;p.<.01) supervision/case consultation (r=21*;p.<.05

Homophobia, Gay Affirmative Practice, Religiosity

• • • • • • • Hodge’s (1972) Intrinsic Religious Motivation Scale Religious affiliation Frequency of attendance Homophobia & religiosity scale (n=236) (r=-.13**;p.<.01) Homophobia & attendance of religious services (n=236) (r= -.24**;p.<.01) Gay Affirmative Practice & religiosity scale (n=236) (r= -.16**;p.<.01) Gay Affirmative Practice & attendance of religious services (n=236) (r= -.27**;p.01)

School Climate

Administrative support-LGBT services in school (n=187) Yes=68%: No=32% Hear anti-gay epithets like; “That’s so gay” (n=255) • Yes=57%: No=43% • “Faggot or Dyke” (n=255) Yes=29%: No=71% GSA or club/organization (n=248) Yes=22%: No=78% School safe for gay and lesbian faculty/staff (n=202) Yes=45%: No=55% Safe school policy to protect faculty/staff (n=144) Yes=66%: No=34%

School social work practitioners currently hold non-homophobic views and provide gay affirmative practice School social work practitioners are uniquely positioned to intervene at the school’s mezzo level to impact school climate School social work practitioners actively seeking knowledge about LGBT populations, and may benefit from educational content, training, supervision and case consultation about LGBT populations

There exist contradictions in CSWE’s call for LGBT education content and social work education's response, and CSWE’s religious exception There is a need for school policy to address safe school climate for LGBT youth, faculty and staff There exist a need to develop social work curriculum to address LGBT populations in higher education and K-12 educational settings

There is a need to examine geographic associations, religiosity homophobia and gay affirmative practice There is a need to develop standardized and accessible measures for school climate that specifically examines homophobia and gay affirmative practice in school settings There is a need to develop cultural competency services for LGBT youth in school settings, and identify where school practitioners obtain their knowledge and practice information about LGBT youth

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An Examination of Homophobia and Social Work Practice

Transcript An Examination of Homophobia and Social Work Practice