Liberating and Empowering Effects of Critical Reflection on Collective Action in LGBT and Cisgender Heterosexual Individuals

Abstract

Critical consciousness represents the transformation from a passive target of oppression to an active actor with an increased capacity to analyze and negotiate conditions of oppression. It is considered as an antidote for oppression that can liberate people from oppressive ideologies and empower them to resist social injustice. Building on the theory of critical consciousness and the Social Identity Model of Collective Action, this paper examined the liberating and empowering effects of critical reflection on collective action for minority rights. Results of a cross‐sectional study in 1,050 LGBT individuals (Study 1) showed that critical reflection was associated with lower levels of internalized oppression and higher levels of collective efficacy, which in turn were associated with greater intentions to undertake collective action for LGBT rights. Findings from a prospective longitudinal study in 428 cisgender heterosexual individuals (Study 2) indicated that critical reflection was associated with lower levels of internalized domination and heightened levels of efficacious beliefs, which positively predicted actual participation in collective action at a subsequent wave. The findings supported the effects of critical reflection on collective action mobilization and offered leads for future research and praxis on how to orient different sectors of society to work toward social equity.

How Sense of Community Affects Sense of Self Among Sexual Minorities: Critical Consciousness as a Mediating Mechanism

“…Previous studies have shown the positive association of critical consciousness with self‐esteem among LGB individuals (Chan & Mak, 2020; Velez & Moradi, 2016). The unique contribution of our study, however, lies in our discovery that the association was partially mediated, and could be partly explained, by identity affirmation.…”

“…They may also gain a greater sense of agency and mastery and develop higher levels of identity pride (i.e., feeling dignified as a result of one’s own sexual identity) and identity superiority (i.e., viewing one’s own sexual identity more favorably than other sexual identities; Becker et al., 2011; Thomas & Louis, 2013). The potential psychological outcomes are higher levels of self‐acceptance, self‐affirmation, and self‐respect and lower levels of self‐stigma, self‐blame, and self‐shame (Chan & Mak, 2020; Velez & Moradi, 2016; Watts et al., 2011; Watts & Hipolito‐Delgado, 2015).…”

“…Specifically, critical reflection may facilitate LGB individuals to critically scrutinize and reason about societal heterosexism and recognize heterosexist biases as illegitimate and unjust (Watts et al., 1999). As LGB individuals with critical reflection may refuse to endorse heterosexist ideologies, they may be less influenced by the negative beliefs and attitudes that society holds about homosexuality and bisexuality (Chan & Mak, 2020). In this regard, they may develop internalized heterosexism to a less extent and think about their heterosexist beliefs less often (Velez & Moradi, 2016).…”

Critical consciousness development in a group intervention context: Examining clinician and participant verbalizations.

“…CC has also been identified as a protective factor for marginalized groups (Chan & Mak, 2019; Diemer, Rapa, Voight, & McWhirter, 2016; Puckett, Zachary DuBois, McNeill, & Hanson, 2019). Chan and Mak (2019), for example, examined the liberating effects of CC development on collective action for minority rights.…”

Christian and Political Conservatism Predict Opposition to Sexual and Gender Minority Rights through Support for Christian Hegemony

“…The field of community psychology has long advocated for research and action focused on the rights and well-being of sexual and gender minorities (SGMs;D'Augelli, 1989;Garnets & D'Augelli, 1994;Harper & Schneider, 2003). In line with this aim, literature is emerging in the field focused on SGM resilience (e.g., Kosciw, Palmer, & Kull, 2015), intersectionality and intersections with other aspects of culture and identity (e.g., Beasley, Jenkins, & Valenti, 2015;Harper & Wilson, 2017), interventions to decrease prejudice and enhance health and well-being (e.g., Nieves-Lugo, Rohrbeck, Nakamura, & Zea, 2017), and the positive impact of activism and collective action to support SGMs and SGM rights (Chan & Mark, 2019;Frost, Fine, Torre, & Cabana, 2019). Research in the field also has focused on heterosexism (e.g., Chesir-Teran, 2003;D'Augelli, 2003;Hoy-Ellis & Fredriksen-Goldsen, 2017) and masculinity ideologies (e.g., Wilson et al, 2010) that reinforce SGM oppression and contribute to decreased well-being.…”