Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Equality in Hong Kong: Rights, Resistance, and Possibilities for Reform

Barrow, Amy

doi:10.1017/asjcl.2020.2

Cited by 12 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Several Christian groups oppose the proposed enactment of the Anti-Discrimination Ordinance on sexual orientation, arguing that homosexuality is sinful. At the same time, some parents’ groups are also allied with Christian groups to oppose the giving of rights of LGBQ individuals [ 34 ]. Therefore, cultural, and religious impacts may create barriers for schools, teachers, and school social workers/counselors when trying to support sexual minority students.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Proposals for an anti-discrimination ordinance based on sexual orientation have been the subject of heated debate in Hong Kong in the last 20 years. This ordinance still cannot be enacted because of strong opposition from religious organizations and parents’ and teachers’ groups [ 31 , 34 ].…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Rights-based sexuality education is, therefore, crucial to acknowledging the human rights of LGBQ students to access relevant sexuality education. Yet, in Hong Kong, the government’s progress in enacting legal reforms to protect sexual and gender minorities’ human rights has been “seized upon by counter-movements, including religious opposition and parental concern groups” [ 34 ] (p. 138). To work within these cultural and religious barriers, a few recommendations are suggested.…”

Section: Recommendationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Chinese Sexual Minority Students Experiencing Microaggressions: Implications for Sexuality Education

Kwok

2022

Children

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The sexual prejudice faced by sexual minorities or lesbian, gay, bisexual, and questioning/queer (LGBQ) students has been studied extensively around the world in the last two decades; however, it has only recently received attention from Hong Kong Chinese society, specifically in relation to this subtle form of prejudice. In the last decade, there has been an increase in the amount of literature examining the experiences of individuals encountering sexual orientation microaggressions, which are defined as discrimination or sexual prejudices manifested in subtle forms, particularly when directed toward socially marginalized groups, such as sexual minority students. The current study used a qualitative descriptive approach and semi-structured interviews to explore the themes of sexual orientation microaggressions experienced by Chinese sexual minority students. Several contextual themes to categorize microaggressions emerged: (1) the approval of heteronormative culture; (2) the use of heterosexist languages; (3) the assumption of sexual abnormality; and (4) the allowing of institutionally endorsed microaggressions. The results suggest that sexual minority students in Hong Kong experience diverse forms of microaggression in schools. The implications for the need to support LGBQ students are discussed, especially in addressing sexuality education in schools and the training of school professionals.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Recommendationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Chinese Sexual Minority Students Experiencing Microaggressions: Implications for Sexuality Education

Kwok

2022

Children

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“…Whilst there is a significant body of literature exploring the role, functions and powers of the Equal Opportunities Commission ('EOC'), which oversees compliance with the SDO (Kapai, 2009(Kapai, , 2013Petersen, 2009;Singer, 2000), and the legal protections with respect to sexual harassment (Samuels, 1995(Samuels, , 2000Petersen 2005), in the past decade there has been limited scrutiny of the SDO and the associated case law (Kapai, 2013). In recent years, other policy issues have gained prominence such as the absence of legal protections against discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and genderidentity ('SOGI') (Barrow, 2020;Loper, 2019), which may account for this lack of scrutiny. Although it is imperative to expose the silences of law, which perpetuate inequality, it is also critical to review longstanding statutory legal provisions, their legal enforcement, achievements and ongoing challenges.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hong Kong’s sex discrimination ordinance at twenty-five: Achievements, legislative change and continuing challenges

Barrow

2022

International Journal of Discrimination and the Law

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This article critiques Hong Kong’s Sex Discrimination Ordinance (SDO) as it turns 25, considering its achievements and impact, whilst highlighting continuing challenges for its operation. Although the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC), the statutory body responsible for investigating and conciliating discrimination complaints, has promoted the ordinance and disseminated evidence-based research on sex discrimination, sexual harassment and pregnancy discrimination, the limited number of litigated cases has inhibited the educative impact of how discriminatory practices are perpetrated across a range of settings including in employment and the provision of goods and services. Politically contentious exemptions persist, and recent law reform does not go far enough in addressing the limitations of the SDO. Drawing on case law and qualitative research interviews with members of the EOC, scholars and non-governmental organisations, this paper questions whether Hong Kong’s SDO is coming of age. The article concludes that despite it 25-year history, there is much works that remains to be done to enhance societal understandings of gender equality.

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“…Sociocultural influences, such as Chinese Confucianist values and Western Christianity, are some obstacles to discussing LGBQ+-inclusive rights and the reduction of prejudices [ 7 ]. For example, public-funded schools and social work agencies with conservative Christian backgrounds often become sites where the human rights of sexual minorities are denied [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]. Barrow commented that the Hong Kong government’s progress in enacting legal reforms to protect sexual minorities’ citizen rights has been “seized upon by counter-movements, including religious opposition and parental concern groups” [ 8 ] (p. 138).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contesting Sexual Prejudice to Support Sexual Minorities: Views of Chinese Social Workers

Kwok

2021

IJERPH

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Professional development has been recognized as one of the strategies to effectively combat sexual prejudice and negative attitudes against lesbian, gay, bisexual, questioning/queer (LGBQ+) individuals and sexual minorities. Nevertheless, studies related to LGBQ+-inclusive training are rarely found in the Chinese Hong Kong context, where sexual prejudice still prevails without the establishment of antidiscrimination law. Sociocultural considerations, such as religious and parental influences, are obstacles to discussing the reduction of sexual prejudices, both within wider society and social work organizations, without institutional support. This paper aims to understand social workers’ perspectives on prejudice reduction training themes and perceived cultural barriers through qualitative in-depth interviews with 67 social workers. Qualitative thematic analysis yielded the following themes: (1) understanding sexuality; (2) initiating training legitimately; (3) contesting religious and cultural assumptions; (4) resolving value and ethical dilemma; (5) selecting relevant knowledge; (6) implementing diverse training strategies. The study suggests that social workers and service providers need to understand how sexual prejudice is manifested in Hong Kong through unique cultural forces. LGBQ+-inclusive content, addressing updated concepts and prejudice-free language, should be incorporated into the training curriculum. Intergroup contact, professional reflection, and experiential learning are suggested as training strategies (190).

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Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Equality in Hong Kong: Rights, Resistance, and Possibilities for Reform

Cited by 12 publications

References 18 publications

Chinese Sexual Minority Students Experiencing Microaggressions: Implications for Sexuality Education

Chinese Sexual Minority Students Experiencing Microaggressions: Implications for Sexuality Education

Hong Kong’s sex discrimination ordinance at twenty-five: Achievements, legislative change and continuing challenges

Contesting Sexual Prejudice to Support Sexual Minorities: Views of Chinese Social Workers

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