The Protestant work ethic, religious beliefs, and homonegative attitudes

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of the Protestant Work Ethic (PWE) on negative attitudes towards gay men and lesbian women (homonegativity). The influence of religious beliefs and the notion of homosexuality as a choice were also examined in combination with PWE in regards to homonegativity. Previous research suggested that those who subscribe to the PWE have more negative attitudes towards societal out-groups (e.g., African-Americans). Thus, it was hypothesized that those with high PWE scores would display more homonegative attitudes. A significant correlation between PWE and homonegativity supported this hypothesis. Multiple regression analyses revealed that PWE interacted with religious beliefs, and religious beliefs interacted marginally with the idea of homosexuality as a choice. Those with high religious beliefs and who strongly believed that homosexuality was a choice were more likely to have negative attitudes towards homosexuals. The implications of these findings are discussed, with particular respect to reducing homonegative attitudes.

‘What's it like on your side of the pond?’: a cross-cultural comparison of modern and old-fashioned homonegativity between North American and European samples

“…Malcomnson et al, 2006;Olson et al, 2006;Štulhofer & Rimac, 2009;Village & Francis, 2008), participants who scored high on the indicant of religiosity tended to also report higher levels of homonegativity. Across all four samples, individuals more invested in their religious identity tended to subscribe to beliefs that homosexuality contravene the morals and values inherent in their religious philosophy.…”

“…With respect to anti-discrimination policies, workplace dismissal based on sexual orientation is extant in 36 of the 50 States of the United States (Malcomnson et al, 2006). Conversely, discrimination based on sexual orientation is prohibited in the United Kingdom, Canada and the Republic of Ireland.…”

“…Homonegativity refers to any prejudicial attitudes or any negative behavioural responses (including discriminatory behaviours; Malcomnson, Christopher, Franzen, & Keyes, 2006) directed towards an individual because he or she is perceived to be homosexual (Cerny & Polyson, 1984). Further refinement of this construct by Morrison and Morrison (2002) led to the delineation of two closely related, yet distinct, constructs:…”

Measuring homonegativity: A psychometric analysis.

“…Past research (e.g., Malcomnson, Christopher, Franzen, & Keyes, 2006;VanderStoep & Green, 1988) has found religiosity to be a strong predictor of homonegativity. The religiosity item correlated moderately with Attitudes Toward Gay Men and the Modern Homonegativity Scale-Gay Men.…”

Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion, Volume 25

“…Homonegativity may reflect moral or religious objections to homosexual behavior or gay or lesbian people, or be characterized by the idea that gay men and lesbians make unreasonable demands for social change (Morrison & Morrison, 2011). Homonegative attitudes appear to be strongest among those who believe that sexual orientation is a choice (Malcomnson, Christopher, Franzen, & Keyes, 2006).…”