The Relationship Between Gender and Heterosexual Attitudes Toward Homosexuality at a Conservative Christian University

Abstract

This research looked at the relationships and differences between sex and race as it relates to religious fundamentalism, attitudes, and comfortability toward homosexuality. Patterns in previous research have shown that men and women do differ in their attitudes toward homosexuals. This study proposed that heterosexual men will show a significantly more negative attitude toward homosexuality than women. A strong relationship was found between religious fundamentalism and negative attitudes toward homosexuality (r ¼ .67). Both heterosexual men and women were more comfortable with heterosexual situations than homosexual situations. However, men were more comfortable with lesbian situations and women were more comfortable with gay situations. Concerning race, Black men versus Black women had more significant differences in various proposed situations than White men versus White women.Do heterosexuals differ in their attitudes toward heterosexuals, gays, and lesbians, and do sex differences exist for these attitudes? As this research was conducted on a conservative Christian university, it may help researchers understand how people from certain religious affiliations differ in their views on homosexual behavior.

Attitude of Medical Students in Paraguay Towards Homosexuality

“…In contrast, in India and the United States, women have a more positive attitude than men towards homosexuality. 10,21 Among medical students in Zagreb, Croatia, non-Catholic Christians have been reported to have a higher level of rejection towards homosexuality, whereas Catholics had an intermediate level of rejection and other religions attitude of medical students towards homosexuality because prejudice damages the quality of healthcare for LGBT patients. 17,18 This study aimed to describe the attitude of medical students at the National University of Asuncion, Paraguay towards homosexuality.…”

Withstand or succumb : Christian universities and the implications of Obergefell v. Hodges

“…Negative attitudes at religious universities show little gender difference (LaFave et al, 2014;Rosik et al, 2007;Wolff et al, 2012) in contrast to national studies where men are generally more negative than women (Eagly, Diekman, Johannesen-Schmidt, & Koenig, 2004).…”

“…It is important to note that although the analysis is relatively recent, it is based on data collected more than a decade ago and is unlikely to reflect current attitudes accurately. A study comparing student views on homosexuality between those enrolled in a conservative Seventh-Day Adventist university to other private and public institutions found that students at the Adventist university had a much larger negative attitude (LaFave, Helm, & Gomez, 2014). The study found a strong correlation between religious fundamentalism and these attitudes.…”

“…The source of this negativity seems to primarily derive from religious beliefs regarding homosexuality, particularly homosexual behavior (LaFave et al, 2014;Yarhouse et al, 2009) as well as what Wolff et al (2012) describe as "moral intuitions" (p. 216). Of course, negative attitudes towards homosexuality are also found at secular universities (Yarhouse et al, 2009).…”

“…Stratton et al (2013) contend that Christian universities can preserve their religious beliefs while providing a supportive environment for students who are still developing their sexual identity. However, their ability to provide a supportive environment is hampered by the prevailing negative climate towards homosexuality (LaFave et al, 2014;Stratton et al, 2013;Watson, 2015;Wolff et al, 2012;Wolff et al, 2016;Yarhouse et al, 2009). This negativity manifests itself primarily in the form of verbal (Yarhouse et al, 2009) and nonverbal microagressive behaviors (Watson, 2015) and is associated with somewhat higher incidents of bullying than at other universities (Wolff et al, 2016).…”