Homophobia - Educating Against Heterosexism

Homophobia refers to a prejudicial belief that gay, lesbian, and bisexual people are threatening. They see them as sick, unnatural, immoral, or disgusting people that are inferior to heterosexuals and they deserve to be hated. Homophobia tends to occur on several distinct but joined levels. These levels are personal, interpersonal, institutional, and cultural. One of the main reasons why people tend to be prejudice against gay, lesbian, and bisexual are based on inaccurate stereotypes and lack of information that is provided by society.

However, the question that is posed to many college and university leaders is: Does a culturally diverse student body improve the learning environment more than the best possible students would? In order to promote the most positive intellectual atmosphere for students at colleges and universities, rather then attempting to achieve a diverse campus, the best students should be admitted. School leaders in favor of affirmative action use racial diversity or economic reasons to support their stance. Many believe that by diversifying college and u... ... middle of paper ... ...treach programs should be strengthened to give minorities a better shot to compete for the available campus slots. However, something must be done to end the discrimination that is occurring in college admissions.

Hate crimes include assault, robbery, and murder committed because the victim belongs to a certain race, religion, or ethnic group or has a certain sexual orientation (Crooks & Baur, 2013). Though homophobia and hate crimes cannot be justified there are various motives for the two. First, they reflect at the most fundamental level of humankind’s poor record of accepting and valuing differences among people (Crooks & Baur, 2013). Second, homophobia and hate crimes are usually related to traditional gender-role identification. Those persons who hold traditional gender-role stereotypes have more negative feelings about homosexuality than others (Crooks & Baur, 2013).

Are you a homophobe? I hope you are not. Homophobia is a really common, and in my opinion awful, social phenomena popular in our actual society. The oxford dictionary defines homophobia as an irrational aversion to homosexuality and homosexual people (“Homophobia”). Homophobia, then, is basically a dislike, disgust or hatred towards gay, lesbian and bisexual people.

As a culture, we put so much pressure on our other to conform to a certain mold. Society seems to be forcing other people to try to measure up in all areas of life, even trying to tell them how to act and how not to act. Those gays and bisexual people living within communities where anti-gay sentiments are not only common, but also accepted, have, on average, a shorter life expectancy in comparison to their peers who are fortunate enough to live in more open-minded communities. A common way of hurting these homosexuals emotionally is through stereotype which then leads to low self-esteem. Homophobia can be used to stigmatize, silence, and, on occasion, target people who are perceived or defined by others as gay, lesbian, or bisexual, but who are in fact heterosexual.

As homophobia not only affects the LGBTQ community but affects every sexual orientation, seeing that much hate and prejudice toward people it is just sad and disturbing that people still hate on something they have no control over. Homophobia does affect out society’s norms that then impacts women and men lives in our society. In

Gays, lesbians, and heterosexuals suffer from homophobia. Some gays and lesbians suffer from internalized homophobia. Internalized homophobia is the negative attitudes they have concerning homosexuality. It usually occurs more often in gays and lesbians who are unsure or confused of their sexual preference and those who have not came of the closet. Some feelings that they might be experiencing are the fear of being recognized as a gay or lesbian in public, self-hatred, and fear of not being accepted socially.

Also diversity helps maturity through most students. With diversity, students are able to learn about the other people’s experiences and are able to break down the stereotypical “walls” that our country has built. While students are breaking down these stereotypical “walls”, students will be able to effectively communicate with others of various backgrounds. As students learn about each other’s hardships or success, they will be capable of reaching a state of mutual respect for one another(On the Importance). “The higher education community stands committed to furthering the goals of equal opportunity and diversity on college... ... middle of paper ... ...://www.acenet.edu/news-room/Pages/Higher-Education-Community-Diversity-on-College-Campuses-Remains-Essential-National-Priority.aspx Jones, T. (2013).

While great strides were made in these decades, many would agree that the struggle for educational equality continue to this day. This statement is partially true when applied to the struggles of students with disabilities. The main obstacle faced by students with disabilities in the attempt to achieve educational equality is the continuing debate over the In... ... middle of paper ... ...r to determine what is best for each student. And while increased funding may be the solution to reconciling these differences, the ultimate solution may lie in increased public awareness of the struggles faced by students with disabilities. Because it is only through an increase in awareness that access to this much needed funding will be made available.

This encourages as many American as possible to express their ability. Besides, the view that education gradually help to against racial discriminations and differences in social background was and is widely accepted. For instance, schools in the US implement many programs to bring together people from various cultures, different religions and social and political background. In addition, the disabled children can attend the same school like anyone else does with the special support. Americans also believe that higher education is very important.