The Effects Of Homophobia On Homosexuals
Madison Cottrell
West
Honours Would Literature
13 January 2015
The Effects of Homophobia on Homosexuals in High Schools
The treatment of homosexual teenagers in high schools across the country, and it increases the likeliness of them being put into situations where they will put into practice some risk behaviors. In this year of 2015, 3.4% of the American population has identified as gay, lesbian, or bisexual. This may seem like a small number, but this is equivalent to about 10,747,400 people. A recent study showed that while 82% of teachers witness “a lot” of “heterosexist behavior between students and between students and teachers” (Foster), over half of students report that teachers “never” of “rarely” confront homophobic behavior (Foster).
Harassment of homosexuals in schools leads the victims of this bullying to engaging in things that could affect their health. Statistics show that “LGBQ youth in less supportive school environments are also more likely to engage in sexual risk behaviors such as having an increased number of sexual partners and engaging in more instances of unprotected sex than LGBQ youth in more safe and supportive schools” (Hilard 2). This displays a risk that could have been decreased if these victims were not harassed for their sexuality. When someone is engaging in sexual relations with more than one partner, they are at a higher risk for acquiring a Sexual Transmitted Disease. Violence and bullying also has “detrimental consequences for their school attendance and academic performance” (Hilard 2). If a person is consistently being picked on, bullied, and victimized for their sexuality, they are not going to want to come to school. When students do not come to school, it reflects in their grades. In a lot of cases, having bad grades causes the victims of these vicious bullies feeling worthless and alone in their struggle through high school.
Although the direct treatment of the homosexual population of schools is a very important
West
Honours Would Literature
13 January 2015
The Effects of Homophobia on Homosexuals in High Schools
The treatment of homosexual teenagers in high schools across the country, and it increases the likeliness of them being put into situations where they will put into practice some risk behaviors. In this year of 2015, 3.4% of the American population has identified as gay, lesbian, or bisexual. This may seem like a small number, but this is equivalent to about 10,747,400 people. A recent study showed that while 82% of teachers witness “a lot” of “heterosexist behavior between students and between students and teachers” (Foster), over half of students report that teachers “never” of “rarely” confront homophobic behavior (Foster).
Harassment of homosexuals in schools leads the victims of this bullying to engaging in things that could affect their health. Statistics show that “LGBQ youth in less supportive school environments are also more likely to engage in sexual risk behaviors such as having an increased number of sexual partners and engaging in more instances of unprotected sex than LGBQ youth in more safe and supportive schools” (Hilard 2). This displays a risk that could have been decreased if these victims were not harassed for their sexuality. When someone is engaging in sexual relations with more than one partner, they are at a higher risk for acquiring a Sexual Transmitted Disease. Violence and bullying also has “detrimental consequences for their school attendance and academic performance” (Hilard 2). If a person is consistently being picked on, bullied, and victimized for their sexuality, they are not going to want to come to school. When students do not come to school, it reflects in their grades. In a lot of cases, having bad grades causes the victims of these vicious bullies feeling worthless and alone in their struggle through high school.
Although the direct treatment of the homosexual population of schools is a very important
Cited: Foster, Boyd. “Perceptions of homophobia and Heterosexism in Physical Education.” JOPERD- The Journal of Physcal Education, Recreation & Dance 75.9 (2004): 6+. Questia School. Web. 15 Jan. 2015 Garcia, Maria . “Teen Killed Himself Because He Was Bullied For Being Gay, Mom Says.” KVIA. ABC News, 21 June 2012. Web. 20 Jan. 2015. Hilard, Pamela, et al. “‘They Were Only Joking’: Efforts To Decrease LGBTQ Bullying And Harassment In Seattle Public Schools.” Journal Of School Health 84.1 (2014): 1-9. Consumer Health Complete – EBSCOhost. Web. 14 Jan. 2015 Kalman, Israel. "Do Anti-bullying Programs Lead to More Bullying?"MercatorNet:. Encyclomedia, 28 Oct. 2013. Web. 20 Jan. 2015.