Outness among LGBTQ Social Work Students in North America: The Contribution of Environmental Supports and Perceptions of Comfort |
| |
Authors: | Michael P. Dentato Shelley L. Craig Lori Messinger Michael Lloyd Lauren B. McInroy |
| |
Affiliation: | 1. Michael P. Dentato &2. Michael Lloyd, Loyola University Chicago, USA;3. Shelley L. Craig &4. Lauren B. McInroy, University of Toronto, Canada;5. Lori Messinger, University of North Carolina Wilmington, USA. |
| |
Abstract: | This study examines various environmental factors that may impact a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ) social work student's level of ‘outness’ (disclosure) with regard to their sexual orientation or gender identity. An internet-based survey was conducted, comprised of LGBTQ undergraduate and graduate students from social work programs across North America (n = 1,018). Utilizing Pearson's chi square analysis, significant associations correlated between outness and the following six areas: (1) LGBTQ student perception of other students' overall level of comfort with their sexual orientation or gender identity within the program; (2) the number of faculty that know about their sexual orientation or gender identity; (3) the number of students that know about their sexual orientation or gender identity; (4) how supported they felt with regard to their LGBTQ identity within the program; (5) the percent of faculty that are supportive of LGB and Q issues; and (6) awareness of openly LGBTQ administrators or staff members. Implications for social work education and practice are examined, as are suggestions for continued research. |
| |
Keywords: | Curriculum Development Students Profession Diversity Gay Issues Lesbian Issues Queer Issues Sexuality Transgender Issues Quantitative Methods |
|
|