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―I can hear it in the way they look at me...‖: Gay and Lesbian University Students’ Lived Experiences with Blatant and Subtle Interpersonal Discrimination A Dissertation Submitted to the College of Graduate Studies and Research in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Psychology University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon By Lisa M. Jewell © Lisa M. Jewell, October, 2011. All rights reserved. i PERMISSION TO USE In presenting this thesis in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Postgraduate degree from the University of Saskatchewan, I agree that the Libraries of this University may make it freely available for inspection. I further agree that permission for copying of this thesis in any manner, in whole or in part, for scholarly purposes may be granted by the professor who supervised my thesis work or, in her absence, by the Head of the Department or the Dean of the College in which my thesis work was done. It is understood that any copying or publication or use of this thesis or parts thereof for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. It is also understood that due recognition shall be given to me and to the University of Saskatchewan in any scholarly use which may be made of any material in my thesis. Requests for permission to copy or to make other use of material in this thesis in whole or part should be addressed to: Head of the Department of Psychology University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5A5 i ABSTRACT In certain contexts (e.g., university campuses), it seems that subtle, rather than blatant anti- gay/lesbian behaviours are more likely to be perpetrated by heterosexuals (Jewell & Morrison, 2010). However, the nature of subtle discrimination, including gay and lesbian persons‘ experiences with these behaviours, is not well understood. As such, a hermeneutic phenomenological approach was used to investigate 10 gay and 10 lesbian Canadian university students‘ lived experiences with blatant and subtle homonegative behaviours. Participants were recruited through an electronic university bulletin board and participated in open-ended interviews. Nineteen participants also kept a diary for 10 days, in which they submitted nightly entries describing any encounters with discrimination experienced that day. All data were analyzed using van Manen‘s (1990) hermeneutic phenomenological approach and four lived existentials (i.e., lived other, space, body, and time) were used to guide the analysis. Findings indicated that participants were often more confident that discrimination had occurred when they were the target of blatant homonegative behaviour, while their experiences with subtle homonegativity were characterized by ambiguity and doubt as to whether they had been discriminated against. Consequently, participants spent more time ruminating about subtle anti- gay/lesbian behaviour, doubting their own interpretations of an event, and questioning how they should respond to these occurrences. Perhaps the most striking aspect of what it meant to be the target of homonegativity was the feeling of not belonging or being ―other.‖ Participants‘ experiences with homonegativity also suggested to them that their comfort, opinions, experiences, and identities were not as important or valid as those belonging to heterosexuals and they were not free to be themselves. Subtle homonegative behaviour was experienced as being especially invalidating, demeaning, and dehumanizing. Participants‘ experiences in relation to each lived existential are discussed in detail, and a framework for categorizing various types of homonegative behaviour that may be perpetrated is provided. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS There are many people who I wish to thank for their invaluable support and contributions over the last several years. First, I would like to thank my supervisor, Melanie Morrison, for her guidance and mentorship. I am forever grateful for your belief in my ability and the many opportunities you provided that allowed me to become a successful researcher. The confidence that I feel about my ability as a researcher is largely a result of your support and the time you so graciously spent mentoring me. Second, I would like to thank my committee: Todd Morrison, Don Cochrane, and Wendy Duggleby. Each of you approached this research with great enthusiasm and a willingness to engage with me throughout this process. I have been inspired by each of you, and am sincerely thankful for the time and effort you spent on this project. I do not think it would have been possible to have had a better committee. Third, my ability to focus on my academic work would not have been possible without the scholarships and funding I received from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council; the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Institute of Gender and Health, Sexual and Gender Identity: Vulnerabilities and Resilience research team; and the University of Saskatchewan. I am thankful for the many wonderful opportunities that these institutions made possible. Next, I would like to thank Andy Livingston, Rebecca Ritchie, and Mabel Shwaga for so generously offering to assist me with transcribing my interviews. You saved me many precious hours. There also are several people with whom I share many happy memories of my time here and whose support helped me get through those days when the end seemed to loom far in the distance. Thank you especially to Kate, Nicola, Michelle, and Rebecca. And, finally, to my cherished loved ones—Aaron, my mom and dad, and Bryan— however can I express my indebtedness for the endless, unwavering support that each of you offered me throughout this journey? A simple thank you does not adequately express the amount of gratitude I feel. iii DEDICATION This dissertation is dedicated to my parents, Daniel and Louise Jewell. You have provided me with the greatest gift possible: you allowed me to follow my dreams. This is as much yours as it is my accomplishment. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS PERMISSION TO USE ................................................................................................................... i ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................... iii DEDICATION ............................................................................................................................... iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................................ v LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................................... viii Chapter One–General Introduction ................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Literature Review.................................................................................................................. 2 1.2 Definition of Homonegativity and Parameters of Research ................................................. 2 1.3 Prevalence of Anti-Gay/Lesbian Attitudes and Behaviours on University Campuses ......... 5 1.3.1 Prevalence of Negative Attitudes toward Gay and Lesbian Persons ............................. 5 1.3.2 Heterosexuals‘ Participation in Anti-Gay and Lesbian Violence on University Campuses ................................................................................................................................ 7 1.3.3 Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Students‘ Experiences of Discrimination on University Campuses .............................................................................................................................. 10 1.3.4 Global Perceptions of Homonegativity on University Campuses ............................... 13 1.4 Impact of Homonegativity on the Wellbeing of Gay and Lesbian Individuals .................. 15 1.4.1 Impact of Discrimination on Health Outcomes ........................................................... 15 1.4.2 Impact of Internalized Homonegativity on Health Outcomes ..................................... 17 1.4.2 Relationship between Being Out, Internalized Homonegativity, and Wellbeing ........ 18 Chapter Two–Understanding Gay and Lesbian University Students‘ Experiences of Subtle Anti- Gay/Lesbian Behaviours ............................................................................................................... 20 2.1 Theory of Modern Homonegativity .................................................................................... 20 2.2 Defining Subtle Anti-Gay/Lesbian Behaviours .................................................................. 25 2.2.1 Role of Intentionality and Perceived Harm in Identifying Discrimination .................. 29 2.2.2 Role of Apologies and Excuses in Perceiving Discrimination .................................... 31 2.3 Subtle Behavioural Manifestations of Homonegativity ...................................................... 32 2.3.1 Heteronormative Behaviours ....................................................................................... 35 2.3.2 Heterosexist Discourse................................................................................................. 37 2.4 Impact of Subtle Anti-Gay/Lesbian Behaviours on Gay Men and Lesbian Women .......... 38 2.5 Statement of the Problem ...................................................................................................