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An Attitudinal Analysis of Young Adults Encompassing Public Policy Issues of Sexual Orientation
| | Unformatted Document Text:
An Attitudinal Analysis of Young Adults Encompassing Public Policy
Issues of Sexual Orientation.
Heide Hlawaty
James D. Decker
Metropolitan College of New York
Macon State College
New York, NY
Macon, GA
Abstract: The objective of this study was to quantitatively determine and evaluate the attitudes of young adults in two middle Georgia institutions of higher learning in regards to their acceptance of the rights due to homosexual individuals. The sample consisted of 337 college students who were surveyed during the 2004-2005 academic school year. Most of the significant differences revealed between/among the groups were found with the descriptor variables of gender and partisan membership. Race/ethnic origin and religious affiliation did not produce as many significant differences among the subsets. Acquaintance with/knowledge of a lesbian and/or gay individual was an additional determinant of attitudes.
In a fundamental and significant study of the American public, Sullivan, et al. (1982) examined the concept of tolerance in society. The research probed the concept of
tolerance from a variety of variables including education, geographic region, and race. However, one important aspect missing from this study was the public's perceptions and
measures of tolerance surrounding sexual orientation. Bronfenbrenner, et al. (1996), in researching American youth, examined the state of young people's beliefs and behavior
on a series of issues. Crime, poverty, family structure, and educational issues were all studied. While the results were a welcome addition to the extant literature in the field,
this study also failed to probe the connections between behavior and tolerance toward specific minority groups, such as lesbian and gay individuals.
Equality in the classroom, in all levels, is required for a democratic public education. As stated by Petrovic (1999, 2002), liberal democratic education will lead to improved
liberal democracy societally. Although some prejudice toward minorities has decreased, sexual orientation inequality has not necessarily done so (Bassett, et al., 2005; Wood &
Bartkowski, 2004). Indeed, ambivalence toward the rights of homosexual individuals is rooted in core values and upbringing and is often specific about which rights are
addressed (Craig, Martinez, Kane, & Gainous, 2005). It is expected that institutions of higher learning engage students in critical thinking
and developing a framework of democratic values. Specifically to issues of queer identity, education seems to have an effect of improved acceptance of the uniqueness of
others, more liberal attitudes toward sexual behavior, increased interaction with lesbian and gay men, and, most importantly, a greater commitment to civil liberties and
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An Attitudinal Analysis of Young Adults Encompassing Public Policy
Issues of Sexual Orientation.
Heide Hlawaty
James D. Decker
Metropolitan College of New York
Macon State College
New York, NY
Macon, GA
Abstract: The objective of this study was to quantitatively determine and evaluate the attitudes of
young adults in two middle Georgia institutions of higher learning in regards to their acceptance of
the rights due to homosexual individuals. The sample consisted of 337 college students who were
surveyed during the 2004-2005 academic school year. Most of the significant differences
revealed between/among the groups were found with the descriptor variables of gender and
partisan membership. Race/ethnic origin and religious affiliation did not produce as many
significant differences among the subsets. Acquaintance with/knowledge of a lesbian and/or gay
individual was an additional determinant of attitudes.
In a fundamental and significant study of the American public, Sullivan, et al. (1982)
examined the concept of tolerance in society. The research probed the concept of
tolerance from a variety of variables including education, geographic region, and race.
However, one important aspect missing from this study was the public's perceptions and
measures of tolerance surrounding sexual orientation. Bronfenbrenner, et al. (1996), in
researching American youth, examined the state of young people's beliefs and behavior
on a series of issues. Crime, poverty, family structure, and educational issues were all
studied. While the results were a welcome addition to the extant literature in the field,
this study also failed to probe the connections between behavior and tolerance toward
specific minority groups, such as lesbian and gay individuals.
Equality in the classroom, in all levels, is required for a democratic public education.
As stated by Petrovic (1999, 2002), liberal democratic education will lead to improved
liberal democracy societally. Although some prejudice toward minorities has decreased,
sexual orientation inequality has not necessarily done so (Bassett, et al., 2005; Wood &
Bartkowski, 2004). Indeed, ambivalence toward the rights of homosexual individuals is
rooted in core values and upbringing and is often specific about which rights are
addressed (Craig, Martinez, Kane, & Gainous, 2005).
It is expected that institutions of higher learning engage students in critical thinking
and developing a framework of democratic values. Specifically to issues of queer
identity, education seems to have an effect of improved acceptance of the uniqueness of
others, more liberal attitudes toward sexual behavior, increased interaction with lesbian
and gay men, and, most importantly, a greater commitment to civil liberties and
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