Privileged Allies in Lesbian and Gay Rights Activism: Gender, Generation, and Resistance to Heteronormativity

In two studies, we examined the relationship between resistance to heteronormativity and political engagement among heterosexuals. In the first, we examined the relationship between awareness of heterosexual privilege, resistance to heteronormativity, and engagement in lesbian and gay rights activis...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of social issues 2012-03, Vol.68 (1), p.162-177
Main Authors: Montgomery, Samantha A., Stewart, Abigail J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Activism
Attitudes
Civil Rights
College Students
Females
Gays & lesbians
Gender
Generational Differences
Generations
Heterosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuals
Lesbianism
LGBTQ rights movements
Privilege
Resistance
Rights
Sexuality
Social norms
Social status
Womens Rights
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Summary:In two studies, we examined the relationship between resistance to heteronormativity and political engagement among heterosexuals. In the first, we examined the relationship between awareness of heterosexual privilege, resistance to heteronormativity, and engagement in lesbian and gay rights activism among contemporary heterosexual college students. As expected, women scored higher than men on both heterosexual privilege awareness and resistance to heteronormativity. For women, both heterosexual privilege awareness and resistance to heteronormativity were related to engagement in lesbian and gay rights activism. In the second study, we examined heteronormative attitudes in three cohorts of women spanning 40 years (college graduates in 1951/2, 1972, and 1992), looking at both generational differences in endorsement of heteronormative attitudes and the relationship of these attitudes to engagement in lesbian and gay rights activism. As expected, the two younger cohorts of women were significantly less heteronormative than the oldest cohort. Implications of these results are discussed.
ISSN:0022-4537
1540-4560
DOI:10.1111/j.1540-4560.2012.01742.x