Gays and Lesbians: Minority Stress

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the phenomenon that while gays and lesbians are an integral part of the work force today and their numbers are growing, they still exhibit symptoms of minority stress at the workplace. The paper defines minority stress and studies the reasons behind this persistent problem. It looks briefly at what can be done to reduce minority stress for gays and lesbians.

From the Paper:

"While it is easy to bring a lawsuit against a firm that engages in discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, it is not exactly the route that most workers would opt for. For this reason, it is important to discuss the issue of sexual orientation openly and make it clear that none would be discriminated against on this basis. Some firms train their employees to handle diversity in the form of religious and ethnic backgrounds. The same needs to be done to handle issues arising out of sexual orientation. Gays and lesbians must also be allowed to openly discuss their problems in complete confidence with the HR department. This could help in reducing minority stress and might help gays and lesbians interact better with their colleagues."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Brooks, V. R. (1981). Minority stress and lesbian women. Lexington, MA: D. C. Heath.
• Donna Chrobot-Mason, Scott B. Button, and Jeannie D. Diclementi, (2001) "Sexual Identity Management Strategies: An Exploration of Antecedents and Consequences," Sex Roles: A Journal of Research: 321
• Gary W. Harper, Margaret Schneider; Oppression and Discrimination among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered People and Communities: A Challenge for Community Psychology. American Journal of Community Psychology, Vol. 31, 2003
• Gonsiorek, J. C. (1991). The empirical basis for the demise of the illness model of homosexuality. In J. C. Gonsiorek & J. D. Weinrich (Eds.), Homosexuality: Research implications for public policy (pp. 115-136). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
• Meyer, I. H. (1995). Minority stress and mental health in gay men. Journal of Health Sciences and Social Behavior, 36, 38-56.

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• Book Review # 33330 : " "Conduct Unbecoming: Gays And Lesbians In The U.S. Military"

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