https://psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2028-00012-001.html
Abstract
Heterosexism is a social force that affects all people, because heterosexism infuses social institutions and sustains heteronormativity, which dictates social roles for all people regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. The field of criticalheterosexualities has begun to explore how straight people experience costs from heterosexism and heteronormativity. However, few psychological studies have aimed to examine how straight/heterosexual people are negatively affected by heterosexism. In the present study, we explored lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, and other sexual and gender minority (LGBTQ+) and straight ally emerging adults’ conceptualization of the psychosocial costs of heterosexism for straight people. We conducted four matched focus groups with LGBTQ+ (n = 13) and straight (n = 10) participants. Using reflexive thematic analysis, we identified three major domains of these psychosocial costs of heterosexism: distorted relationships, heteronormative restraints to self-exploration, and sexual ignorance. Results highlight how heterosexism has harmed straight people’s relationships, hindered their identity exploration and expression, and limited straight people’s ability to seek and obtain sexual knowledge. Findings yield insight for counseling psychologists’ clinical work with straight people, including identity exploration and relationships with LGBTQ+ people. These findings point to potential avenues for advocacy with straight allies, particularly in terms of inter- and intragroup dialogue.
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The paper just pauses at one point where the authors just ramble about themselves:
Researcher’s Positionality and Reflexivity Statement
we asked both groups to reflect on the consequences of these forces on one group (straight people) while recognizing that one group (LGBTQ+ people) may be better positioned to see these effects more vividly. The interview protocol (see Appendix) used open-ended questions that aimed at not leading participants to specific responses and allowed space for participants to answer in more meaningful and personalized ways. The first and second authors engaged in continuous memo writing throughout the data collection and data analysis process to understand their positionality and maintain reflexivity (Grzanka & Moradi, 2021). Throughout the data analysis process, the first and second authors frequently met one-on-one to discuss how their positionality and biases influence their understanding of the data. The first author reflected on how his experiences as a White cisgender man shaped his interpretation of the data, particularly in relation to centering men’s experiences and masculinity. In contrast, the second coder, a South Asian, bi+ genderqueer woman, provided different perspectives—for example, on racial privilege and monosexual privilege—when exploring the experiences of White people, women, and bisexuality. The third author, a White cisgender gay man approximately 20 years older than all the participants, provided consultation throughout all stages of data collection and analyses. His contributions reflected his extensive qualitative and quantitative research experience with/on heterosexuality as a queer person. The authors’ collaboration allowed for deeper and richer interpretation and analysis of the data.
The research team was guided by critical constructivist paradigms, specifically queer theory (Grzanka, 2019). This research project was influenced and began with reading prior research on how White people experience psychosocial costs to racism (Spanierman & Heppner, 2004). Using queer theory and this prior research, the research team aimed to discover if straights experience negative consequences of heterosexism. However, the authors all identify as sexual minorities and have predominantly been harmed by heterosexism and, therefore, are attempting to understand its consequences for the dominant group. While this can limit our understanding of how straight people experience heterosexism, the authors’ experiences as queer people (i.e., their oblique relationship to/with heterosexuality) can offer valuable insight into understanding the pervasive harms of heterosexism.
These freaks and weirdos act like heterosexuality is itself an ideology. People who are consumed by ideology think everything everyone else does is ideological.
