Contributions of Parents, Peers, and Media to Attitudes Toward Homosexuality: Investigating Sex and Ethnic Differences

Abstract

Although research on sexual socialization continues to grow, still little is known about the processes by which youth learn about homosexuality and about how ethnicity and sex influence their learning experiences. To explore these issues, 745 undergraduates were interviewed and asked to indicate the amount and content of parental, peer, and media communication they regularly encounter about homosexuality. Results indicated that media and peers addressed the topic of homosexuality more frequently than parents; men and Black participants tended to receive fewer positive messages than did women and members of other ethnic groups, although results were moderated by religiosity and parental education.

KEYWORDS:

• sexual socialization
• communication
• parents
• peers
• media
• ethnicity
• gender
• sex
• homosexuality
• attitudes