Sex Differences in the Attitudes of Australian and Indian Heterosexual Individuals toward Gay Men, Lesbians, Bisexual Men and Bisexual Women

Abstract

In the present study, the attitudes of heterosexual individuals toward same-sex attracted individuals were investigated. Heterosexual Indian and Australian participants (n = 472; 254 males) completed a series of measures indexing participants’ attitudes toward lesbians, gay men and bisexual individuals. Overall, compared to Australians, Indians held attitudes that were more negative and less favorable toward same-sex attracted individuals. Australians held more negative attitudes toward bisexual than toward lesbian/gay individuals, a difference that did not occur for Indian participants. Additionally, male participants from Australia and India reported attitudes that were more negative and less favorable toward men who were gay or bisexual in comparison to women of either sexual orientation. These results suggest that cultural context may shape heterosexual attitudes toward lesbian/gay and bisexual individuals and highlight the importance of examining cross-cultural differences in sexual prejudice. Keywords: attitudes, sex differences, sexual orientation, cross-cultural differences.

Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/15299716.2021.1992328 .

Keywords:

• Attitudes
• sex differences
• cross-cultural differences
• bisexuality
• homosexuality
• ethnicity
• heterosexuality
• identity
• intersectionality
• sexual orientation

Notes

1 Other sexual and gender identities, including but not limited to, intersex, queer/questioning, demisexual, pansexual, and asexual, are denoted by the “+” in the term “LGBT+” in the present context.

2 “In the present manuscript, the authors have opted to use the terms “lesbian” and “gay man” in place of “homosexual” where possible. In cases where “homosexual” or “homosexuality” has been used, the terms are employed when referring to prior research or existing questionnaires in which the terms were employed. The authors do not condone the use of “homosexual” as insult or slur against any individual.

3 A Hindi version of the article abstract can be found in the Supplementary Materials document.

4 In the present context, “bisexual” is used as an umbrella term for sexual orientations that involve attraction to more than one sex or gender. The authors respectfully acknowledge that agreement on what “bisexual” means is still subject to debate inside and outside the LGBT + community.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the 2018 round of the John and Daphne Keats Endowment Research Fund. Established in 2000, the fund provides financial support to pilot and small projects that enable subsequent large collaborative cross-cultural grants and initiatives for PhD students and staff from the School of Psychology at the University of Newcastle.

Notes on contributors

Rosemaree Kathleen Miller

Dr Rosemaree Miller is a Honorary Lecturer with the School of Psychology at the University of Newcastle, Australia.

Daniel O’Neill

Daniel O’Neill completed a Bachelor of Psychology (Honors) degree with the School of Psychology at the University of Newcastle, Australia, in 2019. Mr O’Neill’s Honors thesis work was part of a larger research project investigating attitudes toward individuals with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities in the Australia and India populations.

Deep Jyoti Bhuyan

Dr Deep Jyoti Bhuyan is a Research Fellow at NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Australia.

Frances Heritage Martin

Professor Frances Martin is a Professor with the School of Psychology at the University of Newcastle, Australia. Professor Martin is currently the Assistant Dean Research Training for the Faculty of Science and the Honors Coordinator for the School of Psychology.