Sexism and Sexual Prejudice (Homophobia): The Impact of the Gender Belief System and Inversion Theory on Sexual Orientation Research and Attitudes toward Sexual Minorities

ABSTRACT

The gender belief system (Deaux & Kite, 1987) is a pervasive, often unrecognized belief system that perpetuates bias by being an underlying part of the worldview in many cultures. This paper outlines how the assumptions within the gender belief system and inversion theory result in the enduring stereotype that lesbians are masculine and gay men are feminine, and how this stereotype continues to impact psychological research and attitudes toward lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals. The purpose is to assist counselors in recognizing sexist and heterosexist bias in research and perhaps within their own worldview and beliefs about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) people.

KEYWORDS:

• Sexual orientation
• gender role expression
• stereotyping
• gay
• lesbian
• bisexual

Notes

1. The gender belief system and inversion theory also impact transgendered people, and much of our discussion will apply to this population. However, the issues for transgendered people are more complex and warrant a full consideration in a separate manuscript. Therefore, rather than including transgender people in name only, we acknowledge that our current focus is on LGB individuals at this time. However, when referring to the sexual minority community, we include the transgendered population (hence LGBT).