The Attitudes of Prospective Teachers towards Homosexuality: A Case Study in Konya

Year 2015, Volume: 2 Issue: 1, 17 - 24, 01.01.2015

Nurten Sargın Osman Cırcır

Abstract

Sexuality has played a natural and significant role in human life throughout history and the interpretations of the values related with sexuality have varied in time and place Pınar ve diğ., 2009 . Homosexuality is also interpreted in various ways. In the modern Turkey, homosexuals are among the discriminated and marginalised groups Gelbal ve Duyan, 2006; Oksal, 2008 . This study tried to determine the attitudes of prospective teachers towards homosexuality. The aim of the study is to investigate whether the attitudes of the participants vary according to gender, age and domains. Regarding this aim, the following research questions were put forward: Do the attitudes of the participants vary according to gender? Do the attitudes of the participants vary according to age? Do the attitudes of the participants vary according to domains? The study group was comprised of 488 students who were studying at Ahmet Kelesoglu Education Faculty, Necmettin Erbakan University, in Konya, Turkey in the academic year 2011-2012. The number of female participants was 319 and the number of males was 169. The age of participants was between 19 and 22. The Attitudes towards Lesbians and Gay Men Scale ATLG and Personal Information Form were used as data gathering instruments. As regards the studies into gender variable, males have been found to have more negative attitudes than females. As for the findings related with age variable, 21-22 year old participants were found to have more positive attitude towards homosexuals than other age groups. The findings about the domain of the participants showed that the students with equal-weighted had more positive results towards homosexuality.

Keywords

Teacher candidates, homosexuality, attitude

References

• Adamczyk, A., & Pitt, C. (2009). Shaping Attitudes about Homosexuality: The Role of Religion and Cultural Context. Social Science Research. 38 (2) 338-351.DOI:10.1016/j.ssresearch.2009.01.002.
• Akdaş-Mitrani, A.T. (2008). Eşcinsellere yönelik olumsuz tutumlar: Meslek grupları ve ilişkili özellikler. Adli Bilimler Dergisi, 7 (24), 23-30.
• Aosved, A. C., & Long, P. (2006). Co-occurrence of rape myth acceptance, sexism, racism, homophobia, ageism, classism and religious intolerance. Sex Roles, 55, 481-492. DOI:1.1007/s11199-006-9099-7.
• Ballard, S., & Morris, M. L. (1998). Sources of sexuality information for university students. The Journal of Sex Education and Therapy, 23, 278-287.
• Boratav, H. B. (2006). Making Sense of Heterosexuality: An Exploratory Study of Young Heterosexual Identities in Turkey. Sex Roles, 54, 3, 4. DOI: 10.1007/s11199-006-9341-3.
• Çabuk, D. (2010). T.C tıp öğrencileri ve hekimlerin eşcinsellik hakkındaki, tutumları ve gey ve lezbiyenlerin sağlık hizmeti deneyimleri. Uzmanlık tezi. Gazi Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Psikiyatri Ana Bilim Dalı, Ankara.
• Davies, P. (2004). Is evidence-based government possible? Jerry Lee Lecture. Presented at the 4th Annual Campbell Collaboration Colloquium, Washington DC, USA.
• Eksi, A. (1990). Çocuk, genç, ana babalar. Ankara: Bilgi Yayınevi.
• Gelbal, S., & Duyan V. (2006). Attitudes of university students toward lesbians and gay men in Turkey. Sex Roles, 55, 573-579. DOI:1.1007/s11199-006-9099-7.
• Gelgeç, A., & Öktem, P. (2008, Kasım). Media Discourses On Homosexuality And Managing Heterosexism In Turkey, Art, Culture and Public Sephere: Expressive and Instrumental Values in Economic and Sociological Perspectives, Venedik, İtalya.
• Gormley, B. A., & Lopez, F. G. (2010). Authoritarian and homophobic attitudes: Gender andattachment style differences. Journal of Homosexuality, 57(10), 525-538. DOI: 10.1080/00918361003608715
• Göregenli, M. (2004). “Gruplararası İlişki İdeolojisi Olarak Homofobi” Lezbiyen ve Geylerin Sorunları Kaos GL Sempozyumu, 23-24 Mayıs 2003, Kaos GL Kitapları, Ankara, 2004.
• Heath, J., & Goggin, K. (2009). Attitudes Towards male homosexuality, bisexuality, and the down low lifestyle: Demographic differences and HIV implications. Journal of Bisexuality, 9(1): 17–31. DOI:10.1080/15299710802659997.
• Herek, G. M. (1988). Heterosexuals’ attitudes toward lesbians and gay men: Correlates and gender differences, Jaurnal of Sex Research, 25, 451-477. DOI:10,1080 / 0224498809551476.
• Herek, G. M., Capitanio, J. P., & Widaman, K. F. (2002). HIV-related stigma and knowledge in the United States: Prevalence and trends, 1991-1999. American Journal of Public Health, 92, 371-377.
• Herek, G. M., & Glunt, E. K. (1993). Interpersonal Contact and Heterosexuals’ Attitudes Toward Gay Men: Results from a National Survey, Jaurnal of Sex Research, 30, 239-244. DOI:10.1080/00224499309551707.
• Herek G. M., & Gonzalez-Rivera, M. (2006). Atitudes toward homosexuality among U.S. residents of Mexican descent Journal of Sex Research, 43, 122-135. DOI:10.1080/00224490609552307.
• Jenkins, M., Lambert, E. G., & Baker, D. N. (2009). The attitudes of black and white college students toward gays and lesbians. Journal of Black Studies, 39 (4), 589-613. DOI: 10.1177/0021934707299638.
• Kaplan H. I., & Sadock, B. J. (2004). İnsan Cinselliği, Klinik Psikiyatri içinde, E. Abay (çev ed), Nobel Tıp Kitap. Ltd. Şti, s:243-267.
• Kite, M. E. (1984). Sex differences in attitudes towards homosexuals: Ameta-analytic reiview. Journal of homosexuality, 10(1-2), 69-81. DOI:10.1300/J082v10n01_05.
• Kite, M. E., & Deaux, D. (1986). Attitudes toward homosexuality: Assessment and behavioral consequences, Basic and Applied Social Psychology,7, 137-162. DOI:10.1207/s15324834basp0702_4.
• Lamar, L., & Kite, M. E. (1998). Sex differences in attitudes toward homosexuality: A multi-dimensional perspective. The Jonrnal of Sex Research, 35, 189-196. DOI:10.1080/00224499809551932.
• Lewis, G. B., & Taylor, H. E. (2001). Public opinion toward gay and lesbian teachers. Review of Public Personnel Administration, 21 (2), 133-151. DOI: 10.1086/297810.
• Mitrani, A.T. (2008). “Eşcinsellere Yönelik Olumsuz Tutumlar: Meslek Grupları ve İlişkili Özellikler, Adli Bilimler Dergisi 7(4): 23-30.
• Nagoshi, J. L., Adams, K. A., Terrell, H. K., Hill, E. D., Brzuzy, S., & Nagoshi, C. T. (2008). Gender differences in correlates of homophobia and transphobia. Sex Roles, 59, 521-531. DOI: 10.1007/s11199-008- 9458-7.
• Nelson, E. S., & Krieger, S. L. (1997). Changes in attitudes toward homosexuality in collage students: İmplementation of a gay men and lesbian peer panel. Journal of Homosexuality, 33, 63-81. DOI:10.1300/J082v33n02_04.
• Nierman, A. J., Thompson, S. C., Bryan, A., & Mahaffey, A. L. (2007). Gender role beliefs and attitudes toward lesbians and gay men chile and the U.S. Sex Roles, 57, 61-67. DOI:10.1007/s11199-007-9197.
• Oksal A. (2008). Turkish family members’ attitudes toward lesbians and gay men. Sex Roles, 58 (7), 514-525. DOI: 10.1007/s11199-007-9370-6.
• Okutan, N. (2010). Ergenlere Yönelik Tutumlar: Cinsiyetçilik, Romantik İlişkilerde Kalıp yargılar ve Yetişkin Bağlanma Biçimleri Açısından bir değerlendirme. Yüksek lisans tezi. Ankara Üniversitesi, Ankara.
• Özeruz, B. (1999). Lise ve yüksek öğrenime devam eden öğrencilerin cinselliğe ilişkin bilgi düzeylerinin araştırılması. Yüksek Lisans Tezi. Marmara Üniversitesi, İstanbul.
• Pınar, G., Pınar, T., Doğan, N., Karahan, A., Algıer, L., Abbasoğlu, A., & Kuşçu, E.. (2009). Kırk Beş Yaş Üstü Kadınlarda Osteoporoz Risk Faktörleri. Dicle Tıp Dergisi,36(4), 258-266.
• Roche, M. (1998). Sport, Popular Culture and Identity’ Aachen: Meyer and Meyer Verla. 1-20. Sakallı, N. (2002a). Application of the attribution value model of prejudice to homosexuality. The Journal of Social Psychology, 142 (2), 264-271. DOI: 10,1080 / 00224540209603899.
• Saraç, L. (2008). Sporda Homofobi Ölçeği: Türkçe’ye Çevrilmesi ve Adaptasyonu, Hacettepe Spor Bilimleri Dergisi, 19 (4), 238–249.
• Schellenberg, E. G., Hirt, J., & Sears, A. (1999). Attitudes toward homosexuals among students at a Canadian University. Sex Roles, 40 (1/2), 139-152. DOI: org/10.1023/A:1018838602905.
• Shackelford, T. K., & Besser, A. (2007). Predicting attitudes toward homosexuality: Insights from personality psychology. Individual Differences Research, 5 (2), 106-114.
• Simoni, J. M., & Walters, K. L. (2001). Heterosexual identity and heterosexism: Recognizing privilege to reduce prejudice. Journal of Homosexuality, 41, 157-172. DOI: 10,1300 / J082v41n01_06.
• Steffens, M. C., & Wagner, C. (2004). Attitudes toward lesbians, gay men, bisexual women, and bisexual men in Germany. The Journal of Sex Research, 41 (2), 137-149. DOI: 10.1080/00224490409552222.
• Swank, E., & Raiz, L. (2010). Attitudes toward gays and lesbians among undergraduate social work students. Journal of Women and Social Work, 25 (1), 19-29. DOI: 10.1177/0886109909356058.Note:A part of this study was presented at Congress of Psychological Counseling and Guidance on September 8-11, 2013, in İstanbul, Boğaziçi University