Variables with a negative impact on the quality of life of gays and lesbians in Spain: evaluation of homophobic and lesbophobic indicators to guide youth education.

Background: Despite the evidence about the negative impact of homophobic and lesbophobic attitudes on the quality of life of these individuals, the World Health Organisation (WHO) continues to report a lack of research and understanding regarding the health of gays and lesbians and LGTB people in general. There is a growing commitment in public health to understand and improve the health and well-being of LGTB people, and it is very important that professionals in social, educational and health care settings are adequately trained and informed to solve the problems that persist in this population. The aim of this study was to identify homophobic and lesbophobic attitudes in a Spanish youth population, analyzing the relationship of these attitudes with sociodemographic, cultural, political and personal variables. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out with 325 young people aged 18-30 years. The information was collected through the Modern Homophobia Scale of Raja & Stokes, in which sociodemographic and sociocultural variables were also gathered. The data were analyzed and correlations were estimated. Results: The males showed a more negative attitude toward homosexual people compared to the females. The participants with a higher education level presented more positive attitudes toward homosexual people. Younger people with a heterosexual orientation had more negative attitudes toward homosexual people compared to those with a homosexual orientation. The participants with a stronger right-wing political tendency presented a greater percentage of negative attitudes toward LGTB people. Conclusion: Variables such as education level, sexual orientation and political ideology may have a significant influence on the attitudes toward homosexual men and/or lesbian women. Different results were obtained as a function of sex, thus it is important to consider the gender perspective in future studies that tackle this topic.

Violência obstétrica e LGBTQIA+fobia: o entrelaçamento de opressões e violações / Obstetric violence and LGBTQIA+phobia: interlaced oppressions and violations

Resumo O sistema capitalista e cisheteropatriarcal se desenvolveu através da opressão e exploração de classe, raça e sexo no estabelecimento de relações desiguais e hierarquizadas de poder, e uma dessas opressões é o uso da violência contra os corpos considerados errantes e transgressores dentro dessa estrutura. Dentre os diversos tipos de violência, o foco deste estudo está na violência obstétrica, compreendida como uma violência patriarcal de gênero que visa a retirada de direitos, autonomia e protagonismo de mulheres e homens trans durante o período gestacional, do parto e puerpério ou em processos de abortamento. Esse artigo tem como objetivo refletir sobre a violência obstétrica e seu impacto nas homoparentalidades de mulheres lésbicas e de homens trans, pois compreende-se que a população LGBTQIA+ é uma das mais vulnerabilizadas e que está mais distante dos serviços de saúde, justamente pela violência institucional que acomete esses corpos. Dessa forma, pretende-se compreender, através de uma análise social e histórica, como os atravessamentos dessas violações sexistas e heteropatriarcais se entrelaçam e refletem na assistência à saúde dessas pessoas, gerando ainda mais formas de opressão contra essa população.

Abstract The cisheteropatriarchal capitalist system has developed by class, racial and sexual oppression and exploitation in establishing unequal, hierarchical power relations. One of these kinds of oppression involves the use of violence against bodies considered wayward and transgressive within this structure. Of the different types of violence, this study focused on obstetric violence, understood as patriarchal gender violence designed to remove the rights, autonomy and agency of trans women and men during the processes of pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum and abortion. This article reflects on obstetric violence and its impacts on homo-parenthood for lesbian women and trans men, on the understanding that the LGBTQIA+ population is one of the most vulnerable and removed from health services, mainly because of the institutional violence suffered by these bodies. Accordingly, the intention is to understand, through social and historical analysis, how these sexist, heteropatriarchal violations, interlacing and reflecting in health care for these people, generate even more forms of oppression against this population.

Intersecting gender, ethnicity, and sexuality in Arantxa Echevarría's film Carmen & Lola (Spain, 2018).

Arantxa Echevarría's film Carmen y Lola (2018) takes a groundbreaking new approach to intersectionality and lesbian identity contextualizing a lesbian coming-of-age-story and its multicultural background and context. Owing to the colonial gaze and the outsider's perspective in the story telling, the film makes some major missteps in its representation of the Romani community in Spain. But nonetheless, the intersectional presentation is groundbreaking in terms of representation of lesbian diversity and experiences, since it portrays the lesbian subject as a triple minority: woman, lesbian, and Roma - a minority ethnic group still discriminated against in Spain. The story of two female Roma adolescents coming to terms with their mutual homoerotic desire intertwines with the marginality of their community and a conservative and homophobic environment in which lesbianism does not find a space. I argue that Echevarría's film explores the topics of minorities both in terms of ethnicity and sexual orientation. The director aims to represent this otherness as a marginalized and decentered subjectivity that intersects with other axes of discrimination. It is from this marginal position that the film explores the forms of resistance against the control of the lesbian body that women directors are carrying out in Spanish cinema.

Sobre o amor entre mulheres: apontamentos sobre conjugalidade e sexualidade / About love between women: notes on conjugality and sexuality

O objetivo deste trabalho foi conhecer as características dos relacionamentos afetivo-sexuais entre mulheres. Trata-se de estudo descritivo de abordagem qualitativa, utilizando como instrumento entrevista com roteiro semiestruturado. Participaram cinco mulheres, com idades entre 25 e 37 anos, que estabelecem parceria afetivo-sexual com outra mulher, sob a forma de coabitação há no mínimo um ano. A análise qualitativa de inspiração fenomenológica identificou particularidades e pontos convergentes nas experiências relatadas. Os dados apontam que a trajetória de vida dessas mulheres é marcada por violências, enquanto a constituição de uma nova família é permeada por intenso afeto, companheirismo e parceria. Conhecer os relacionamentos entre mulheres é importante para a desmistificação de estigmas que ainda se atualizam sob a forma de violência contra mulheres lésbicas e bissexuais. Aponta-se que para pesquisas futuras seja interessante ampliar a faixa etária das participantes, bem como utilizar marcadores de classe e raça.

The objective of this work was to know the characteristics of affective-sexual relationships between women. This is a descriptive study with a qualitative approach, using a semi-structured interview as an instrument. The participants were five women, aged between 25 to 37 years, who have established an affective-sexual partnership with another woman, in the form of cohabitation for at least one year. The qualitative analysis of phenomenological inspiration identified particularities and convergent points in the reported experiences. The data indicate that the life trajectory of these women is marked by violence, while the constitution of a new family is permeated by intense affection, companionship and partnership. Knowing the relationships between women is important to demystify the stigmas that are still perpetuated in the form of violence against lesbians and bisexual women. It is pointed out that for future research it is interesting to expand the age range of the participants, as well as to use social class and race markers.

Investigando as violências sofridas por mulheres lésbicas universitárias / Investigating the violence experienced by university lesbian women / Investigando las violencias sufridas por mujeres lesbianas universitarias

A lesbofobia é uma violência direcionada a mulheres lésbicas devido à sua orientação sexual que se contrapõe à heterossexualidade compulsória social. Ocorre também no âmbito acadêmico, visto que a universidade é parte da sociedade e reproduz violências. Esta pesquisa, de caráter qualitativo, objetivou investigar violências sofridas por mulheres lésbicas universitárias. No processo de seleção das participantes, foram escolhidas dez estudantes lésbicas de uma universidade pública, indicadas por terceiros. Foram realizadas entrevistas semidirigidas, posteriormente, analisadas à luz dos núcleos de significação. Os resultados indicaram que, enquanto, no espaço acadêmico, a violência é simbólica, mediante comentários e olhares dirigidos principalmente por estudantes, em festas universitárias, a violência é explícita e perpetrada pelos mesmos autores, em suma estudantes, por meio da fetichização do corpo da mulher lésbica. A lesbofobia se manifesta pela percepção da lesbianidade como vivência passageira ou decorrente de experiências heterossexuais insatisfatórias. Ressalta-se que a lesbofobia bem como outras violências de gênero estão em dissonância com o compromisso ético-político da universidade e devem ser combatidas.

Lesbophobia means violence directed at lesbian women because of their sexual orientation, which counteracts compulsory heterosexuality. It also occurs in the academic sphere, since the university is part of society and reproduces violence. This qualitative research aimed to investigate the violence experienced by university lesbian women. In the process of selecting the participants, ten lesbian students from a public university were chosen, indicated by third parties. Semi-directed interviews were subsequently analyzed in the light of the meaning nuclei. The results indicated that while in the academic space violence is symbolic, by means of comments and glances directed mainly by students during university parties, violence is explicit and perpetrated by the same authors, in short, the students, through the fetishization of the body of the lesbian woman. In addition, lesbophobia manifests itself by the perception of lesbianism as a passing occurrence or due to unsatisfactory heterosexual experiences. It is worth mentioning that lesbophobia, as well as other types of gender-based violence, are in dissonance with the university’s ethical political engagement, and must be tackled.

La lesbofobia es una violencia dirigida a mujeres lesbianas debido a su orientación sexual que se contrapone a la heterosexualidad obligatoria social. Ocurre también en el ámbito académico, ya que la universidad forma parte de la sociedad y reproduce sus violencias. La presente investigación, de carácter cualitativo, objetivó investigar las violencias sufridas por mujeres lesbianas universitarias. En el proceso de selección de las participantes, fueron elegidas diez estudiantes lesbianas de una universidad pública, seleccionadas por terceros. Se realizaron entrevistas semidireccionadas, que fueron posteriormente analizadas a la luz de los núcleos de significado. Se hace notar que, si en el espacio académico la violencia es simbólica y se practica a través de comentarios y miradas, en las fiestas universitarias la violencia es explicita y perpetrada por los mismos autores, en general estudiantes, a través de la fetichización del cuerpo de la mujer lesbiana. La lesbofobia se manifiesta por la percepción de la lesbianidad como vivencia pasajera o derivada de experiencias heterosexuales insatisfactorias. Se resalta que la lesbofobia, como otras violencias de género, está en disonancia con el compromiso ético-político de la universidad y debe ser combatida.

Familismo, Lesbophobia, and Religious Beliefs in the Life Course Narratives of Chilean Lesbian Mothers.

This study aimed to explore the life course identity projects of Chilean lesbian mothers who conceived their children within the context of a previous heterosexual relationship. By exploring the case of Chile, this study examined the family lives of lesbian mothers within the context of a Latino heteronormative society with a Christian (mainly Catholic) heritage. Individual interviews were conducted with eight participants aged between 27 and 40 years old (mean age of 33 years) who were recruited through snowballing and social media. A Structural Narrative Analysis of participants' stories was conducted within a Life Course Perspective theoretical framework. The study found that participants initially followed a heterosexual path to conform to their family of origin and social expectations. After building their own heterosexual family projects and having their children with a man, most participants felt pressured to continue within a heterosexual path and postponed their transition to a lesbian identity trajectory despite a growing feeling that a lesbian identity would be personally fullfilling. Although participants felt proud of their identities, they struggled to express their same-gender feelings because lesbians were often seen as inappropriate models for children within Chilean society. Crucially, lesbian mothers continued to be able to count upon support for their parenting from their own mother despite intense disapproval from their family of origin and often continued opposition from ex-husbands/partners. The findings of this study revealed the strong impact of familismo, lesbophobia and Christian religious beliefs on the life course experiences of Chilean lesbian mothers. Implications for therapy and counselling with lesbian mothers living in Latino countries are reviewed.

Combating homophobia, lesbophobia, biphobia and transphobia: A liberating and subversive educational alternative for desires.

The repression of human sexuality began anew in the twentieth century with a strengthening of patriarchal conceptions that pathologised sexual preferences, such as homosexuality, lesbianism and bisexuality, and medicalised transsexuality. Our educational approaches based on action research have reduced violence and empowered teenagers - girls and boys - and groups of teachers in different countries of the European Union. The diversification of assessment tools has resulted in an improved evaluation of processes and results. As a result, a high percentage of violence has been eliminated, accompanied by a scaling up of prevention and greater respect for sexual diversity. Critical-emancipatory action research is a viable alternative, as is the empowerment of men, not only of women.

Bullying among Spanish secondary education students: the role of gender traits, sexism, and homophobia.

The aim of the present study was to assess the combined influence of gender stereotypes, sexism, and homophobia on attitudes toward bullying and bullying behavior. A total of 1,500 Spanish adolescents between 12 and 18 years of age (49.3% girls and 50.7% boys) completed a questionnaire that included measures of bullying, attitudes toward bullying, gender-stereotyped personality traits (instrumentality and expressiveness), hostile and benevolent sexism, and attitudes toward gay men and lesbians. First, the findings demonstrated that boys scored significantly higher on all the variables assessed except on benevolent sexism. Two similar models were obtained for both sexes. Benevolent sexism and, in boys, more positive attitudes toward gay men predicted more negative attitudes toward bullying when mediated by more expressive gender traits. An inverse pattern was also observed: Hostile sexism predicted more favorable attitudes toward bullying when mediated by instrumental gender traits. Attitudes toward bullying were highly correlated with bullying behavior. The five-predictor variables (including attitudes toward bullying) explained 58% of the variance of bullying behavior in girls and 37% of such variance in boys.

Do armário à armadura: estratégias de mulheres no enfrentamento da homofobia e do heterossexismo / From the closet to the shield: women's strategies to fight against homophobia and heterosexism / Del armario a la armadura: estrategias de mujeres en el enfrentamiento de la homofobia y lo heterosexismo

O objetivo do presente artigo é descrever e analisar as estratégias construídas por mulheres que buscaram o Centro de Referência em Direitos Humanos Rompa o Silêncio (Porto Alegre, RS) para lidar, enfrentar ou contestar os significados estigmatizantes associados a suas identidades de gênero ou práticas eróticas/afetos com outras mulheres. A ferramenta metodológica utilizada foi a entrevista baseada na reconstrução de trajetórias de vida e foram entrevistadas 9 mulheres que haviam acessado o Centro de Referência em 2007. As análises estão divididas em dois eixos temáticos: a) percepções sobre a homofobia na perspectiva das mulheres e b) estratégias de enfrentamento cotidianas e o sentido da busca pela formalização da denúncia e reivindicação de direitos. O material permitiu compreender que as entrevistadas percebem a discriminação e o preconceito como resultado de uma extrapolação dos limites das convenções de gênero. Nesse sentido, acreditam que a homossexualidade masculina e as mulheres que possuem estilos “mais masculinos” estão mais propensos/as a sofrer discriminações. De acordo com elas, a perspectiva de uma maior “aceitação” das relações homoeróticas entre mulheres ocorre na articulação entre estilos mais próximos dos padrões de feminilidade vigentes, bem como por uma apropriação do homoerotismo feminino por parte do fetiche masculino. Quanto às estratégias de enfrentamento, foram encontradas tanto formas de manter identidades “discretas” como modos mais combativos, baseados em uma “subjetivação militante”. De modo geral, as entrevistadas consideram os tempos atuais melhores, devido, segundo elas, mais à atuação do movimento social do que aos aparelhos de proteção e políticas públicas estatais.(AU)

This article’s goal is to describe and analyze the strategies constructed by women that searched for Human Rights Reference Center “Rompa o silêncio” (Porto Alegre, RS) in order to deal, confront or contest stigmatizing representations associated to their gender identities or erotic practices/affections with other women. The methodological tool used was based on life trajectories interviews and 9 women that accessed the Reference Center in 2007. Analysis is divided in two thematic axes: a) homophobia perception in women’s point of view; b) Quotidian coping strategies and attributed meanings for formalizing plaints and rights vindication. The research material allowed understanding that the interviewees comprehend discrimination and prejudice as the result of gender conventions’ extrapolation. In this sense, they believe that gay men and more masculinized women are more vulnerable to discrimination. According to them, the acceptance of homoerotic relations between women occurs when gender expressions are closer to acceptable feminine patterns, as well as an appropriation by masculine fetish. Regarding the coping strategies, we found both forms of keeping a “discrete” identity as well as more combative ways linked to a “militant subjectification”. In general, the interviewees consider contemporary times better, related more to social movements actions than the government protection apparatus.(AU)

Lo objetivo de este artículo es describir y analizar las estrategias construidas por mujeres que procuraran lo Centro de Referencia en Derechos Humanos “Rompa o Silêncio” (Porto Alegre, RS) como forma de lidiar, confrontar o contestar los significados estigmatizantes asociados a sus identidades de genero o practicas eróticas/afectuosas con otras mujeres. La herramienta metodológica utilizada se baso en la entrevista de reconstrucción de las trayectorias de vida, 9 mujeres que procuraran el Centro fueran entrevistadas. La análisis se dividió en dos ejes temáticos: a) la percepción de la homofobia por parte de la mujeres; b) las formas de enfrentamiento y los significad os atribuidos para la formalización de la quejas y la reivindicación de derechos. Lo material de investigación permitió de comprehender que las entrevistadas ven la discriminación y el prejudicio como resultado de una extrapolación de las convenciones de género. En este sentido, perciben que los hombres gais y las mujeres masculinizadas son más vulnerables a la discriminación. De acuerdo con ellas l a aceptación de las prácticas homoeróticas entre mujeres ocurre en articulación con expresiones de género mas cerca de los padrones femeninos consagrados, y también cuando incorporadas por el fetiche masculino. Las estrategias de enfrentamiento van desde mantener una identidad ‘discreta’ asta formas más combativas próximas de una “subjetivación militante”. En general, las entrevistadas consideran que es mejor vivir hoy, y que las transformaciones están más asociadas a la acción de los movimientos sociales que a las políticas publicas.(AU)

Lesbianidades e biopoder: um olhar genealógico / Lesbianities and biopower: a genealogical view

Situando no interior dos estudos de gênero e sexualidades, esse artigo teórico propõe um olhar genealógico sobre estruturas de poder que articulam lesbofobia, desejo e (in)visibilidade na vivência das lesbianidades. Entendendo os procedimentos de exclusão como construídos com base no viriarcado e na heteronormatividade, vemos que as lesbianidades apenas são aceitas quando são invisibilizadas ou quando se apresentam compatíveis com esse sistema de poder. Opondo a tratar as formas hegemônicas dos códigos morais como verdades inquestionáveis que devessem ser seguidos, um olhar genealógico sobre as lesbianidades permitiria vislumbrar como as pessoas que têm suas vivências na diferença podem engajar-se em contra-poderes que rompem a homogeneização, em reação ao biopoder. (AU)

Placed in the gender and sexuality studies, this article proposes a genealogical view on structures of power that articulate lesbophobia, desire and (in)visibility in lesbians' experiences. Understanding the exclusion procedures as built with base in the viriarcal and heterosexual system, we learned that lesbianity is only accepted when it is made invisible or when it comes compatible with the rules that sustain biopower. Being opposed to treat the hegemonic forms of moral codes as unquestionable truths that should be followed, a genealogical view on the lesbianities would allow to glimpse how people that have their existences in the difference can be engaged counter powers that go against homogenization, in reaction to the biopower. (AU)