(Sexual) Minority Report: A Survey of Student Attitudes Regarding the Social and Cultural Environment for Sexual Minorities Presented by Sarah Medina

Overview  Introduction  Review of Literature  Theory  Methods  Findings  Discussion  Conclusion

Research Question  What is the social and cultural environment that Saint Mary’s College, IN fosters for sexual minorities?

Review of Literature  Other Campus Studies  Hill et. al (2002)  Rankin (2001)  Attitudes Towards Homosexuality  DeBoer (1978)  Yang (1997)  Loftus (2001)  Changes in Attitudes  Stephan and McMullin (1982)  Weeks (2003)

Theory  Social Construction of Sexuality  Weeks (1982 & 2001)  Creation of Heterosexism and Homophobia

Methods  Survey of students at Saint Mary’s College, IN.  24 questions regarding the resources on campus, course work, harassment, and knowledge of topics dealing with racial, ethnic, class, gender, and sexual diversity  N= 68  Demographics of survey

Findings Religion Frequencies Religion Frequency Percent Religion Frequency Percent Roman Catholic % Roman Catholic % Christian 2 2.9% Islam 1 1.5% Episcopalian 1 1.5% Lutheran 1 1.5% Methodist 2 2.9% Atheist 2 2.9% None Specified 3 4.4% Valid N = 68 Valid N = 68 Class-Year Frequencies Class Year Frequency Percent First-Year % Sophomore % Junior % Senior % First-Year % Sophomore % Junior % Senior % Valid N = 68 Valid N = 68 Residence Frequencies Residence Frequency Percent On-Campus % Off-Campus 6 8.8% Missing 2 2.9% Residence Frequency Percent On-Campus % Off-Campus 6 8.8% Missing 2 2.9% Valid N = 66 Valid N = 66

Findings Minority Comfort Level: Race, Ethnicity, Class, and Sexual Orientation Minorities Question: Yes/No, I would/would not feel comfortable if…. Yes R/E/C Sexual No R/E/C Sexual Frequency Percent A close family member was of a different… % %6 8.8% % A close family member was dating/married to a person of a different… % %5 7.4% % If your roommate was of a different… % %5 7.4% % To speak of issues in class about… % %4 5.9%9 13.2% Living on the same floor in the residence halls as someone of a different… % %3 4.4%7 10.3% To speak with someone of a different… % %3 4.4%6 8.8% If your best friend “came out”n/a %n/a % If there was a strong gay/lesbian presence on campus n/a %n/a % Valid N = 67 Missing = 1

Findings Sexual Minorities Comfort Scale (SMCS) Comfort Score Frequency Percent Comfort Score Frequency Percent 0-- Least Comfortable 1 1.5% % % % % % % % 8—Most Comfortable % 0-- Least Comfortable 1 1.5% % % % % % % % 8—Most Comfortable % Valid N= 66 Valid N= 66 Min-Max: 0-8 Min-Max: 0-8 Mean: 5.91 Mean: 5.91

Findings Diversity Classes Number Frequency Percent Number Frequency Percent % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % Valid N = 68

Findings Perceptions of Sexual Minority Issues in the Classroom Scale (PSMICS) Perceptions of Sexual Minority Issues in the Classroom Scale (PSMICS) Class Perceptions Score Frequency Percent 3—negative perceptions 1 1.5% 4 0 0% % % % % % % % % % % 15-positive perceptions 5 7.4% Valid N= 67 Valid N= 67 Min-Max: 3-15 Min-Max: 3-15 Mean= 9.81 Mean= 9.81

Findings Clubs and Resources on Campus Name Frequency Percent SAGA % SDB 4 5.8% Feminist United 3 4.4% Women’s Resource Center 4 5.8% CoLT 3 4.4% Know of, but not the name % None %

Findings Perceptions of Resources on Campus for Sexual Minorities (PRCSMS) Resource Perceptions Score Frequency Percent 6-none/little knowledge 5 7.4% % % % % % % % % 15-much knowledge 4 5.9% Valid N= 68 Valid N= 68 Min-Max: 6-15 Min-Max: 6-15 Mean: Mean: 10.75

Discussion  People more comfortable with racial, ethnic, and class minorities than sexual minorities.  Role of education in comfortablility with sexual minorities.  Visibility of sexual minorities and resources.

Conclusion  There is a need for people to begin to understand issues of sexual minorities.  Education  Personal contact  Can begin to break down hierarchical structure  End discrimination and oppression  Slow process, but everyone can do something small to help

Questions Thank you Thank you