1. Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc.
SOCIAL WORK IN CANADA An Introduction Third Edition
Chapter 14: Social Work and Sexual and Gender Diversity
Chapter 14:
Social Work & Sexual & Gender Diversity
Social Work In Canada
Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc.

2. Social Work & Sexual & Gender Diversity
Historical Context
The Rise of Community Activism
Theoretical Perspectives
Social Work Counselling
Counselling Issues
Implications for LGBTTQ-Positive Practice
Chapter 14:
Social Work & Sexual & Gender Diversity
Social Work In Canada
Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc.

3. Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc.
Historical Context
There are two major developments that have
shaped our thinking about gender and sexuality:
Sexology – the field of study that invented the identities of heterosexual and homosexual
Community activism – a movement that subsequently evolved to signify a shared history of oppression and marginalization
Chapter 14:
Social Work & Sexual & Gender Diversity
Social Work In Canada
Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc.

4. Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc.
Historical Context
Richard von Krafft-Ebing (1840–1902)
Pioneer in creating categories of normal and abnormal
Heterosexual begins to represent normality
Karl Heinrich Ulrichs (1825–1895)
Fought to decriminalize sodomy
Homosexuality is inborn and natural
Chapter 14:
Social Work & Sexual & Gender Diversity
Social Work In Canada
Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc.

5. Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc.
Historical Context
Magnus Hirschfeld (1868–1935)
Founded the Scientific Humanitarian Committee
Fought against paragraph 175 of the German criminal code that made male homosexuality a crime
First person to systematically describe and work with transsexuals
Challenged notion of sexual polarity in favour of sexual pluralism
Chapter 14:
Social Work & Sexual & Gender Diversity
Social Work In Canada
Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc.

6. Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc.
Historical Context
Alfred Kinsey (1894–1956)
Kinsey Report, 1948, Sexual Behavior in the Human Male, surveyed a variety of people about their sexual habits
Showed that people’s sexual behaviours combined so-called perverse behaviours with those considered normal
Type of research was groundbreaking in that it suggested everyday sexual behaviour often transgressed laws, public opinion, and social norms
Chapter 14:
Social Work & Sexual & Gender Diversity
Social Work In Canada
Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc.

7. The Rise of Community Activism
The Stonewall Rebellion
On June 27 and 28, 1969, a series of riots erupted in
response to a police raid on a New York City gay bar,
the Stonewall Inn.
It represented a significant collective uprising by the gay
and lesbian community against state oppression.
Chapter 14:
Social Work & Sexual & Gender Diversity
Social Work In Canada
Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc.

8. The Rise of Community Activism
Bill C-150
The legal terms used to describe gay sex were
decriminalized if committed in private between two
consenting adults over the age of 21. (1969)
“There is no place for the State in the bedrooms of the
nation.”
Justice Minister Pierre Trudeau
Chapter 14:
Social Work & Sexual & Gender Diversity
Social Work In Canada
Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc.

9. The Rise of Community Activism
Queer Activism
Efforts and actions towards social change by LGBTTQ
communities; more confrontational than gay and lesbian
rights movements.
Chapter 14:
Social Work & Sexual & Gender Diversity
Social Work In Canada
Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc.

10. Theoretical Perspectives
Biological Determinism
Theory that an individual’s personality, behaviour, and
attitude is determined by genes, minimizing the role of
the environment.
Chapter 14:
Social Work & Sexual & Gender Diversity
Social Work In Canada
Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc.

11. Theoretical Perspectives
Social Constructionism
Theory that sexualities are constructed by our social
and cultural context and experience.
Chapter 14:
Social Work & Sexual & Gender Diversity
Social Work In Canada
Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc.

12. Theoretical Perspectives
Queer Theory
Maintains that sexual behaviours, identities, and
categories are social constructs.
Chapter 14:
Social Work & Sexual & Gender Diversity
Social Work In Canada
Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc.

13. Social Work Counselling
There are two extremes in social work counselling with
lesbians, bisexuals, transgendered or transsexual persons,
and gay men:
Social workers exaggerate the difficulties of living in a heterosexist society
Workers assume that sexual orientation and gender identity make no difference to a person’s experience
Chapter 14:
Social Work & Sexual & Gender Diversity
Social Work In Canada
Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc.

14. Social Work Counselling
Coming Out of the Closet
Refers to the act of publicly revealing your sexual identity.
Those who keep their LGBTTQ identity secret are referred
to as living “inside the closet.”
Therefore, when one reveals one’s identity, it is said that
he or she is “coming out of the closet.”
Chapter 14:
Social Work & Sexual & Gender Diversity
Social Work In Canada
Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc.

15. Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc.
Counselling Issues
For social workers who are gay, lesbian, bisexual,
transgendered, or transsexual there are issues to
consider:
Can be a role model
Might experience challenges dealing with people who are hostile to LGBTTQ communities
Pressure may be added if not working in a queer-positive practice
Be careful of your own stereotypes and beliefs
Chapter 14:
Social Work & Sexual & Gender Diversity
Social Work In Canada
Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc.

16. Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc.
Counselling Issues
There are some counselling issues that may arise that
are specific to members of transgendered and
transsexual communities.
Chapter 14:
Social Work & Sexual & Gender Diversity
Social Work In Canada
Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc.

17. Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc.
Counseling Issues
The following are useful points to consider:
People do not always see themselves as fitting within a gender norm
Be supportive of how people understand their gender
There are no “cures” for transsexualism
Gender transitioning, hormonal therapy, or sex reassignment surgery are some of the options
Gender transitions can cause anxiety and uncertainty
Chapter 14:
Social Work & Sexual & Gender Diversity
Social Work In Canada
Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc.

18. Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc.
Counselling Issues
Social Work with Persons who are Homophobic
Generally, individual feelings of homophobia are rooted
in three different areas:
Religion
Insecurity in gender roles
Negative past experience with someone who identified as lesbian, gay, or bisexual
Chapter 14:
Social Work & Sexual & Gender Diversity
Social Work In Canada
Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc.

19. Implications for LGBTTQ-Positive Practice
Don’t make assumptions
Remain supportive and open-minded
People cannot change their sexual orientation, and it is unethical to work with someone to do so
Members of the LGBTTQ community may prefer to work with a counsellor who is also a member of the community
Chapter 14:
Social Work & Sexual & Gender Diversity
Social Work In Canada
Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc.

20. Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc.
Websites
Equality for Gays and Lesbians Everywhere (EGALE)
Gender Education and Advocacy
PFLAG
International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission
Chapter 14:
Social Work & Sexual & Gender Diversity
Social Work In Canada
Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc.

21. Questions for Discussion
In what ways do you see a recognition of
gender diversity in your social work program?
Chapter 14:
Social Work & Sexual & Gender Diversity
Social Work In Canada
Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc.

22. Questions for Discussion
What are some tangible ways that you could
support people belonging to LGBTTQ groups in
your school? Field placement? Community?
Chapter 14:
Social Work & Sexual & Gender Diversity
Social Work In Canada
Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc.

23. Questions for Discussion
What specific challenges does homophobia
pose for two-spirited persons?
Chapter 14:
Social Work & Sexual & Gender Diversity
Social Work In Canada
Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc.

24. Questions for Discussion
Why do you think Nunavut, Canada’s newest
territory, is the first to extend human rights
protection to transgendered persons?
Chapter 14:
Social Work & Sexual & Gender Diversity
Social Work In Canada
Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc.

25. Questions for Discussion
Why are some LGBTTQ youth at risk for forced
participation in the sex trade? What are some
implications of globalization for the sex trade?
Chapter 14:
Social Work & Sexual & Gender Diversity
Social Work In Canada
Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc.