Prejudice and Discrimination of Nursing Students at Arellano University towards Homosexuals: A Descriptive Study

Abstract

This study looked into the college students’ prejudice towards homosexuals. The study investigated the relationship between the socio-demographic data and the attitudes towards homosexuals. Stereotypes, perceptions on homosexuality, and the experiences with homosexuals were also explored. Data were gathered among 560 males and females, ages 16 to 39, from Arellano University. A combined qualitative and quantitative research design was employed for the study. Attitudes of the students were measured using a survey questionnaire. Quantitative analysis was done with the use of frequencies, one sample t-test and Pearson correlations. Qualitative analysis was used to gather thematic answers to tire open-ended questions. The results of the study revealed that although it seems that most of the respondents were accepting when it comes to homosexuals they encounter daily, some still hold strong negative attitudes towards homosexuals. According to the findings there is no significant difference between male and female respondents in terms of their expression of prejudice. Although, according to the findings from the isolated group with negative attitudes towards homosexuals, female respondents were more likely to have such negative feelings than males. As for age groups, religion and socioeconomic status, it was found out that they do indeed affect the formation of negative attitudes. Qualitative data primarily showed that their religious belief especially those who strongly believe that “God created man and woman only” are more likely to have negative attitudes than others. Other reasons indicated that facilitated the formation of negative attitudes were: a.) negative experiences with at least one homosexual who was acting improperly' and was considered not respectable; b.) belief that homosexuals should act and conform to their given sex roles: being masculine for men and feminine for women and c.) conviction that homosexuality destroys the family because the convention of mother-father roles becomes confusing because males now act as females and females act as males.