1 / 16

Working with Gay Persons

Working with Gay Persons. Exam Emphasis Managing a gay identity in the workplace (2) What is it like to grow up gay (1) Overcoming workplace barriers (2) Legal rights (1) Stereotypes & Myths (3) Current profile (1). Stereotypes & Myths. Gays cluster in certain occupations

vondra
Télécharger la présentation

Working with Gay Persons

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Working with Gay Persons • Exam Emphasis • Managing a gay identity in the workplace (2) • What is it like to grow up gay (1) • Overcoming workplace barriers (2) • Legal rights (1) • Stereotypes & Myths (3) • Current profile (1)

  2. Stereotypes & Myths • Gays cluster in certain occupations • Feel safer to “come out” in certain fields • They are found in a wide range of fields • People who associate with gays are probably gay themselves “courtesy stigma” • Creates barriers to building support/mentor networks needed for career success • Gays in sensitive high-level jobs are a security risk

  3. Stereotypes & Myths • Gay persons don’t have normal, lasting relationships • No significant difference in relationship satisfaction • Most desire an enduring, close relationship • Gay men act feminine and lesbians act masculine • Most gay couples reject traditional M/F roles in their relationship

  4. Stereotypes & Myths • Gay sex is immoral and gay persons are promiscuous • Immorality is a religious/philosophical belief and can’t be proved/disproved • At some point some % of all population is promiscuous • Gay persons are a bad influence on children • All gays are not pedophiles nor do they all want relationships with younger men

  5. Past Connections • Stonewall: A turning point • 4 days of gay riots; marks the birth of the modern gay rights movement • Cultural breakthroughs • Gay Games founded in 1982 • Popular celebrities are now speaking out publicly about their sexual orientation • Ellen DeGeneres, Rosie O’Donnell

  6. Current Profile • 2.15% of the population is gay • This holds true for all ethnic groups, economic categories, social classes, etc. • Higher educational levels and jobs • Out of the closest gays hold well-paying professional jobs, 60% college educated • Lower pay for comparable work • Gay men’s wages are 27% lower than straights

  7. Nature & Impact of Antigay Prejudice • Reasons for antigay prejudice • Maybe they’ll come on to me • Maybe I’ll get AIDS by being around them • I have to show disapproval of gays so people will know that I’m not gay • Who is likely to be prejudiced? • Male, older, less well educated • Reside in rural areas, the Midwest or the South • Strongly religious

  8. Nature & Impact of Antigay Prejudice • Exclusion, ridicule & assault result in a range of psychological damage to the gay person • In 40 states is legal to fire a gay person based solely on sexual orientation • Most people believe that gay persons should have equal employment & free speech opportunities

  9. Growing up Gay • Phases of Gay Awareness • Stage #1 – denying • Stage #2 – recognizing • Stage #3 – experimenting • Stage #4 – accepting and coming out

  10. Growing up Gay • Dealing with Antigay Bias • Threatened with a weapon at school (4x) • Miss school due to safety concerns (5x) • Commit suicide (3x) • Dealing with Damage to Self-Esteem • Dating, marriage, & children are events to be anticipated by straights but not gays

  11. The Gay Community • The Gay Community • Most gays function in two cultures, the larger culture and the gay culture • Support Networks • Provide psychological support & social acceptance • Gay Couples • 50% of gay Men & 75% of lesbians have a steady couples relationship • Gay Parents • Gay parents report that their children are straight

  12. Managing a Gay Identity in the Workplace • Gays in the Closet • Counterfeiting a straight identity • Dodging the issue • Gays Who Come Out • Calculating the risk • Facing the reactions* • Minimizing gayness • Normalizing gayness • Making gayness an asset • Heaving a sigh of relief

  13. What Legal Rights Do Gay Persons Have? • Equal Employment Rights • Federal Protection only for federal employees • A few states, counties, and cities have specific laws against gay discrimination • Pursuing Family Rights • Domestic Partner Laws • Resisting Private Sex as a Crime

  14. Leadership Challenge: Overcoming Workplace Barriers • Blocks to Spontaneity – Seeing Gays as Abnormal • The Sexual Double Standard • Straight persons can discuss sexual partners at work but gays can’t • Prejudice & Discrimination that drain corporate assets • Talent drain, energy drain & productivity drain

  15. Leadership Challenge: Overcoming Workplace Barriers • Walls of Silence that Deaden Creativity • Treating Gay Persons as Tokens • Hostile Corporate Cultures and Gay Ghettos • May move to more tolerant depts. or where gays are clustered • Jobs have concrete measures of success • The Lavender Glass Ceiling • Limiting advancement & career opportunities

  16. Leadership Opportunities: Building on Gay Persons’ Strengths • Follow the Lead of Savvy Organizations • Recognize that Gay Persons Have High-Value Skills • Help build Gay Support Network • Encourage Company Benefits for Gay Employee’s Partners • Promote Education about Gay Issues • Help Create a Savvy Corporate Culture

More Related