In: Psychology
In your own words, What are some of the obstacles that LGBTQ people face in society? How are those obstacles similar to other “out-groups”? How are they dissimilar?
The biggest challenge that people of LGBTQ people face is in terms of acceptance by the society. Their status is stigmatized and there are dogmatic rules and regulations in the society which makes it all the more difficult for them to being accepted in the society.
These people are ostracized because of having a different sexuality. Sex is biological, gender is social construction of having a particular sex whereas sexuality is considered to be a choice of an individual. Having a different sexual preference, other than the ‘so-called-normal’ preference should be in no way a deterrent in being accepted by the society. The socialization of gender and sexuality is a construed social reality.
Belonging to a different group, of LGBTQ does not render one with the title of being a pervert and does not guarantee that the person will be harmful to the society. It is just that a person is different. Accepting such a person questions the belief system of people who dogmatically adhere to unimportant and unnerving rules and regulations of society. In my opinion, acceptance of the sexual status is the biggest challenge which the queer community faces.
There are other groups of people who are also not welcomed by the social groups. But the challenges that they face in terms of acceptance is less. Though they are not allowed to certain privileges, still they get benefitted by the government on certain other aspects.
I think the challenges which LGBTQ group faces are more threatening for the mental health of people than of other groups.