(Double) Standards for Granting of Formal Rights and Informal Privileges

• In Event: 090 - Section on Sociology of Sexualities Roundtable Session (one-hour).
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 10. Producing Sexuality Discourse

Abstract

Although heterosexuals’ attitudes are becoming more positive toward lesbians and gays, lesbians and gays still face informal forms of prejudice. We explore whether perceptions of how in love heterosexual, lesbian, and gay couples are perceived to be influences this pattern. Using data from a nationally representative survey experiment, we test two relevant competing theories: infrahumanization theory and double standards theory. Results suggest that informal prejudice is not due to heterosexuals attributing less intense love to same-sex couples than to heterosexual couples. Instead, results suggest that heterosexuals hold stricter emotional standards for same-sex couples than for heterosexual couples. This suggests that double standards theory may be productively applied to the study of emotional legitimacy and sexual prejudice.

Authors

• Long Doan, Indiana University

• Annalise Skavo Loehr, Indiana University

• Lisa Miller, Indiana University-Bloomington