A View from the Academe: Lesbian and Gay Faculty and Minority Stress

• In Event: 344 - Section on Organizations, Occupations and Work Paper Session. Sexual Minorities and Work (co-sponsored with Section on Sex and Gender)

Abstract

This study examines the experiences of lesbian and gay faculty within the framework of minority stress theory. The effect of minority stress on the mental and physical health outcomes of lesbian and gay individuals is well-documented. However, previous research has mainly relied on survey data to correlate stressors with health outcomes. This study uses in-depth interviews to illustrate the process and experience of minority stress including the context of prejudicial events, how individuals interpret discriminatory events, and the variety of events that create both acute and chronic stress. The interviews suggest that aspects of minority stress such as expectations of rejection and the need to conceal identity are complex, requiring ongoing monitoring and negotiation of environments and interactions by lesbian and gay individuals.

Author

• Raine Dozier, Western Washington University