Hetero-cis-normativity, Intersectionality, and Lesbian Stigma: An Empirical Investigation of Norm-Centered Stigma Theory

• In Event: 1466 - Section on the Sociology of Sexualities Roundtables (1 hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: 3. On the Margins of L&G

Abstract

The current study provides an intersectional investigation of Norm-Centered Stigma Theory (NCST) with hetero-cis-normativity (a system of norms, privilege, and oppression that situates heterosexual cisgender people above all others) as the centralized overarching concept that helps us to understand lesbian stigma and the cultural devaluation of lesbian women. Specifically, nationally representative data collected from online panelists (N = 3104; hetero-cis: n = 1500; LGBTQ: n =1604) are utilized to explore NCST and the relationships between hetero-cis-normativity and lesbian stigma. In addition, social power axes including gender identity (cisgender man, cisgender woman, transgender woman, transgender man, and non-binary), sexual identity (heterosexual, gay or lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, asexual), racial/ethnic identity (Caucasian/White, African American/Black, Asian American/Pacific Islander, Native American/Alaskan Native, Multi-Racial, Other Race, Latinx Race, and Latinx Ethnicity), class/basic needs (have more than enough, have mostly all I need, often basic needs not met, very few basic needs met), and interactions among these axes of social power are utilized along with controls for common explanations for lesbian stigma (LGBTQ friendships, religiosity, political perspectives, beliefs about gender) and other sociodemographics (age, region, town size, education, income). Results indicate that hetero-cis-normativity is robustly related to lesbian stigma along with gender, sexual, racial, and class identities as well as interactions among these axes of social power; however, findings vary between the total sample, the hetero-cis subsample, and the LGBTQ subsample. Overall, results lend support to the use of NCST in intersectional explorations of lesbian stigma.

Author

• Meredith Gwynne Fair Worthen, University of Oklahoma