Socy 300 discussion week 5

  

1. Name and briefly discuss three demographic or psychological correlates of heterosexual’s people’s attitudes toward gay men and lesbians (discussed in the assigned chapter). Demographic correlates include things like gender, age, political affiliation, income, race, education level, socioeconomic status, and geographic location, whereas psychological correlates include things like authoritarianism (or a psychological predisposition toward strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom), egalitarianism (or a belief that people should be treated fairly), and religious fundamentalism.  
2. Name and briefly discuss three historical events that might have contributed to the shift in attitudes toward gay men and lesbians over time (see assigned chapter).
3. What American values or principles might help us to understand how someone might hold negative attitudes toward gay people while supporting their rights (even if, as a group, people with negative attitudes toward gay men and lesbians are less likely to support rights than those with positive attitudes)? See Williams’ list from Week 1 as well as the assigned chapter.