(Sexual) Minority Report:

A Survey of Student
Attitudes
Regarding the Social and
Cultural Environment for
Sexual Minorities

Presented by Sarah Medina

Overview

 Introduction
 Review of Literature
 Theory
 Methods
 Findings
 Discussion
 Conclusion
Research Question

 What is the social and cultural

environment that Saint Mary’s College,
IN fosters for sexual minorities?
Review of Literature

 Other Campus Studies

 Hill et. al (2002)
 Rankin (2001)

 Attitudes Towards Homosexuality

 DeBoer (1978)
 Yang (1997)
 Loftus (2001)

 Changes in Attitudes
 Stephan and McMullin (1982)
 Weeks (2003)
Theory

 Social Construction of Sexuality

 Weeks (1982 & 2001)

 Creation of Heterosexism and Homophobia

Methods

 Survey of students at Saint Mary’s College, IN.

 24 questions regarding the resources on

campus, course work, harassment, and
knowledge of topics dealing with racial, ethnic,
class, gender, and sexual diversity

 N= 68

 Demographics of survey
Findings

Class-Year Frequencies Religion Frequencies

Class Year Frequency Percent Religion Frequency Percent

First-Year 7 10.3%
Roman Catholic 56 82.4%
Sophomore 16 23.5%
Christian 2 2.9%
Junior 21 30.9%
Islam 1 1.5%
Senior 24 35.3%
Episcopalian 1 1.5%
Lutheran 1 1.5%
Valid N = 68 Methodist 2 2.9%
Atheist 2 2.9%
Residence Frequencies None Specified 3 4.4%

Valid N = 68
Residence Frequency Percent
On-Campus 60 88.2%
Off-Campus 6 8.8%
Missing 2 2.9%

Valid N = 66
 Findings Minority Comfort Level: Race, Ethnicity, Class, and Sexual Orientation Minorities
Yes No
Question: Yes/No, I would/would not R/E/C Sexual R/E/C Sexual
feel comfortable if….
Frequency Percent Frequency Percent Frequency Percent Frequency Percent

A close family member was of a 61 89.7% 47 69.1% 6 8.8% 20 29.9%

different…

A close family member was 62 91.2% 53 77.9% 5 7.4% 14 20.6%

dating/married to a person of a
different…

If your roommate was of a different… 62 91.2% 38 55.9% 5 7.4% 29 42.6%

To speak of issues in class about… 62 91.2% 58 85.3% 4 5.9% 9 13.2%
Living on the same floor in the 64 94.1% 60 88.2% 3 4.4% 7 10.3%
residence halls as someone of a
different…

To speak with someone of a different… 64 94.1% 61 89.7% 3 4.4% 6 8.8%

If your best friend “came out” n/a 48 70.6% n/a 19 27.9%

If there was a strong gay/lesbian n/a 32 47.1% n/a 34 50.0%

presence on campus

Valid N = 67
Missing = 1
Findings
Sexual Minorities Comfort Scale (SMCS)

Comfort Score Frequency Percent

0-- Least Comfortable 1 1.5%
1 3 4.4%
2 1 1.5%
3 6 8.8%
4 7 10.3%
5 7 10.3%
6 4 5.9%
7 16 23.5%
8—Most Comfortable 21 30.9%

Valid N= 66
Min-Max: 0-8
Mean: 5.91
Findings
Diversity Classes

Number Frequency Percent

0 23 33.8%
1 20 29.4%
2 8 11.8%
3 7 10.3%
4 4 5.9%
5 3 4.4%
7 1 1.5%
11 1 1.5%

Valid N = 68
Findings
Perceptions of Sexual Minority Issues in the
Classroom Scale (PSMICS)

Class Perceptions Score Frequency Percent

3—negative perceptions 1 1.5%
4 0 0%
5 3 4.4%
6 6 8.8%
7 6 8.8%
8 11 16.2%
9 3 4.4%
10 8 11.8%
11 7 10.3%
12 10 14.7%
13 4 5.9%
14 3 5.9%
15-positive perceptions 5 7.4%

Valid N= 67
Min-Max: 3-15
Mean= 9.81
Findings
Clubs and Resources on Campus

Name Frequency Percent

SAGA 36 52.9%
SDB 4 5.8%
Feminist United 3 4.4%
Women’s Resource
Center 4 5.8%
CoLT 3 4.4%

Know of, but

not the name 7 10.3%
None 19 27.9%
Findings
Perceptions of Resources on Campus for Sexual Minorities
(PRCSMS)

Resource Perceptions Score Frequency Percent

6-none/little knowledge 5 7.4%
7 1 1.5%
8 7 10.3%
9 7 10.3%
10 11 16.2%
11 11 16.2%
12 7 10.3%
13 10 14.7%
14 5 7.4%
15-much knowledge 4 5.9%

Valid N= 68
Min-Max: 6-15
Mean: 10.75
Discussion

 People more comfortable with racial, ethnic,

and class minorities than sexual minorities.

 Role of education in comfortablility with sexual

minorities.

 Visibility of sexual minorities and resources.

Conclusion

 There is a need for people to begin to

understand issues of sexual minorities.
 Education
 Personal contact

 Can begin to break down hierarchical structure

 End discrimination and oppression
 Slow process, but everyone can do something small
to help
Questions

Thank you