Measuring 'Micro-Attitudes' towards 'Homo-SexualOrientation and Gender Identities' among University Students in Delhi, India

Abstract

Attitudes towards ‘Homosexuality’ or ‘Homosexual Orientation’ have been studied extensively in westerncontext. But, it has not been studied as intensively as it should be for understanding the deeper levelfactors which might be playing a role in the causation of these. Anecdotal evidences, and mediarepresentations related to grossly negativistic attitude, prejudice and discrimination, and to certain extentviolence towards people displaying homosexual orientation in Indian society exist. This is the firstreported study in Indian context related to prejudice in university students related to ‘Homosexual Orientation’ and ‘Gender Identity’. It aimed at studying the micro-attitudes among 165 university students(Mean Age = 22 years) in New Delhi, India. A detailed analysis of types of prejudice, their manifestations,and factors responsible for such a presentation is made. Implications of ‘Micro-Attitudes’ among studentpopulation and how it influences social acceptance of LGBTQIA population is also discussed.