Heterosexism in health and social care 2006

This interdisciplinary text develops a theory of heterosexism and provides everyday examples from health and social care environments. It engages with current debates, including intersecting identities, and presents a coherent analysis of the health and social care needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. The early twenty-first century has witnessed a transformation in the political landscape for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. Increasingly liberal attitudes, alongside the repeal of repressive legislation, have created a climate that has never been so accepting. Yet despite these signs of progress, there are few enabling social policy initiatives and LGBT needs for health and social care are poorly understood. These changes require new understandings of the social conditions of LGBT people for which the term ' homophobia' is inadequate. The author develops a theory of heterosexism to conceptualise LGBT oppression and provides examples from everyday health and social care environments. This timely study engages with current debates, including intersecting identities, and presents a coherent analysis of LGBT health and social care needs. The author argues for mainstreaming sexual identity issues in public policy Front Matter....Pages i-xi Front Matter....Pages 1-1 What is Heterosexism?....Pages 3-27 Assessing the Health and Social Care Needs of Lesbians, Gay Men and Bisexuals....Pages 28-51 Intersecting Identities: Recognising the Heterogeneity of LGBT Communities....Pages 52-91 Conducting Research among LGB Communities....Pages 92-111 What are the Demographic Characteristics of the LGB Population?....Pages 112-124 Front Matter....Pages 125-125 Disclosure and Non-disclosure: Lesbians’ Strategies of Accommodation and Resistance in their Interactions with Health Professionals....Pages 127-147 Screened Out: Lesbians’ Experiences of Cervical Screening....Pages 148-163 Risky Bodies? Lesbians and Breast Cancer....Pages 164-192 New Directions in Equality Agendas: Opportunities and Threats....Pages 193-206 Back Matter....Pages 207-236 The changing political landscape requires fresh understandings of the social conditions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people for which the term 'homophobia' is inadequate. This book develops a theory of heterosexism to conceptualise this kind of oppression