Discrimination Against Homosexuals (Essay Sample)

Discrimination against Homosexuals
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Discrimination against Homosexuals
General Context
In recent past, society has witnessed exponential rise in discourse in regard to discriminatory tendencies that manifest in diverse contextual thresholds. In most cases, such efforts revolve around vulnerable groups such as women, senior citizens, and immigrants. Experts utilize research studies on this area to determine the recurrent realities that characterize the livelihoods of people who belong to such marginalised and vulnerable entities in society (Ahmed & Hammarstedt, 2009). Although studies in this area have led to reforms and government attention, there has been evident unwillingness to cover all vulnerable groupings. For instance, researchers have not focused adequate attention to the challenge of discrimination against homosexuals. This has given rise to the current desire to investigate the nature and manifestations of social patterns of discrimination that are propagated against individuals on the basis of their sexual preferences. Past research on the plight of groupings that exist owing to their sexual preferences has cited prevalence of stereotypes that impose stigma on such entities (Ahmed & Hammarstedt, 2009). The prejudicial treatment that they receive from society usually presents challenges in all aspects of their existence in social systems. Society discriminates against these individuals because they exhibit a strain of sexuality that does not conform to societal expectations. Current public opinion is divided in regard to the enactment of laws that seek protect homosexuals from discrimination in the workplace. For instance, in a survey conducted in November 2013 by the Public Religion Research Institute, 39% of the respondents responded in favour of efforts to formulate legal provisions that cushion homosexuals from discrimination in regard to employment. On the other hand, 15% responded in opposition of the development of such laws. Those who polled in extreme support of the laws were 33% while those in strong opposition were 8% PRRI. (2013). In a similar poll that was conducted on February 2000, the results were indicative of overwhelming support for the establishment of laws that cover the interests of homosexuals in society. 76% of the respondents polled in favour while 20% polled in opposition. Only 4% of the respondents did not give a definite answer to the question Henry J Kaiser Family Foundation. (2000). The results realized in the above polls are a clear pointer to the public opinion regarding rights of homosexuals. It also shows that society is willing to accept homosexuals and incorporate them into the social system devoid of discrimination. The wording of the questions was right and thus did not have any negative effects on the opinion of participants. The sponsor of the survey has hitherto maintained impartial stand on controversial issues of concern in society. Therefore, the sponsorship has no direct implication on the outcomes of the poll (Ipoll Research Data, 2014).
Research Questions
The empirical study was solely focused on unearthing the existence and scope of societal discrimination on the basis of individual sexuality. Through the content of discussion in the empirical study, there is evidence of an intense social probe that sought to establish the recurrent manifestation of discrimination against certain groups based on their sexual preference. The research question in the study was: Is there evidence regarding the discrimination of homosexuals in modern society? This research question was critical in establishment of a route through which people can understand the plight of homosexuals in contemporary society. it highlights the importance of people taking note of challenges in the social system and identifying their role in providing solutions for the issue. The research question is relevant and appealing because it creates impetus for thorough probe into the existence of discrimination against homosexuals in modern social setting. The research question is also effective in introducing and propagating the subject matter of the empirical study.
Method
This section covers all diverse aspects of the methodology that was applicable in formulation of the empirical study. Methodology entails the systems that were put in place to facilitate collection, analysis, and presentation of the data in the case study. Methodology offers the requisite guidelines that must be adhered to in development of scientific analysis. It should also satisfy various regulatory frameworks that guarantee impartial presentation of relevant data and factual information (Ahmed & Hammarstedt, 2009). The case study is a representation of a field activity that sought to unravel challenges that are faced by homosexuals in the Swedish housing sector. The data for this case study was collected from the internet through visiting credible sites that offer relevant information on the subject matter of the study. In order to contextualize the scenario of the case study, researchers used two hypothetical couples to represent gays and heterosexuals. The couples were then used to seek the services of housing agents in the Swedish housing sector. They sought to secure rental space that was duly relayed in the market by the owners. The couples used different formats of emails that were sent to different landlords to request them to grant residency at their property. This was meant to allay any form of confusion in tabulation of data. The outcomes of the exercise are indicative of rampant discrimination against homosexuals that was evidenced by the few instances where housing agents contacted the homosexuals after they made enquiries on the rental properties (Ahmed & Hammarstedt, 2009). The heterosexuals received more instances of communication from the rental property owners. The case study had dependent and independent variables that were critical in establishment of the required results in the study. The two hypothetical gay couples were the independent variables while the landlords and their reaction sufficed as the dependent variables in the case study. The researcher was also effective in manipulating the dependent variables because the property owners were different and spread out in order to guarantee accurate and dependable outcomes in regard to the empirical study (Ahmed & Hammarstedt, 2009).
Results
The findings of the empirical study are valid because they resonate with the general situation on the discrimination of homosexuals in modern society. The results are accurate and indicative of societal attitudes that prevail in regard to treatment of homosexuals in the Swedish housing sector. The outcomes of the research exercise show that discrimination against homosexuals is rampant owing to perceptions, myths, and misconceptions that characterize society (Bancroft, 2009). The accuracy and dependability of the research outcomes offers a valid cue into the insight relating to treatment of homosexuals. It is noteworthy that the research focused on a specific aspect of human engagement in Swedish society. The depictions that were derived from the results can also be applied in a general scope thus being of importance in measuring the subject matter and its applicability in other areas of engagement such as education, healthcare, justice, and commerce (Ahmed & Hammarstedt, 2009). The statistical orientation of the research study was impressive and accurate in representing the overall sample population. As earlier mentioned, there were two couples, each being a representative sample for either homosexuals or heterosexuals. The couples effected 408 applications for rental space across the housing market. The results were tabulated on the basis of the average number of calls that each couple received from the property owners after initiating their request for rental space (Ahmed & Hammarstedt, 2009). All call-back responses were treated equally regardless of whether they were representative of positive or negative cues from the property owners. The possibility of the heterosexual pair receiving any form of communication from property owners averaged at 56% while that of the homosexual pair scored 44%. The 12 percentile disparity is attributable to the existence of social biases and misconceptions in regard to the sexual preference of the participants. The outcomes of the research were also tabulated in terms of the number of cues that were either positive or negative (Ahmed & Hammarstedt, 2009). This was meant to enable a comparison between the two aspects of the communication cues that resulted after the couples prompted the property owners. The positive response for the heterosexual pair stood at 53% while that of the homosexual couple was 41%. Therefore, the average percentile likelihood for the heterosexual pair to receive feedback against that of the homosexuals was 27%. However, it is important to note that a comparative analysis on the overall outcome of the study indicates that the discrimination rates against homosexuals in the Swedish housing sector is slightly lower as compared to other groups such as immigrants (Ahmed & Hammarstedt, 2009).
Limitations and Generalizability
The outcomes of the empirical research study are accurate and applicable to other areas of policy formulation and propagation in the United States. Research undertakings similar to this have in the past been used as sources of vital data that led to development of policy in pertinent areas of engagement. In most cases, the government of the United States depends on research studies, polls, and other documented data on social and economic trends as a basis for guiding policy development and implementation (Bancroft, 2009). In this particular case, there is a lot of relevant information that can be useful to the government of the ...