Support for Gay and Lesbian Rights Among Students of Helping Professions in Crete, Greece: A Comparison between Social Work and Psychology Students
- Resource Type
- Authors
- Kyriaki Plotnikof; Emmanouela Karouzou; Katerina Maragianni; Marianna Iliadou; Vasileia Papadaki; Oyrania Pateraki
- Source
- Journal of homosexuality. 68(6)
- Subject
- Adult
Male
Social Work
Social Psychology
Human Rights
media_common.quotation_subject
Social Workers
050109 social psychology
Education
Gender Studies
03 medical and health sciences
Sexual and Gender Minorities
Young Adult
Humans
Psychology
0501 psychology and cognitive sciences
Homosexuality
Homosexuality, Male
Students
General Psychology
media_common
030505 public health
Social work
Greece
05 social sciences
Homosexuality, Female
Social Support
Gender studies
General Medicine
Female
Lesbian
0305 other medical science
Gay rights
- Language
- ISSN
- 1540-3602
This study explores the level of support for gay and lesbian rights among social work and psychology undergraduate students (N = 870). While students were generally supportive of gay and lesbian rights, 43% believed that social workers and psychologists should support gay and lesbian rights only 'when lesbians and gay men do not offend or upset others', while 31.3% agreed that these rights should be supported 'as long as they don't contradict the prevalent religion and values of the society they live in'. Social work students were more supportive of all items compared to psychology students; they were also more supportive regarding professionals' obligation to challenge negative discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. Religiosity, gender and having gay and lesbian friends or acquaintances were important correlates of students' level of support for gay and lesbian rights. Findings are discussed in relation to social work and psychology education.