Ninth graders were more negative regarding the acceptability of homosexuality than all other grades


Pepperdine University

On average, students reported that being gay/lesbian was neither right of wrong.
20% responded completely wrong
33% neither right or wrong
25% completely right 
Differences in attitudes were further found among following differences:

1. Grade
2. Gender
3. Race/Ethnicity
4. Religion


Evaluation Judgement (Overall Means)

Horn, S. S., Szalacha, L. A., & Drill, K. (2008). Schooling, sexuality, and rights: An investigation of heterosexual students' social cognition regarding sexual orientation and the rights of gay and lesbian peers in school. Journal of Social Issues, 64(4), 791–813. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-4560.2008.00589.x

Schooling, Sexuality, and Rights: An Investigation of Heterosexual Students’ Social Cognition Regarding Sexual Orientation and the Rights of Gay and Lesbian Peers in School

Grade (Evaluative Judgement)

Girls were more accepting of homosexuality than boys 

Gender (Evaluative Judgement)

Black students rated being lesbian or gay as significantly more wrong than European American students 
They also reported homosexuality as significantly more wrong than Latino/students. 


Race/Ethnicity (Evaluative Judgement)

Baptists reported the most negative evaluative judgment, significantly lower than Catholics.
Catholics reported the most positive evaluative judgment. 


Learn Before

Related