Open AccessFirst- and Second-Hand Experiences of Enacted Stigma Among LGBTQ Youth
Author(s) -
Amy L. Gower,
Cheryl Ann B. Valdez,
Ryan J. Watson,
Marla E. Eisenberg,
Christopher J. Mehus,
Elizabeth Saewyc,
Heather L. Corliss,
Richard Sullivan,
Carolyn M. Porta
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
the journal of school nursing/journal of school nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.617
H-Index - 33
eISSN - 1546-8364
pISSN - 1059-8405
DOI - 10.1177/1059840519863094
Subject(s) - snowball sampling , harassment , lesbian , stigma (botany) , queer , transgender , qualitative research , psychology , gender studies , homosexuality , social psychology , sociology , medicine , social science , pathology , psychiatry
Research on enacted stigma, or stigma- and bias-based victimization, including bullying and harassment, among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) youth often focuses on one context (e.g., school) or one form (e.g., bullying or microaggressions), which limits our understanding of these experiences. We conducted qualitative go-along interviews with 66 LGBTQ adolescents (14-19 years) in urban, suburban, town, and rural locations in the United States and Canada identified through purposive and snowball sampling. Forty-six participants (70%) described at least one instance of enacted stigma. Three primary themes emerged: (1) enacted stigma occurred in many contexts; (2) enacted stigma restricted movement; and (3) second-hand accounts of enacted stigma shaped perceptions of safety. Efforts to improve well-being among LGBTQ youth must address the diverse forms and contexts of enacted stigma that youth experience, which limit freedom of movement and potential access to opportunities that encourage positive youth development. School nurses can play a critical role in reducing enacted stigma in schools and in collaboration with community partners.