Abstract
This study examined possible predictors such as hypermasculinity and ethnicity in explaining negative attitudes towards the LGBTQ student community in a college campus in the context of queer theory within the paradigm of social constructionism. A non-probability sample of 158 undergraduate students was studied using the Hypermasculinity Inventory (HMI – Modified) consisting of 26 scale questions and Herek’s (1988) Attitudes Toward Lesbians and Gay Men (ATLG) scale. Demographic information such as age, ethnicity, college major and gender were collected to contextualize the study responses. The hypothesis that hypermasculinity scores are significantly correlated with negative attitudes towards LGBTQ population was tested as was the hypothesis that ethnic background is correlated with negative attitudes towards individuals with the LGBTQ identity. Study findings indicate a positive weak correlation of (r =. 227, N=158, p<. 05) between hypermasculinity and negative attitudes towards LGBTQ and a positive weak correlation between ethnicity and attitudes toward LGBTQ population (r=. 154, N=158, p<. 05). In light of the small value of correlation coefficients the following predictions must be considered with caution. The regression equations are: Negative attitudes toward LGBT community members (Y) = .309 + .332 (hypermasculinity) and Negative attitudes toward LGBT community (Y) = - .199 (ethnicity) + 2.193. Although the possible levels of variations that can be explained in the dependent variable, the negative attitudes toward LGBTQ population, due to the variation in the independent variables of hyper masculinity and ethnicity are relatively small the fact that as scores on hypermasculinity increases, the scores on negative attitudes also increases with an ascending slope is a significant finding in this study. This relationship is worthy of further investigation. These findings need further examination with random samples and more rigorous standardized scales to measure the relationship between negative attitudes toward LGBTQ population in particular and the hypermasculinity scores. The findings hold relevant implications for the field of social work in broadening the narrowly defined gender conceptualizations thus warranting advocacy at the macro level, and in providing direct services to clients/students.