Stereotypes vs Sexual Identity

Stereotypes are a fixed, commonly held notion or image of a person or group, based on an oversimplification of some observed or imagined trait of behaviour or appearance. For adolescents, the development of their identity is based on many forces both internal and external. During these years of questioning, many are faced with the negative stereotypes of youth. They see the negative images of youth portrayed in the media and feel the effects of belonging to a group undervalued by society.

Stereotypes of a group of people can affect the way in which society views them, and change society's expectations of them. With enough exposure to a stereotype, society may come to view it as a reality rather than a chosen representation. The media can be a powerful tool in creating or reinforcing stereotypes. Negative stereotypes not only affect how adults see teenagers, they influence how teenagers see themselves.

Discrimination occurs when social difference is used as the basis for differential treatment by people and institutions in ways that privilege dominant groups and disadvantage subordinates. In relation to stereotypes, where people are judged based on a particular behaviour that identifies them with a label, discrimination is where those groups are judged as a whole based on the value of their group in society.

One of the more common stereotypes of youths is of sexuality and discrimination based on sexual identity. Gender stereotypes state society’s expectations of male and female behaviour. If people don’t conform to these labels, we, as a society, feel the implicit need to categorise them as another group. eg. If a male shows emotion, which is considered a female trait, instead of just calling that male sensitive, we label him as gay. In this instance the sexual preference of the individual isn’t taken into consideration, only the behaviour which we attribute to a particular gender.

Being labelled as gay has a significant impact upon youth. Young people feel alienated because society stigmatises homosexuality and fails to recognise that there are substantial numbers of gay and lesbian young people. Schools are no exception. They also stigmatise homosexuality and render same-sex attraction invisible in the day-to-day practice of schooling. Schools go no further than addressing same-sex relationships as a special issue, limiting discussion to morality. By isolating same-sex relationships from the mainstream curriculum we are labelling gay and lesbian youth as different from the norm. The implications for this on youth are significant. Youth’s feel a loss of identity because they feel the need to hide an important part of their life, for fear of exclusion or slander. Students who are labelled as gay, whether they conform to the stereotype or not, are being boxed in by society and expected to either hide their sexuality or project their sexuality to society in a particular way. You either have to be openly gay and wear that label with pride or stay in the closet. Linking back to gender roles, it is interesting that society is more accepting of guys who identify with the female stereotype- shopping, gossip, love of fashion, as being gay than “macho” football playing, beer drinking males. It comes back to the socialised stereotype that men and women are supposed to act in particular way and that for a guy to be attracted to another guy he must share the same characteristics as a woman and vice versa.

Tolerance of sexuality is prevalent in schools. Homosexuality is seen as just a phase of adolescent development that many people go through and most people grow out of. Thus, gays are less mature than ‘straights’ and should be treated with the protectiveness and indulgence one uses with a child. This view is discriminatory and stereotypical. Tolerance isn’t about viewing homosexuality as a phase but rather recognising it as something that is different to your beliefs but accepting it as a norm anyway. To view gay and lesbian youth as immature and irresponsible because they are attracted to the same sex is disregarding their ability to know who they are and create a sense of identity. Perhaps it’s the opposite, and we should be giving them more credit, as they have the courage and the awareness to recognise that what they are feeling is different but not wrong, without the support of society. Gay and Lesbian youth have to develop a strong sense of self a lot earlier than heterosexual youth, because they have to constantly defend their identity to society to prove that they are just as worthy and capable as their peers.


The big question that exists in society is What is normal? and how do you define it? Normal is relative, it’s contextual and holds a different meaning for each individual. Discrimination is caused by ignorance. Educating youth to see disabilities, diverse cultural backgrounds, social class and sexuality as strengths rather than a weaknesses, has the ability to change people’s perceptions and develop an inclusive society, where diversity is valued rather than challenged.