Across the spectrum of sexual orientation and gender identity, individuals with nonconforming identities experience intense experiences of victimization, discrimination, harassment, and general mistreatment in a range of social contexts. Heteronormative, cisgender, white individuals experience far less mistreatment and victimization based on gender and sexual orientation than those with nonconforming sexual and gender identities. Through analysis of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, we can explore differences in experience between gender identities that intersect with other classes. Intersectionality plays a profound role in the level of mistreatment experienced by individuals from multiple marginalized groups. Race, gender, and class interact with how individuals of cross-cultural backgrounds experience harassment in everyday life. Only individuals with sexual and gender identities experience harassment in everyday life in very opposite ways. The experiences of gay men differ from those of lesbian women, bisexual men, bisexual women, queer individuals, and transgender individuals. It is hoped that data gathered from research on the topic of mistreatment of sexual and gender minorities will help to better identify how the heteronormative, cisgender, white ideal triggers such levels of harassment. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay In Cole's article focusing on intersectionality and its use in research, Cole defines intersectionality as "the interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, class, and gender as they apply to a given individual or group , viewed as creating overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage” (Cole 2009, p. 170). Past research has shown us that men tend to endorse both homophobic and sexist items, as well as hegemonic masculinity items in questionnaires. However, the rationale why homophobia and sexism are promoted and classified as common and hegemonic is lacking. Furthermore, these questionnaires do not take into account men who have learned to protect their prejudices. Evidence of homophobic prejudice and approval seems most evident in the way “most men mix forms of hegemonic complicity with non-complicity, mixing sexism and non-sexism, and mitigating their homophobia through disclaimers, irony, and humor” (Korobov 2004, p. 178-). 179). Homophobia and sexism are shown both explicitly and implicitly, through outward exclamations of these beliefs and more subtle representations through the use of “jokes.” While the humor, disclaimers, and irony may seem harmless at first, the use is still passive and aggressive and expresses one's individual prejudice against individuals with non-conforming sexual orientations and gender identities. Rabelo supports Korobov's theory of hegemonic approval with a definition of stigma theory, explaining how “broad cultural perceptions and morals determine which social groups are valued and which are not. The result of these perceptions is a stigmatization of these groups, which leads to prejudice, discrimination and other prejudices (Rabelo 2014, p. 379). These biases, shaped by our culture's ideal perpetuation of sexual stigmas that belittle and reject anything remotely out of line with the cisgender, heteronormative, white ideal, create a hostile environment for individuals with sexual orientations and gender identities.gender nonconforming in all social contexts (Rabelo 2014). Prejudice and discrimination disguised under the umbrella of humor and disclaimers can be especially harmful to the psyche of targeted individuals because they are presented in a way that affirms their acceptability for everyday use. Heterosexism is based on insensitive, non-aggressive, verbal and symbolic harassment that expresses hostility towards non-heterosexual individuals or ideas. The individuals most commonly victims of heterosexist harassment are individuals who deviate from heterosexist norms or gender norms that espouse non-heterosexual stereotypes. In addition to heterosexist harassment, sexual and gender minorities also experience gender harassment, including sexual harassment or any harassment based on one's sex and/or gender. Gender harassment is based on gender norms and expectations in which “stereotypically feminine women and hypermasculine men enjoy positive evaluations and treatment, while gender nonconformists experience contempt and insult, even assault” (Rabelo 2014, p. 380). Although often used as differentiating terms, homophobia and heterosexism are not very distinctive. Furthermore, homophobia can be considered a subtype of heterosexism. Homophobia and heterosexism are both based on antigay prejudices and misunderstandings. However, homophobia stems from a belief based on fear and feelings of hatred, the main factors that lead to prejudice and/or harassment towards non-heterosexual individuals. Due to the intense nature of homophobia, harassment fueled by it can often be violent, creating an experience of victimization, faced by many individuals with non-conforming sexual orientations and gender identities (Ragins 2003). In some contexts, such as the workplace, heterosexism and gender harassment can also manifest in the form of punishment for not conforming to company policies and dress codes that exclude individuals who do not conform to gender stereotypes. And while Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (1964) is supposed to protect employees from sexual harassment, it does not include protection for individuals who have been harassed or discriminated against because of their nonconformity to gender norms, stereotypes, and/or sexual orientation. (Berkley 2006). Individuals with nonconforming sexual orientations and gender identities who experience harassment in environments they feel they cannot avoid, such as the workplace, often experience varying levels of stress and anxiety. Stressors caused by experiences of anti-gay harassment or victimization arise from the expectation of heteronormativity. Heteronormativity can be defined as “the view that institutionalized heterosexuality constitutes the standard for legitimate and expected social and sexual relationships” (Hequembourg 2009, p. 274). Any individuals who deviate from such expectations are more likely to experience job dissatisfaction and stress due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. Individuals exposed to “sexual minority-related stressors, particularly stress resulting from anti-gay discrimination and violence, may explain a higher prevalence of psychiatric disorders and poor mental health symptoms among GLBs compared to heterosexuals” (Hequembourg & Brallier 2009, p. 275). . In the Hequembourg study, experiences of gender and sexual identity were studied and compared. Hequembourg and Brallier use a qualitative research approach to explore differences in stress among gender and sexual minorities in order to better understand what promotes stress and what consequences may result from certain stress indicators.Many differences in gender and sexual identity indicated some misconceptions for example, “women's same-sex relationships were eroticized and distorted to fit the heterosexual male gaze, while gay men were negatively portrayed as sexually promiscuous and deviant” (Hequembourg & Brallier 2009 , p.292). The majority of respondents regardless of gender and sexuality admitted to social stereotypes that portray GLB individuals as more promiscuous and sexual than heterosexuals. Herek says GLB individuals have feared being fired from a position based on their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. A comparable study showed that “between 8% and 17% of LGB people were fired or denied work because of their sexual orientation” (Badgett 2007, p. 4). Both male and female participants admitted to experiencing fearful experiences when confronted with heterosexual males, especially when alcohol was involved. Alcohol can fuel inherent biases and increase levels of anger and violence combined with clouded judgment. In situations where alcohol was involved, participants confessed to feeling unsafe or threatened by heterosexual males. Herek further states that "individuals who have experienced physical assault because of their sexual orientation appear to have higher levels of psychological distress than others" (Herek 1997, p. 209-210). Herek also adds that interview data underrepresent and improperly recognize the severity of antigay crimes because they can take many forms, including patterns of differentiation (Herek 1997). In the Hequembourg study, lesbian and bisexual women “indicated that stereotypes about same-sex relationships between women are often eroticized in our culture. Therefore, women in homosexual relationships are seen as sexual objects and their sexual exclusivity towards other women is ignored by heterosexual men” (Hequembourg & Brallier 2009, p.280). Due to the increased sexualization of women in American culture, women are more likely than their male counterparts to be harassed by targeting their gender and femininity. If a heterosexual male is alienated from a woman, especially if the reasoning is because the woman is not heterosexual, the woman may become a victim of the sexual prejudice of promiscuity and suffer unwanted sexual advances, or become a victim of sexual harassment fueled by anger and hurt. masculinity followed by experiences of unwanted sexual advances or sometimes aggression. they were usually committed in a private setting by a lone assistant who was known to the victim.” (Herek 1997, p. 203). Women's experiences appear more sexualized than men's. Gay and bisexual men often face greater anger and hostility over their non-conformity to sexuality and gender norms. What do men represent in our society? Why would gay men be targeted more? Men represent masculinity, tenacity. Gay men break down masculine standards and therefore make people, especially straight men, feel threatened simply by being themselves because they don't fit the typical masculine standards deemed normal by our society. In a subsequent article by Herek, he states that “gay men are most at risk for crimes against person and property” (Herek 2008, p. 69). While lesbian and bisexual women are more likely to experience sexual harassment from heterosexual men, gay and bisexual men are more likely to experience violenceexplicit targeting of their non-conformity to stereotypical standards of masculinity and gender norms. Harassment and discrimination in the workplace create a hostile environment for gay, lesbian and bisexual people. The evidence certainly shows that heightened experiences of harassment and discrimination based on sexual identity can be psychologically harmful and threatening to an individual's sense of self. However, missing from the above research is the study of transgender individuals, whose experiences of harassment and discrimination are equally important to examine when trying to understand issues related to social prejudice against sexual and gender minorities. When talking about transgender individuals, this includes “any person whose expression of gender identity does not align with traditional gender norms, [and/or] does not necessarily match the gender assigned at birth” (Dispenza, Watson, Chung, & Brak, 2012). In a survey of transgender individuals in San Francisco, the study found that “57% of transgender respondents had experienced employment discrimination based on their transgender status or gender identity.” Respondents had been fired, denied work, or denied a promotion in a job based solely on their gender identity. Despite such a damning statistic, only 12% of respondents actually filed a complaint. Individuals may know that they can choose to complain, but choose not to fear that it will affect them, causing them difficulties in their working lives and/or making them the target of further harassment and discrimination in the future (Badgett 2007). Across all dimensions of gender and sexuality, the types of discrimination faced are multidimensional and multi-layered. In the workplace, most consistently, transgender people experience harassment in the form of “hostile comments, refusal by employees to use preferred names or pronouns, as well as refusal to allow transgender people to use bathrooms that match their gender identity.” gender” (Dispenza 2012, pages 65-66). Not only have transgender individuals identified harassment instigated by cisgender heterosexual individuals, but also by other members of the LGBT community. In Dispenza's study, participants identified horizontal oppression as a type of discrimination faced by transgender individuals compared to LGB individuals. Dispenza is also inspired by how discrimination and harassment against sexual and gender minorities is likely inspired by the perceived threat that sexual and gender nonconformists pose to patriarchy, which is “any institution that has traditionally been guided by masculine values ” (Dispenza 2012, p.77). Patriarchy fosters cisgender heterosexual white male dominance. Individuals with non-conforming sexual orientations and gender identities threaten the core values ​​and standards established by patriarchy, which American culture subliminally expresses as the norm, through the use of pop culture, supported by these traditional ideals of perfect masculinity and perfect femininity that match appropriately with male, female, promoting heterosexuality. Finding a job, following a particular career path, maintaining an income, establishing financial security, are all things that can be difficult for any individual. For individuals who have non-conforming sexual orientations, gender identities, or gender expressions, all of these things suddenly become much more difficult to achieve when faced with varying levels of discrimination. And when individuals who do not conform to gender binaries are discriminated against.