SEXISM AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS SAME-SEX PARENTHOOD: THE MEDIATION EFFECT OF SEXUAL STIGMA

Several empirical contributions focused on negative attitudes towards same-sex marriage, parenting and family legalization given that these issues continue to generate controversy especially in Italy, where the recognition of civil rights proceeds more slowly than in other countries. The present study intended to investigate negative attitudes towards same-sex parenting examining the impact of sexism and sexual stigma in heterosexual people and in lesbians and gay men. The aims of the research were to study the relationship between sexism and attitudes toward same-sex parenting exploring the possible mediated effect of sexual stigma, taking into account gender and sexual orientation. Data were collected on 79 gay men, 87 lesbian women and 330 heterosexual people, with ages ranged from 17 to 63 (heterosexual people M = 27.86, SD = 7.95; sexual minorities M = 27.95, SD = 7.39). Heterosexual people showed stronger sexist tendencies (hostile sexism: F1,492 = 21.83; p < .001; ηp2 = .04; benevolent sexism; F1,492 = 8.44; p < .01; ηp2 = .02;), than sexual minority people; likewise, men reported a higher degree of sexism (hostile sexism: F1,492 = 11.62; p < .001; ηp2 = .03; benevolent sexism: F1,492 = 0.70; p = .40; ηp2 = .001) than women. Moreover, the relationship between sexism and attitudes toward same-sex parenting was mediated both by sexual prejudice in heterosexual people (complete mediation; β = –.08, t = –1.61, p ≥ .05), and internalized sexual stigma in lesbians and gay men (partial mediation; β = –.24, t = –3.22, p ≤ .01). Data seems to suggest that negative attitudes towards same-sex parenting can reflect the socio-cultural inequalities and discriminatory behaviors based on the traditional gender belief system and the ideology embodied in institutional practices that work to the disadvantage of sexual minority groups. In the heterosexual sample, the mediated effect of sexual prejudice on negative attitudes towards same-sex parenting was larger than the direct effect of sexism. This evidence suggests that sexual prejudice, more than sexism, was able to legitimate and perpetuate ideological systems that denigrated same-sex parenthood (Capezza, 2007; Lingiardi et al., 2015). In the sexual minorities’ sample, the mediated effect of internalised sexual stigma was lower and partially influenced the relationship between sexism and attitudes towards same-sex parenting.