Microaggression Effects - Essay Example

Microaggression Effects Introduction People who identify themselves as gay, lesbian, transgender or bisexual experience various forms of discrimination in subtle ways. The forms of discrimination can also be termed as microaggressions. It is necessary to realize that discrimination against the LGBT community is alive. The discrimination is not as overt as the lynching and cross burning in the past, and the result is not always murder. These microaggressions can occur in a wide choice of social setting such as school, workplace, among relatives and friends as well as among the other LGBT people. The accumulation of such experiences comes along with feelings of victimization, depression, suicidal thinking, and increased rates of drugs and substance abuse. Moreover, other health problems are prevalent in the LGBT community. The attempt is made to find out how the microaggressions contribute to mental health and substance abuse issues within the LGBT population. Furthermore, this paper seeks to determine how the discrimination contributes to the quality of life. How discrimination and microaggressions contribute to mental health and substance abuse within the LGBT population LGBT individuals are found in every race, religion, and social class. Gender identity and sexual orientation questions are not asked in most surveys. Therefore, it becomes very difficult to determine the LGBT population as well as their health needs. In-depth research suggests that the health disparities that the LGBT individuals face are the result of discrimination, societal stigma, and the denial of human as well as civil rights. Microaggressions against the LGBT persons have been linked with the increasing rates of substance abuse, suicide, and other psychiatric disorders. The social acceptance of the sexual orientation together with personal identity has adverse effects on the mental health and safety of the LGBT individuals. Many people in the society abuse drugs and substances. However, it is worth noting that the abuse of substances in the LGBT population is greater than among the heterosexuals. Marshal , Friedman, Stall, & Thompson, (2009) conducted a study with the aim of estimating individual trajectories of substance use in the use. An examination of the differences between the self – identified LGBT, and heterosexual subsamples were carried out. The results of the study showed that the LGBT identity was associated with the variability in the use of drugs. LGBT youth reported higher initial rates of substance use. The increase in the rates of substance use was higher in the LGBT sample group than in the heterosexual group. The research found that sexual orientation is a marker for growth in the adolescent substance use. Evidently, the rate of substance abuse among the LGBT persons is great. However, the underlying mechanisms responsible for the disparities is not yet clear. Many theories have been devised in an attempt to explain the disparities. The theory of syndemic production proposed that the health problems of the LGBT communities are the result of gay-related stressors such as harassment and discrimination that begin very early in life and continue throughout the life course. Discrimination can take the form of bullying by peers in school, legal discrimination by employers and other social barriers that are there at different stages of life. Therefore, the persistent psychological stress that is associated with this discrimination could be the underlying causal mechanism of the life-long health disparities as well as the increased rates of substance use. As stated before, the LGBT individuals are also discriminated by their family members. Such a rejection could be the main cause of the mental health problems experienced by the LGBT persons. Ryan, Huebner, Diaz, & Sanchez, (2009) examined the specific rejecting reactions to sexual orientation and gender expression during adolescence. The rejection could be used to predict the current health problems of the lesbian, gay, and bisexual teenagers. The study found that higher rates of rejection had a significant effect on the health outcomes. On the basis of ratios, the gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth who reported higher levels of family rejection during adolescence were more likely to attempt suicide, get depressed, to engage in unprotected sex and more likely to use illegal drugs. The study brought out a very clear link between the specific parental rejecting behaviors and the negative mental health problems in the young lesbians, gays, and bisexual adults. In families where the rejection was high, the mental health disorders such as depression were adverse. The study suggested that parents should be educated on how to handle teenagers who happen to be among the LGBT individuals. Such an intervention would help to reduce the number of LGBT teenagers who are homeless, or in juvenile detention. How discrimination and Microaggressions contribute to other quality of life issues for LGBT individuals The term quality of life defines the “general well-being of a person or society, defined in terms of health and happiness”. As it was stated earlier, the discriminations and microaggressions faced by the LGBT individuals contribute to poor health. The poor health contributes to a low quality of life. The discrimination robs off these individuals, their happiness. In many countries, LGBT individuals are treated like criminals. Many LGBT couples are denied the right to live together and forced to liver on their own after retirement. Such people have very few opportunities for social interactions. Living alone proves to be very unhappy. For instance, in a school setting, the negative school climate can have adverse effects on the academic outcomes for the LGBT youth. KOSCIW, PALMER, KULL, & Greytak, (2012) investigated the role of in – school supports as well as the effect of the negative school climate on academic outcomes using a sample of some 5730 LGBT youth who did attend secondary schools in the United States. The results showed that victimization was a great contributor to the lower self – esteem as well as the academic outcomes. On the other hand, school – based support led to lower victimization and better academic outcomes. The study suggested that a curriculum that is inclusive of the diverse groups would promote respect as well as equality to all. Curricula inclusion could motivate an LGBT student to engage in school work, and the general outcome would, therefore, be good academic achievements. It is necessary for all schools to prove to be a haven for everyone, including the LGBT individuals. If a school has a policy that provides protection regarding sexual orientation and identity, such an institution would be demonstrating to an LGBT student that it is an affirming environment, thus enhancing the self-esteem of such a student[KOS12]. The quality of life among many LGBT individuals is lowered by fear. Discrimination creates a sense of not belonging. For instance, many among these individual fail to make their relationships public. Instead, same-sex couples tend to follow the Live Apart Together lifestyle. They live in different household while keeping their relationship as a secret (Charles Q. Strohm, 2009). Furthermore, in many countries, same-sex couples are usually denied the custody of children. Therefore, they fail to enjoy life in a complete family. More emotional, as well as health damage, is attributed to poor treatment in the places of service as well as the workplaces. The people who hold positions of service in the society have been treating the LGBT persons as less humans. In some medical schools, we have several heterosexual doctors and nurses who harbor negative attitudes towards the lesbians and gay patients as well as colleagues. The stage is set for an unwelcoming place of work. Their colleagues have denied many among the LGBT people referrals. Some have reported cases of harassment by colleagues in the workplace. In many healthcare facilities, patients have been given discriminatory treatment. Certainly, it is evident that LGBT issues are being ignored, and the fashion of operation is filled with discrimination and other forms of microaggressions[Eli11]. Conclusion Discrimination and microaggressions against the LGBT individuals are the leading contributors in the increased cases of mental health issues together with substance abuse. In the face of microaggressions, a person may feel rejected and hopeless. This rejection together with the lack of hope in turn leads to stress. When a person is overwhelmed by stress, the body reacts. The end result is depression, low self-esteem, increased anxiety, and self-hatred. Such factors may lead in to calamity. Suicidal thoughts may enter the brain, and an innocent individual may be tempted to take his or her life. The possibility of insanity is also very high. When the brain tries to hold the stress and depression, it becomes overly loaded and fails to function properly. That way, a person becomes crazy. In an attempt to calm oneself, many individuals who are going through stigmatization problems seek solace in the use and abuse of substances. Increased stress and brain fatigue call for the use of substances that may bring a calming effect. Continuous use leads to addiction. That is why many people among the LGBT individuals are so much into drugs. Any life that is characterized by poor health and substance abuse is of low quality. On top of this, the quality of life ami=ong many LGBT individuals is lowered even more by social discriminations. These people are denied many rights and privileges. For instance, same-sex marriages are outlawed in many countries. Therefore, lesbians and gays can not enjoy their wedding. Furthermore, same-sex couples are denied the right to foster or adopt children. Therefore, they live in incomplete families. In many countries, LGBT individuals are denied their retirement benefits and forced to live alone. If an LGBT individual is working in any institution, he/she is treated unfairly. Additionally, LGBT individuals are given low-quality services in hospitals and other public places. Such treatment makes life a living hell for these group of people. The quality of life is very low. There is a need to devise ways that can be used to alleviate any discriminations and microaggressions against the LGBT community. References Charles Q. Strohm, Vickie M. Mays. '“Living Apart Together” Relationships In The United States'. Demographic research 21 (2009): 177. Web. 24 May 2015. KOS12: , (KOSCIW, PALMER, KULL, & Greytak, 2012), Eli11: , (Eliason, Dibble , & Robertson, 2011), Read More