Minority Identity Research Articles

An Analysis of the Recently Issued Language Policy in IOK: Process, Causes and Influences

The language policy in IOK (Indian occupied Kashmir, i.e. Jammu and Kashmir) has been changed recently and a new “five official languages” policy has been established. This paper untangles the three steps of the language policy change: modifying the Constitution, enacting The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 and passing The Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Act, 2020 and reveals the root causes of the change by collecting data from the media and historical documents. Results show that the language policy change in this area has been affected by many factors such as Hindu Chauvinism, the nation-state ideology, local identity, and issues of minorities’ language right. This paper then makes a further analysis of the possible influences of the new policy: exacerbating religious disputes, aggravating separatism, and undermining social justice and complicating the regional situation. The implication can be made from the language policy change in IOK is that language policy should be made based on the language-as-resource orientation and a comprehensive analysis of the specific historical and social conditions of a country or an area so that it can promote social harmony.

A secondary data analysis of colorectal cancer screening among males assigned at birth: Differences by sexual orientation and race/ethnicity.

3529 Background: We have limited information on CRC screening disparities in people of color (POC) with sexual minority identity. Methods: We analyzed the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS) data of males assigned at birth age 50-75 years for up-to-date CRC screening. Descriptive analyses in demographics, socioeconomics, healthy behaviors, and CRC screening were conducted by race/ethnicity, followed by multivariable regressions to identify predictors of CRC screening stratified by race/ethnicity. Results: About 67.70% of eligible males reported having an up-to-date CRC screening that met the USPSTF guideline, with the highest rate among gay men (74.92%) and the lowest among bisexual men (65.35%; p = 0.0024). Non-Hispanic Whites had the higher rates of receiving CRC screening across all groups (p < 0.010). In the adjusted multivariable logistic models for NH-White males, gay men (1.52, 95% CI: 1.20-1.91), non-current smokers (1.56, 95% CI: 1.44-1.69), being overweight/obese (1.15, 95%CI: 1.07-1.23), and being physically active (1.08, 95%CI: 1.00-1.16) had greater odds of having CRC screening. Similar patterns were not found in Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black males. Gay men (3.88, 95% CI: 1.51-9.98) had greater odds of CRC screening in Hispanics, whereas being a non-current smoker (1.42, 95%CI: 1.13-1.79) was a significant factor in NH-Blacks. Health insurance coverage was a significant factor across all racial/ethnic groups. Conclusions: CRC screening disparities were most pronounced among racial/ethnic minority males. Future work on developing tailored CRC screening programs for racial/ethnic subgroups using an intersectional framework is warranted to elucidate observed heterogeneity across race/ethnicity and sexual orientation.

ГИБРИДНАЯ ИДЕНТИЧНОСТЬ: ФАКТОРЫ ФОРМИРОВАНИЯ И ФОРМЫ ПРОЯВЛЕНИЯ

 Objective of the study is conceptualization of the concept of "hybrid identity". Research tasks: to identify factors in the formation of a hybrid identity; identify forms of manifestation of hybrid identity. Methodological basis of the research. The main methods used in the study were the methods of conceptualization and categorization, cross-cultural sociology, psychology and cultural studies aimed at identifying cultural or subcultural boundaries of communities, detecting structural components and properties of cultural boundaries, analyzing the dominance of certain cultural features, as well as discourse about hybridity, discourse about marginality, analysis of mixed social phenomena, as well as the functional concept of integration. Research results. The article deals with hybrid identity, which is interpreted as a mixture of traditions, beliefs, cultural customs, languages and social practices. The mechanisms of hybrid identification are based on social hybridization in the form of a hybrid social space, expressed in a mixture of territorial and geographical locations, political, economic, sociocultural, generational and ethnic boundaries and subcultures. The process of social hybridization is considered as the main factor in the formation of a hybrid identity. Hybridization is interpreted as a social process that is associated with the intensification of social flows, including migrant flows, with the interdependence of globalization and localization, the erosion of individual cultures and multicultural integration. The main forms of hybrid identity are manifested in the identity of national minorities, migrants and migrant diasporas, identity in social networks and virtual communities in the form of a mixture of cultures offline and online. One of the trends of modern social dynamics is revealed, which is expressed in the hybridization of all modern institutional relations, including the hybridization of state and social institutions and relevant social processes. Prospects of the study are related to the trend identified in the course of the study – the trend of hybridization of all modern institutional relations, including the hybridization of state and social institutions and relevant social processes.

Model of motivations for engaging in polyamorous relationships

Polyamory is a form of consensual non-monogamy (CNM) based on the belief that people can participate in and build multiple romantic and/or sexual relationships with the consent of all involved. This form of CNM relationship is increasingly visible in societies where monogamy is a prevalent norm. Research in the field of polyamory has yielded many findings regarding the multiple relational benefits of polyamory. However, there is a limited number of studies in the literature focusing specifically on why some people find polyamory more appealing than an exclusive, dyadic partner relationship. Therefore, framed within the historical context in which polyamory emerged and the associated stigmatization, this study presents a model of the psychological motivations for considering/engaging in/remaining in a polyamorous relationship in an era when monogamy and the binary nature of intimate and sexual relationships is being deconstructed. The study is based on a secondary theoretical analysis of recent psychological studies on polyamory, discussed in light of the relevant psychological theories of motivation. The result is an 8-component model of diverse potential polyamory motivations, individually or in aggregate. The motivations were organized into eight domains: fulfilment of needs not met in a monogamous relationship; personal growth and autonomy; identity development and polyamory; expression of political values; exploring minority identities (sexual fluidity and bisexuality); need to belong to a community; desire for sexual diversity; and psychodynamic reasons. This study also shows there may be diversified need of psychotherapeutic approaches for polyamorous individuals.

Minority Stress, Identity Conflict, and HIV-Related Outcomes Among Men Who Have Sex with Men, Transgender Women, and Gender Nonbinary People of Color.

Purpose: This study investigated conflict between sexual orientation and racial/ethnic identities as a mechanism linking minority stress to HIV-related outcomes among men who have sex with men (MSM), transgender women and gender nonbinary (TGN) people of color (POC). Methods: We tested longitudinal mediation models with sexual orientation microaggressions, internalized heterosexism (IH), and sexual orientation concealment at Time 1, and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use and number of condomless anal sex (CAS) partners at Time 3, mediated by identity conflict at Time 2. Participants were 337 MSM and TGN POC. Data were collected in Chicago, Illinois, from September 2018 to February 2021. Results: Indirect associations of IH and sexual orientation concealment, respectively, at Time 1 with CAS partners at Time 3 through identity conflict at Time 2 were significant. Mediation models with sexual orientation microaggressions as the predictor and PrEP use as the outcome were not significant. Conclusion: Minority stress may contribute to identity conflict and increase CAS by isolating MSM and TGN POC from sexual and gender minority communities, thus restricting access to safer sex resources, and by increasing psychological distress and decreasing self-care (e.g., condom use).

Socioeconomic status and eating disorder prevalence: at the intersections of gender identity, sexual orientation, and race/ethnicity.

Longstanding biases have fostered the erroneous notion that only those of higher socioeconomic status (SES) experience eating disorders (EDs); however, EDs present across all SES strata. Considering the dearth of ED research among those of lower SES, this study examined (1) the overall association between SES and ED prevalence, and (2) ED prevalence in the context of four relevant social identities (i.e. SES, gender identity, sexual orientation, and race/ethnicity) from an intersectional perspective, as unique combinations of multiple social identities may differentially influence risk. A sample of 120 891 undergraduate/graduate students from the Healthy Minds Study self-reported family SES with a single-item question, gender identity, sexual orientation, and race/ethnicity, and were screened for ED risk. Participants of lower SES had 1.27 (95% CI 1.25-1.30) times greater prevalence of a positive ED screen than those of higher SES. Substantial heterogeneity was observed across the four social identities beyond the association with SES. For example, positive ED screens were particularly common among lower SES, Latinx, sexual minority cisgender men and women, with 52% of bisexual men and 52% of lesbian women of Latinx ethnicity and lower SES screening positive. Although positive ED screens were more common among undergraduate/graduate students of lower SES, the particularly high ED risk reported by certain groups of lower SES with multiple minority identities reinforces the importance of investigating multi-layered constructs of identity when identifying groups at disproportionate risk.

Effects of “It Gets Better” Suicide Prevention Videos on Youth Identifying as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, or Other Sexual or Gender Minorities: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Purpose:The “It Gets Better” project (IGBP) features video narratives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer persons or persons with other sexual or gender minority identities (LGBTQ+) of overcoming coming-out-related difficulties. This is the first experimental study investigating effects of these videos.Methods:We conducted a double-blind randomized controlled trial on-site in Austria and online in German-language settings from January to November 2020 with LGBTQ+ youth (14–22 years; n = 483), randomized to an IGBP (n = 242) or control video (n = 241). Suicidal ideation (primary outcome), help-seeking intentions, hopelessness, mood, and sexual identity were assessed at baseline (T1), postexposure (T2), and 4-week follow-up (T3). We assessed differences among gender identities, sexual orientations, with regard to depressive symptoms, and the role of identification. Data were analyzed with linear mixed models and mediation analysis.Results:There was no overall effect on suicidal ideation, but nonbinary/transgender individuals experienced a small-sized improvement (T2: mean change [MC] from baseline MC = −0.06 [95% confidence interval {CI} −0.16 to 0.05], p = 0.60; mean difference [MD] to controls MD = −0.42 [95% CI −0.79 to −0.06], p = 0.02, d = −0.10). An indirect preventive effect on suicidal ideation at T2 through the degree of identification with the protagonist in the video was observed. There was improvement in help-seeking intentions in the intervention group (T2: MC = 0.25 [95% CI 0.15 to 0.35], p < 0.001; MD = 0.28 [95% CI 0.01 to 0.54], p < 0.05, d = 0.09).Conclusion:Video narratives featuring coping might have some potential to decrease suicidal ideation and encourage help-seeking among vulnerable youth identifying with videos, but effects are small and short-lived.Study Registration:German Clinical Trial Registry (DRKS00019913).

STIs and Stigma: Effects of STI Diagnoses and Sexual/Gender Minority Identity on Perceptions of Potential Partners

This study tested how an STI diagnosis influences perceptions of hypothetical romantic/sexual partners. In an online experiment, participants (n = 189) were randomly assigned to one of five vignette conditions, which varied in how a potential partner’s STI status was described. HSV or HIV-positive status (with treatment) decreased the likelihood that participants would have sex or a relationship with the target. However, LGBTQ participants were less likely to consider an STI diagnosis a deal-breaker relative to cisgender, heterosexual participants. Results highlight a need for accurate sex education content about living with treatable but incurable STIs.

Daily stress and relationship quality: A two-decade scoping review from an intersectional lens

Within relationship research, a great deal of attention is given to emphasizing the interpersonal context related to daily stress and its association with relationship well-being. However, apart from the interpersonal context in which stress may occur, one must consider individual, sociocultural, and systemic factors associated with these daily experiences. Taking an intersectional focus, this systematic review aimed to critically examine the extant research on daily stress and romantic relationship quality from the past two decades, answering three guiding questions: (RQ1) From whose vantage point has the research been conducted? (RQ2) What types of questions have been valued? (RQ3) Whose voices have been included (and excluded)? Using a scoping review methodology, we identified 23 articles meeting inclusion criteria (empirical studies that used daily methodologies, focused on romantic relationships, and examined associations between stress or stressors and relationship quality). Findings revealed most of this research was conducted by researchers in Psychology and Family Studies (or related disciplines) working in the U.S. (RQ1). Studies were quantitative and largely dyadic, often adopting theoretical perspectives without particular theorizing on context and identity (RQ2). Samples were predominantly White, U.S.-based, and comprised of different-sex couples (RQ3). In addition, studies typically did not report (or excluded from analyses) demographics related to cisnormativity/cissexism, heteronormativity/heterosexism, ableism, and placeism/Western industrialized rich democratic samples. Finally, even though studies often included participants from different age groups, races, and social classes, minority and underserved identities were under-represented. We conclude with specific recommendations for future research aimed to remedy these limitations to advance further the decolonization of the research on daily stress and relationship quality.

Sexual and Gender Minority Identity Disclosure from Undergraduate to Graduate Medical Education: Perceptions of Professional “Outness” Among Medical Students

Increasingly, medical schools and residency programs seek to recruit trainees from diverse backgrounds, including sexual and gender minority (SGM) people. However, many trainees do not disclose their SGM identity during medical training due to fear of discrimination, which remains a challenge for institutional diversity and inclusion efforts. Despite this, relatively few studies have rigorously quantified trainees’ SGM identity self-disclosure across different stages of medical training. In 2018 and 2019, the Medical Student Pride Alliance (MSPA) distributed a 33-item online questionnaire interrogating practices and attitudes about SGM identity disclosure to medical students at allopathic and osteopathic medical schools in the United States. Here, we analyze these data to compare 1) the degree to which medical students disclose SGM identity in various professional contexts during undergraduate and graduate medical training and 2) students’ attitudes regarding SGM identity disclosure across those contexts. Overall, 1,162 medical students from 125 medical schools responded to the survey. Of these respondents, 629 (54%) were SGM-identified. Among SGM-identified respondents, students were most likely to report SGM identity self-disclosure to peers (91%) and least likely to report SGM identity self-disclosure on applications to residency or post-doctoral work (29%). Cisgender women were less likely to report SGM identity self-disclosure than other genders, and students performing research were more likely to report SGM identity self-disclosure among mentors. Overall, most (&gt;90%) survey respondents supported trainees’ ability to disclose their sexual orientation or gender identity during medical training. This exploratory study provides preliminary evidence that SGM-identifying medical students often do not disclose their sexual orientation or gender identity in evaluative professional contexts. Future work should assess this phenomenon in a larger national sample and propose targeted policies to support SGM inclusion throughout medical training in general and on applications to graduate medical education specifically.

Ethnic Minority Women’s Writing in France: Publishing Practices and Identity Formation, 1998–2005. By Claire Mouflard

In this book Claire Mouflard analyses the interplay between texts, paratexts, and epitexts to investigate how minority women’s identity construction was negotiated alongside the ‘utopic notion of French multiculturalism’ (p. 17). The book’s tightly focused chronological scope and narrow consideration of autobiographical and autofictional works enables Mouflard’s comparative approach, which draws together works published in France by female authors of North African, sub-Saharan African, and Vietnamese descent. Pairing original research into publishers’ archival materials with more traditional literary and (para)textual analyses, the book illustrates how many of the authors it considers ‘were fashioned according to gendered and colonial marketing practices’ (p. 8). Above all, Mouflard’s female-centric comparative focus on both those positionalities explicitly cognized under the banner of French multiculturalism (especially the ‘Black-Blanc-Beur’ refrain) and those who sat ‘outside of the millennium’s reductive multicultural utopia’ (notably, Franco-Vietnamese authors; p. 17), adds much to French cultural studies, race and ethnicity studies, and discussions around twentieth- and twenty-first-century French publishing politics. After an Introduction and contextualizing first chapter, each chapter then focuses on works by several female authors belonging to — or categorized as — one minority positionality. In Chapter 2, Mouflard shows how the paratexts of works by three authors officially branded as ‘Beur’ (Samira Bellil, Nina Bouraoui, and Nora Hamdi) also implicitly think of the authors along a secondary axis: banlieue or intégrée. In Chapter 3, Mouflard focuses on the paratextual construction of ‘Black’ and ‘Afro-French’ identities through works by Calixthe Beyala, Bessora, and Fatou Diome. As in Chapter 2, Mouflard traces a range of identity constructions: from Beyala’s ‘tokenization’ to Bessora’s ‘global and multifaceted black identity’ and Diome’s strategic use of the ‘epitext’ (p. 9). Finally, in Chapter 4, the focus turns to a group conspicuously absent from the ‘Black-Blanc-Beur’ formulation: Franco-Vietnamese authors. Here, Mouflard shows how publishers’ paratextual strategies branded Anna Moï and Linda Lê as ‘near-French’ literature though not without Orientalist echoes (p. 117; my emphasis). Beyond analysing how (para)texts construct gendered minority identities, Mouflard also adds depth to existing studies of the politics of metropolitan publishers and their lists, such as Gallimard’s ‘Collection blanche’ or Éditions de l’Aube’s ‘Regards croisés’. Mouflard’s original research into publishing houses’ archival records, notably those of Albin Michel (publisher of Beyala) and Christian Bourgois (publisher for Lê) in Chapter 1, unquestionably furthers existing conversations about some of the better-known authors she studies and her close readings of individual paratexts — especially those examining works’ multiple editions — are engaging and persuasive. While more time might have been spent discussing whether and how this period marks a radical break from prior or later publishing trends and unpacking whether the conclusions drawn in each case are most attributable to individual publishers, editors, or to broader, even universal publishing practices, Mouflard’s book nevertheless constitutes an important contribution to contemporary French cultural and literary studies. Above all, readers curious about the literary construction and the packaging of female minority positionalities in France will discover much to interest them.

Citizens’ choice to voice in response to administrative burdens

Public-administration research analyzes the variation in citizens’ experiences of administrative burdens, yet it is almost silent regarding their propensity to challenge bureaucratic hurdles. This article analyzes welfare applicants’ inclination to provide a bureaucracy with critical feedback regarding their experience of administrative burdens. We demonstrate that citizens’ minority identity and its intersection with gender, and prior reliance on means-tested benefits reduce their inclination to convey criticism, whereas academic education enhances it. The concrete research setting indicates that citizens’ objective knowledge and skills cannot account for the variation that we find. Drawing on supplementary analysis, we suggest that citizens’ internal self-efficacy, as well as their internalization of their social standing vis-à-vis bureaucracy, shape their voice behavior. These findings imply that the feedback that bureaucracies receive, and the problems that they are therefore more likely to rectify, pertain to those of citizens who are objectively and subjectively less burdened than others.

Effective and Affirming Communication with Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Patients

Bias is an important but often misunderstood factor in our learning. Too often, when faced with a novel or uncomfortable situation or set of facts, we fall back on what feels comfortable or familiar to us or adopt a stance of “neutrality.” In this instance, neutrality indicates deference to the status quo and an assumption of heteronormative and cisgender identities. Unfortunately, in medical education, this stance can effectively erase or make invisible those patients that do have unique needs, and for whom an awareness of minority identities can make the difference between affirming and competent care, or merely adequate care, or, at worst, stigmatizing care. In this roundtable discussion, we will explore methods by which clinicians and practitioners can utilize more inclusive, non‐stigmatizing, and exploratory language to create more effective, affirming, and inclusive learning environments. Critical to this practice is the knowledge and exploration of our biases and how they affect our assumptions and interactions, and what we can do to help moderate their potential influence, both in education and in practice.

“The Most Exotic was the Owner of the Pizzeria” - Exploring the Relationship between Subjective Diversity and Ethnic Identity

ABSTRACT The aim of the present study was to examine how Swedish youth a) experience diversity and b) link those diversity experiences to their identities. Using a mixed-method approach, we coded written narratives for type of diversity experience, meaning-making, and analyzed qualitative differences due to the proximity of the setting and self-defined in- and outgroups. Out of 197 participants (age 15–29), 63 (31.5%) wrote about diversity in their narratives, and of those, 55 (87%) derived meaning about themselves or others. Qualitative differences were found between participants who self-identified with a majority, minority, or mixed ethnic identities. Youth who identified with a majority identity generally experienced being in the majority in the macro-setting while a lack of diversity in their micro-settings, and mainly derived meanings related to the ethnic identities of others. Youth who identified with minority or mixed ethnic identities, experienced being the minority in both micro- and macro-settings, and mainly derived meanings related to their own ethnic identity, such as enhanced identities or issues of belongingness. Results suggest that experiences of diversity trigger ethnic identity development, however, in a segregated society with unequal opportunities and power relations, those experiences and how they inform ethnic identity significantly vary significantly due to background.

‘I’m me, and I’m Chinese and also transgender’: coming out complexities of Asian-Canadian transgender youth

The complexities of developing and disclosing multiple, marginalized, minority identities is theoretically recognized by Minority Stress Theory and the concept of intersectionality; however, the experiences of people living at these intersections, such as Asian transgender youth, are under-examined. Consequently, they remain a largely erased community, often excluded from the research and services that are assumed to include them. The present study attempted to ameliorate this erasure by examining the coming out experiences of eight Asian-Canadian transgender youth. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was utilized from Minority Stress Theory and intersectional perspectives to advance understanding of their coming out experiences and the contexts that maintain their marginalization. Semi-structured individual interviews elicited three themes: (a) Maintaining Family Cohesion; (b) Experiencing Adultism; and (c) Creating Community. Implications for service provision and future research are discussed with emphasis on attending to their whole personhood, which necessarily includes the individual, their community, and the systemic structures that perpetuate oppression.

“Who is the mum? Who is the dad?”: Same-sex couples’ motivations for and experiences of parenthood

This research is an interpretative phenomenological analysis of same-sex couples’ decision-making process and experience when starting a family. Four same-sex couples with children participated in virtual semi-structured interviews. There is limited sociological research offering in-depth analysis of the relationship between sexual minority identities and the motivations, desires, and experiences of parenthood. This research reveals an array of complexities in the timing of parenthood. Participants also discuss the importance of financial and relationship stability before starting a family and the challenges and uncertainties throughout their unique adoption and IVF journeys. Moreover, participants reported the ongoing impact of the institutions of, and assumptions underpinning, heteronormativity on their experiences as a family, as well as the coping mechanisms they employed to counteract the consequences of heteronormativity.

Chained multimediator model of sexual orientation disclosure, sexual minority stigma, sexual minority identity, social support, and resilience among ymsms

IntroductionThis study aimed to investigate sexual orientation disclosure and mental health among young men who have sex with men (YMSMs). To this end, we constructed a chained multimediator model of sexual minority stigma, sexual minority identity, social support, and resilience, with the moderator of sexual orientation disclosure.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional survey of 345 YMSMs in Nanning, China. Bivariate analysis was used to evaluate factors associated with sexual orientation disclosure. Sexual minority stigma was used to predict identity, with social support as the step 1 mediator and resilience as the step 2 mediator. Sexual minority identity was analyzed using a chained moderated mediation model; sexual orientation disclosure was included as a moderator in all models to control its confounding effect.ResultsThe average age of YMSMs was 20.0 ± 1.3 years. Bivariate analysis indicated that YMSMs who disclosed sexual orientation may have experienced less stigma (15.49 ± 3.02 vs 16.21 ± 2.74), obtained more social support (65.98 ± 11.18 vs 63.19 ± 11.13), had strong psychological resilience (37.40 ± 8.57 vs 35.39 ± 7.73), and had a more positive self-identity (104.12 ± 21.10 vs 95.35 ± 16.67); differences between subgroups were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Sexual minority stigma, perceived stigma, and enacted stigma were significantly associated with social support and resilience. The association between sexual minority stigma and sexual minority identity was significantly mediated by social support (indirect effect [95% CI] = − 3.307 [− 4.782, − 1.907]). Resilience significantly mediated the same association for identity (− 2.544 [− 4.052, − 1.114]). The chained relationship from sexual minority stigma to social support, resilience, and identity was also significant, with an indirect effect of − 0.404 [− 0.621, − 0.249].ConclusionAmong YMSMs in China, sexual minority stigma affects sexual minority identity through social support and resilience. Given the psychological effects of stigma, social support and resilience must be considered to better promote positive self-identity and mental health among YMSMs.

A Mixed Methods Evaluation of an Integrated Primary and Behavioral Health Training Program for Counseling Students

Behavioral health provider shortages continue to grow in the United States, with the need for related services increasing as the SARS-COVID-19 pandemic persists. The implementation of integrated primary and behavioral healthcare (IPBH) practices represents one viable approach to leverage existing resources and maximize the potential for client outcomes; however, best practices for counselors within an IPBH paradigm remain unclear. We report the findings of a mixed method evaluation of an IPBH training program with 45 (36 females; 9 males; M age = 31.65) professional counseling students who predominately identified with ethnic minority identities (55%), urban residences (66%), and disadvantaged backgrounds (44%). We detected statistically and practically significant changes in self-efficacy (p = .01, d = .55) and interprofessional valuing and socialization (p < .01, d = .76), but mixed findings for variables associated with multicultural competence. Stakeholder interviews and document analysis identified four key facilitators (Financial Support; Facilitated Engagement; Witnessing Collaboration; Holistic Representation of Clients and Client Care) and four barriers (Awareness Raising and Recruitment; Logistics and Coordination; Inconsistent Culture of IPBH; Momentum Maintenance) to program success.

Progressive, but promiscuous and confused: perceptions of sexual minority identity labels in a nationally representative sample

ABSTRACT Selecting and sharing a sexual identity label can be a significant and stressful process for lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) people. We previously found that using explicit (e.g. Mark is gay) and implicit (e.g. Mark is attracted to men) sexual identity labels mostly led to positive perceptions (e.g. more proud, likeable, resilient), in a sample of university students who were predominantly young, liberal women. We sought to extend these findings and determine whether a sample from the United States would rate characters identified as LGB more negatively. To this end, a nationally representative sample (N= 510) was recruited via Prolific and, participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: explicit, implicit, or no labels. Participants read short biographical vignettes with one set of labels and provided ratings of the characters on positive, negative, and neutral traits. As hypothesised, explicit and implicit labels for LGB characters generally led to higher ratings on negative traits (e.g. confused, perverted, and promiscuous), but also increased ratings on one positive trait (progressive). Taken together with our previous findings, individuals described with sexual minority identity labels are likely to be perceived more positively in liberal-leaning environments, such as universities, but more negatively in the general population.

Conflict in Kashmir and Manipur: history, ethnicity, gender

PurposeThis paper aims to focus on the conflict in the Indian states of Kashmir and Manipur. It situates both conflicts within a historical frame to underscore their origins in history. Using a comparative, inter-disciplinary lens, the paper foregrounds the political, empirical and gendered similarities in both conflict zones. The human cost of modern India’s project of integrating historically autonomous, ethnically distinct and geographically disparate regions of Kashmir and Manipur is illustrated. By way of conclusion, the paper suggests institutional respect for, and accommodation of, ethnic minority history, identity and aspiration, as an ethical, democratic way forward towards conflict resolution.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses a relatively lesser used comparative, critical inter-disciplinary approach towards examining ethnic conflict. Contrary to ahistorical normative approaches focused on individual ethnic conflict, or the conventional assumption that the ethnic conflicts in India are necessarily mutually exclusive, this paper uses a comparative frame to underscore the shared historical origins and common empirical realities of the conflicts in Kashmir and Manipur. This particular approach reframes conventional epistemic debates on conflict in ways that offer a deeper, more nuanced understanding of the same.FindingsThis paper underscores the critical importance of a historically informed approach to conflict and conflict resolution in India’s ethnic borderlands. Challenging statist approaches based on coercion and repression, the paper underscores the need for respect and accommodation of ethnic minority history, identity and aspiration as essential conditions towards a just and enduring peace in both regions.Originality/valueWith exceptions, a comparative approach to conflict studies in India is relatively rare. To this extent, this paper diverges from mainstream approaches. Further, in contrast to studies focused on individual conflicts examined within a single disciplinary analytic frame, this paper uses an inter-disciplinary, intersectional approach to conflict studies. By capturing the converging historical political, social, human and gendered fields of conflict in Kashmir and Manipur, this paper offers a richer, more sophisticated understanding of the character of conflict in India.