Systemic Discrimination Impacts Career Advancement, Professional Opportunities, And Self-Efficacy In LGBTQ Individuals
The concept of systemic discrimination refers to prejudice that is ingrained in social systems such as education, employment, healthcare, housing, legal system, politics, and religion. This type of bias has adverse effects on career advancement, professional opportunities, and self-efficacy for LGBTQ individuals. Systemic discrimination occurs due to heteronormativity or a preference for heterosexuality. It is an unconscious or conscious belief that there are only two genders, male and female, and they should be coupled in a heterosexual relationship. As a result, people who identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, nonbinary, or questioning experience challenges in their careers.
A study conducted by the Williams Institute found that only one out of every three LGBTQ employees is open about their identity because they fear losing job opportunities and promotion. The study also indicated that over half of these employees have experienced workplace discrimination. They reported being denied promotions, unfair treatment in wages, and harassment based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Some were even fired for reporting instances of discrimination to supervisors. These findings indicate a negative impact of systemic discrimination on career advancement in LGBTQ individuals.
The same study highlighted that 36% of LGBTQ individuals had faced barriers when seeking professional development opportunities.
Some employers would not sponsor them for training programs or allow them to attend conferences.
Almost half of respondents said they felt less qualified than their peers despite having equivalent credentials. This implies a lack of equal access to professional resources due to discrimination against LGBTQ workers.
Systemic discrimination can affect self-efficacy, which refers to the confidence that someone has in their ability to achieve specific goals or tasks. According to a study published in the Journal of Counseling Psychology, LGBTQ individuals who face discrimination are more likely to report low self-esteem, depression, and anxiety. As a result, they may feel insecure about performing well at work, leading to poor productivity and low motivation levels. In turn, this can impede their performance and reduce chances of success, which ultimately undermines their career growth.
To address these challenges, organizations need to develop policies and practices that promote equality and inclusion.
Companies should provide diversity training, support LGBTQ employees through mentoring programs, and ensure fair hiring practices.
There is a need to establish protections for transgender people by including gender identity in anti-discrimination laws and providing health insurance coverage for gender transition procedures.
Individuals can advocate for themselves by seeking legal redress and joining professional associations that advocate for LGBTQ rights.
How does systemic discrimination affect career advancement, professional opportunities, and self-efficacy in LGBTQ individuals?
Systemic discrimination against LGBTQ individuals has been a major issue for decades and it still persists today. It leads to numerous barriers that prevent them from attaining career advancements, professional opportunities, and achieving self-efficacy. Studies show that workplace discrimination is one of the most significant factors leading to lower earnings, which makes it difficult to climb up the corporate ladder.