Systemic and Institutionalized Forms of Discrimination Impact Mental Health, Career Progression, and Social Mobility for Queer Individuals
Most people know that being queer is about gender identity and sexual orientation. This means that it's about who you are attracted to and how your gender identity fits into society's expectations. But there's more to it than that. Being queer also means having to deal with systemic and institutionalized forms of discrimination. These types of discrimination can have serious effects on mental health, career progression, and social mobility.
Systemic and institutionalized forms of discrimination refer to how society treats LGBTQ+ individuals. It includes things like laws that make it hard for them to get married, adopt children, or live together as couples. It also refers to how they're treated in schools, workplaces, and other public places. And it affects their mental health, career progression, and social mobility.
Mental Health
When someone faces discrimination because of their gender identity or sexuality, it can be hard for them to feel safe and secure. They may feel afraid to come out or be themselves around others. This can lead to depression, anxiety, and even suicidal thoughts. Research shows that LGBTQ+ people are three times more likely to suffer from a mental illness than heterosexual people.
Career Progression
Discrimination can also make it hard for queer people to advance in their careers. Many employers don't hire or promote LGBTQ+ employees, and some states still let businesses fire workers just for being gay. This can mean lower wages and fewer opportunities for advancement. Queer people who do manage to find jobs often face microaggressions and hostile environments at work. This can lead to stress and burnout, which can hurt their productivity and effectiveness.
Social Mobility
Systemic and institutionalized discrimination can limit the ways queer people move up in society.
Same-sex marriage is only legal in some states, so queer couples might not have access to certain benefits or tax breaks. This makes it harder for them to buy a house or start a family. It can also make it hard for them to get good jobs or build wealth over time.
Systemic and institutionalized forms of discrimination have a big impact on the lives of queer individuals. They affect everything from mental health to career progression to social mobility. We need to address this issue if we want our society to be truly inclusive and fair.
How do systemic and institutionalized forms of discrimination impact mental health, career progression, and social mobility for queer individuals?
Systemic and institutionalized forms of discrimination have a significant impact on the mental health, career progression, and social mobility of queer individuals. Studies have shown that queer people are more likely to experience higher rates of depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, substance abuse, and other mental health issues compared to their heterosexual counterparts due to the stress and stigma associated with being openly LGBTQ+ (Liu et al.