Research Rodeo 9
Hello everyone! Sadly, I missed last week because I was busy grading. I am now in summer break, enjoying focusing on my research and the newsletter! If you need me, I will be spending the days with nice weather in my outdoor office, which can be seen here:
I have come across a lot of amazing research these past few weeks so here is another research rodeo. I love doing these because I find that there is some amazing research out there in academia but it often does not get out to practitioners. This week, I have four articles, and please let me know if you want copies.
Harvey (2024) βWeβre Here, Weβre Queer, Get Used to Itβ: Advancing LGBTQ+-Inclusive Language in Public Health: Starting with an uncomfortable visit to the doctor as a queer-identifying person, Harvey asks how public health can be more queer inclusive. This includes allowing people to self-identify in their sexual orientation and/or gender identity and expression and create more education on LGBTQ+-inclusive language. This article is a great reminder of the way that medical professionals (as well as others in nonprofits) have power in their relationship with patients and clients. It is important for us, as nonprofit professionals, to think about how we can use that power to make the experience for our LGBTQIA+ clients better.
Mazursky & Nadan (2024) Unveiling the shadows: Exploring the reality of commercial sexual exploitation among LGBTQ+ youth in out-of-home care: When talking about the queer community, it is important to discuss sex work, as studies have shown that there is a higher level of sex work among LGBTQIA+ individuals. They identified four types of sex work:
Survival sex: Sex for money for basic needs, such as food and shelter.
Gray prostitution: Respondents engage in sexual acts to get material benefits such as a place to sleep.
Sugar daddy: Having an older person who takes care of financing and gifts in exchange for sex.
Sex work: Engaging in sex work as a profession.
It is important to have conversations about the experiences of LGBTQ+ youth who are in foster care and how to make sure that they are safe. Considering the high number of LGBTQIA+ children who are homeless and/or in foster care, safety and sex work are topics which need to be talked about honestly.
Fine et al. (2024) Website Content Analysis Of Fertility Care On LGBTQ Health Clinic Websites: Is More Awareness Needed? This article explores the websites of LGBTQ+ Health Clinics around the US to see if they discuss alternative fertility care, with a finding that all but four do not (one of the four that does includes my local LGBTQ+ health clinic, Fenway Health!). As mentioned above, LGBTQIA+ people often fear discrimination from doctors, so these clinics are crucial ways to get supportive care. Having more access to fertility care at these clinics would be a boon to LGBTQIA+ people looking to start a family. Creating better resources for family planning that are LGBTQIA+ specific and supportive is an important step for a community that is often told they cannot have children.
Millers & Lewis (2024) To Show or Not to Show: Factors within the School Environment That Influence the Expression of LGBTQ Identities Using liberation and oppression frameworks, this study explores why students in Australia feel comfortable expressing their identity. This study adds to the many other studies showing the importance of affirming teachers and environment to help people feel comfortable expressing themselves. We need to continue providing explicit support for LGBTQIA+ children. Itβs important for organizations to not just say that they support LGBTQIA+ people but show specifically how you will support LGBTQIA+ people. In other words, do not assume that people know that you are queer-supporting. Instead, constantly inform your clients and communities that you are supporting LGBTQIA+ individuals and identities and provide examples. Support for minority communities is not a one-time event but and ongoing thing.
I hope you all have a wonderful week, and I look forward to sending out another newsletter next week!