"That does not play a role here!" Institutions and Social Work: How they deal with LGBT-youths

Approximately 5-10 % of all people regard themselves as being lesbians, gay, bisexuals or transidents, thereby opposing the concept of heteronormativity. Often, LGBT-youths are hardly supported by their social environment and... [ view full abstract ]

Approximately 5-10 % of all people regard themselves as being lesbians, gay, bisexuals or transidents, thereby opposing the concept of heteronormativity. Often, LGBT-youths are hardly supported by their social environment and are frequently discriminated as others bully them, make fun of them or even lay violent hands on them. Marginalization and discrimination among crucial socialization centers such as family, school, peer group, leisure activities (clubs, associations, street work etc.), apprenticeship companies or the work place prevent LGBT-youths from admitting their sexual orientation as they are afraid of sanctions and reprisals. So far, institutions providing social work did hardly make adequate allowance for the needs and living situations of LGBT-youths (Rommelspacher 2007). Furthermore: Because LGBT Youth are afraid of discrimination they often stay invisible (Mesquita 2008) in institutions of Social Work. Therefore Social Workers often think that LGBT does not play a role in their work.
The research project aims to reconstruct and analyze everyday microaggressions (Sue 2010) and prejudices amongst social workers towards LGBT-youths and reveal the paradoxes between normative (ethical) standards of social work and structural discrimination via “Othering” processes and ignored LGBT-identities along the following questions:
What do social workers know about LGBT youth and their needs? How do they think their services can provide adequate support? How do they think they can make an adequate allowance for the needs and living situations of LGBT-youths in youth welfare? How can we educate the professionals for reflexive practice that prevents microaggressions towards LGBT-youths? The research shows the power of stereotypes and microaggressions of social workers and their impact in dealing with LGBT-youths. Furthermore the research shows how important a reflexive education is, that provides social workers with knowledge and skills to work with LGBT-youths. Therefore we ask how social workers can be educated for a non-discriminating practice with LGBT-youth.