LGBT Community More Aware of Gender Inequality

Walk in someone else’s shoes…

by Angela Minor, 10,000 Couples  --  August 17, 2010 

Polling public opinion is a favorite pastime in America. We have “representative sampling” on all manner of topics from politics to fast food. The results are often presented in news formats, intimating that these opinions are “facts.” Occasionally, these results are indeed closer to factual than many would like to admit! Such is the case in the latest Harris Poll (www.witeckcombs.com/news/releases/20100817_harris.pdf ) on the topic of gender equality.

The purpose of the poll was not to question whether the playing field between women and men is level, since most are in agreement that it is not. The purpose was to measure the perceptions of hetero respondents compared to gay respondents. When asked if it is true that gender equality is balanced and “fine” between the sexes, 55% of men agreed and 32% of women agreed (in the hetero responses). In the LGBT community, only 32% of men and 22% of women agreed.

The largest difference was reflected in the responses to whether the U. S. has “a long way to go to reach complete gender equality.” Fifty-two percent of hetero men and 74% of women agreed. In comparison, 73% of all LGBT respondents agreed, with 95% of lesbians in agreement!

The results may seem surprising in the straight world, but not so much in the LGBT community. The enlightened responses from gay men indicate the ability to recognize gender inequality that exceeds the levels of understanding in their hetero counterparts. Lesbian responses arise from the life experiences of living as women, with women. This is particularly evident in the responses regarding the workplace where 93% of lesbians (69% of gay men) agree that discrimination is still the norm.

Perhaps the generally poor showing from the hetero respondents, in particular the males, has more to do with lack of information. We in the LGBT community have the unique opportunity to empathize with others who face inequality, no matter the particular circumstance. While this capacity exists in the hetero community, every lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individual lives every day with the struggles of equality. Perhaps a walk in someone else’s shoes would be a worthy exercise for people of all demographics.

photo of Erik and Andrew's wedding from A Marriage Built on Chance & Choice