The Feelings of Alienation That People of the LGBT Community Face Assignment.
The presence of labels plays a very instrumental role in society such that it accords
people a sense of belonging and identity. This is one of the structures that have been created by
most communities where people are acknowledged based on their careers, professions, families
and even sexual identities. The majority of people tend to opt for these labels as they offer an
immediate sense of security and tend to define the exact profile that a person prefers. The Feelings of Alienation That People of the LGBT Community Face Assignment. The
lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual community is one group in society that perhaps owns the
largest amount of labels due to the heightened level of criticism and concern that has arisen in
the contemporary times.
ORDER A CUSTOM-WRITTEN, PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER HERE
It is indisputable that acceptance and embracement of the LGBTQ community has
dragged over the years with most countries still considering them an outlawed group. This is a
factor that has infringed upon their ability to receive quality health care, human rights, spousal
benefits and even educational priorities. The hostility and bitterness that is directed towards this
category of people affects their social well being such that most of them prefer not to disclose
their identities so that they can be treated similarly to their heterosexual counterparts. This paper
is a comprehensive essay that explores the topic of the lesbian, gay, transgender and heterosexual
community in terms of the feelings of alienation and hostility that they face. The essay shall also
analyze how this treatment determines the manner in which it affects their relationship as a sole
individual and those within their immediate circles. The Feelings of Alienation That People of the LGBT Community Face Assignment.
Thesis Statement
The heightened risk faced by the lesbian, gay, transgender and even bisexual individuals
directly comprises the quality of life that they led in terms of social and economic well-being. The Feelings of Alienation That People of the LGBT Community Face Assignment.
a) Definition Of The Social Issue In Relation To Social Work
The field of sociology is tasked with the obligation of studying various issues that affect
the human population and subsequently providing explanations for the same. The existence of
victimization and alienation are two feelings that have always been witnessed in a community
especially when matters of unwanted change transpire (Carniol, 2005). The lesbian, gay,
transgender and bisexual movement is one of the groups that have faced constant rejection and
hatred from other people in the society. Further, there is a lot of stigmatization that befalls the
LGBT community simply because of their sexual orientation and preferences (Henslin, 2009).
There have been countable reports that some individuals have been considered as social
outcasts simply because of the path that they have taken when it comes to their sexual
orientation. The detriments of this high level of oppression, seclusion and even alienation affect
the quality of live that the LGBT community leads. The large portion of it can be seen within the
social circles where people require services such as medical care, education, interaction and even
investment for their own long-term benefit (Karen and Anna, 2010).
This shows that social work plays a very instrumental role in this issue, as it is the only
platform that can allow people to understand the lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual group
and subsequently reintegrate them as one of their own (Lennon and Delavega, 2015). The
following part of this essay discusses the core issues that are faced by the LGBT community with
specific focus to one social location.
b) Critical Reflection of the LGBT Issue With Regards To My Neighborhood as the Social
Perhaps the largest issue that is faced by people that claim to be lesbian, gay, transgender
or bisexual is their ability to come out openly about their true identity. Regardless of the fact that
most developed countries such as America, Canada, South Africa and even Australia have
legalized same-sex unions, there is still a lot of unacceptance and rebellion from within the
society (Murray, 2015). Hence, it still remains risky for some people to disclose who they really
are due to fear of being disowned or even rejected by their own families.
This is one of the issues that I have experienced firsthand, especially within the place
that I live. The fact that there are different kinds of people living around my neighborhood means
that there is a share number of people that belong to the LGBT community. I have seen some
men and boys being humiliated and ridiculed by their peers simply because they openly admit
their gay status. Similarly, lesbians, transgender and even bisexual individuals have a rough time
when people in my community get to learn about their sexual preferences. The Feelings of Alienation That People of the LGBT Community Face Assignment.This has had a number
of negative consequences where most of their lives have changed for worse.
To begin with, there are a number of people who have been thrown out of their homes
simply because of stating that they have a different taste when it comes to matters of sexuality
(Coon, 2012). What’s more, some other people have been out rightly locked out of the family’s
fortune for going against the expectations of their parents. This level of alienation goes beyond
the family unit and transcends into the larger society where other forms of maltreatment are
shown to people who are either lesbian, gay, transgender or bisexual (Erdley et al, 2014). For
instance, some people face a very difficult time in schools, colleges or even universities where
bullying takes center stage.
A number of students have confessed that they have been subjects of humiliation and
oppression once their sexual preferences were known. This has led them to face untold misery in the form of name-calling, ridicule and even being prejudiced from the rest of the student
population (Gary and Nancy, 2010). Similarly, the workforce is also known to exert the same
form of treatment to members of the LGBT community. In fact, some of them are shunned from
joining unions, clubs as well as other support groups that could boost their income. These issues
are predominantly faced within the social realm since people have failed to fully accept the
changes occurring across the globe. Additionally, there is a significant level of systematic and
social discrimination and alienation that the lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual people face
when it comes to matters of health care.
This category of individuals confess that they receive inadequate access and services with
regards to their health status and this disparity endangers them greatly (Neville et al, 2015)
This observation is supported by statistics that show that people who are heterosexual are assured
of quality and undivided attention any time that they seek medical attention. The same cannot be
said for people within the LGBT community because they face a myriad of problems when it
comes to their physical well-being (Silvestre et al, 2013). Furthermore, such people find it
excessively difficult to obtain insurance that can later cater for their medical needs as well as
those of their spouses or dependents.
This alienation and prejudicial treatment from the side of the medical practitioners
directly contributes to the increased chances of the LGBT community suffering from avoidable
infections and diseases (Murray, 2015). The case of medical negligence takes its toll on people
who are transgender because they require hormone therapy on a frequent basis so that they can
be able to retain their feminine or masculine features. In addition, there are some types of
hormones that have to be taken on daily basis for them to remain effective. Therefore, when a transgender individual is denied this privilege, they end up jeopardizing their health (Coon,
2012).
The law center that is tasked with overseeing the needs of the transgender community has
stated that the denial of insurance packages and coverage combined with health care exclusions
are the leading problems faced by people that fall within this category (Erdley et al, 2014). The
issue of medical care also extends to matters of sexual health where the lesbian, gay, transgender
and bisexual do not receive the right kind of treatment, consultation or advice when it comes to
this matter. The fact that these groups of people are more prone to contracting sexually
transmitted infections at a higher rate as compared to people who are heterosexual. Therefore,
when they are denied treatment, they are placed at a higher risk of becoming ill in a more rapid
manner (Gary and Nancy, 2010). The Feelings of Alienation That People of the LGBT Community Face Assignment.
In other situations, people that belong to the LGBT community have experienced
rejection even when they wish to offer help to voluntary medical institutions. For instance, some
people have been denied the opportunity to donate blood simply because they expressed that they
are either lesbian or gay (Carniol, 2005). The social setting is one of the areas where a person can
be able to witness firsthand these events and get to understand the pains that such people go
through one a daily basis. Consequently, they can be able to formulate a number of strategies that
can be used to appreciate the LGBT community and help them to feel as if they were part of the
society as well. The Feelings of Alienation That People of the LGBT Community Face Assignment.
The role of most as a social workers including myself would be not only to help
individual people of LGBT communities overcome feelings of alienation and other related
physical and mental health issues, but also to teach other people to be accepting of LGBT people
so that this does not continue to be a problem in society.
ORDER A CUSTOM-WRITTEN, PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER HERE
c) Discussion Of The Roles, Responsibilities And Contributions Of The Social Perspective
In Terms Of Professional Concepts And How They Can Be Used In Solving The
Challenges That People In The LGBT Community Face On A Day-To-Day Basis
It has been evidenced that people who are either gay, lesbian, transgender or bisexual
face a lot of discrimination and stigmatization due to their sexual preferences. The situation in
some communities has been so bad such that a number of people have actually committed
suicide or become victims of certain psychiatric conditions (Henslin, 2009). The only way that
this crisis can be averted is by making significant changes in the social circles so that the LGBT
members can be able to face a more fulfilled life that is devoid of these challenges. The Feelings of Alienation That People of the LGBT Community Face Assignment. One of the
roles of the social workers should be to teach people who are gay, transgender or lesbian to
surround themselves with positive people who can help them to lead a happy and exciting life
(Karen and Anna, 2010).
The same should be extended to the rest of the community such that they can get to
understand that this category of people are just normal and also need the same care, love and
support that they enjoy. Hence, they should avoid treating them with so much disdain and instead
embrace them as one of their own. Additionally, social workers should campaign for the
formation of advocacy groups that can initiate the fight against stigma and help in ensuring that
human rights for the LGBT community are protected. (Karen and Anna, 2010).
This can in turn assist them in getting quality medical care for their ailments and other
forms of conditions. Further, it could greatly help when it comes to getting hormone therapy and
other surgeries for people who are transgender. It should also be the duty of the social workers
and fraternity to teach the rest of the members on some of the most confused issues when it
comes to LGBT people. The community needs to understand that these individuals are just as
same as the heterosexuals and the only difference is their sexual orientation (Henslin, 2009). The Feelings of Alienation That People of the LGBT Community Face Assignment.
Hence, they require the same things when it comes to health, education, social services and even
human needs.
The social workers should emphasize on this fact, as it is largely responsible for the
alienation and discrimination faced by the LGBT members. This approach can be very successful
when it comes to mitigating the challenges that lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender people face
within the modern society.
Conclusion
The rapid transformations within the twenty first century have seen a lot of revolutions
taking place within and among the human population. The fact that people can now choose to
become lesbians, gays, transgender or bisexuals is a process that was practically non-existent in
the ancient past. This has brought with it a lot of mixed reactions where some people feel that the
LGBT community members should be alienated and prejudiced as well. This explains why they
have gone through countless problems when it comes to accessing quality health care, interacting
with their families and even fitting into the community. The Feelings of Alienation That People of the LGBT Community Face Assignment.
The social workers should make it their responsibility to teach the rest of the community
on the needs and desires of the LGBT community so that they can be reintegrated together under
the same setting. This is the most viable and reliable solution that can ensure that people who are
transgender, gay or lesbian can be able to lead lives that are full of happiness and satisfaction
because they do not get alienated simply because their sexual preferences are different.
ORDER A CUSTOM-WRITTEN, PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER HERE
References
Carniol, B. (2005). Case critical: Social justice and social services in Canada. 5th ed. Toronto,
ON: Between the Lines.
Coon, D. R. (2012). Sun, Sand, and Citizenship: The Marketing of Gay Tourism. Journal of
Homosexuality, 59(4), 511-534. The Feelings of Alienation That People of the LGBT Community Face Assignment.doi:10.1080/00918369.2012.648883
Erdley, S. D., Anklam, D. D., & Reardon, C. C. (2014). Breaking barriers and building bridges:
Understanding the pervasive needs of older LGBT adults and the value of social work in
health care. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 57, 362-385.
Gary L. and Nancy L. B. (2010). Lesbian and Gay Elders and Long-Term Care: Identifying the
Unique Psychosocial Perspectives and Challenges. Wurzweiler School of Social Work,
Yeshiva University, New York, USA
Henslin, J. M. (2009). Essentials of sociology: A down-to-earth approach. 8th ed. Boston, MA:
Allyn & Bacon.
Karen, F.G. and Anna M. (2010). University Aging and Sexual Orientation: A 25-Year Review
of the Literature of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA 2Loyola Marymount University, Los
Lennon-Dearing, R., & Delavega, E. (2015). Policies discriminatory of the LGBT community:
Do social workers endorse respect for the NASW code of ethics? Journal of Gay &
Lesbian Social Services, 27, 412-435.
Murray, C. (2015). Queering Vancouver: The Work of the LGBTQ Civic Advisory Committee,
2009-14. BC Studies, (188), 55-80. The Feelings of Alienation That People of the LGBT Community Face Assignment.
Neville S.J., Adams J., Bellamy G., Boyd M. & George N. (2015). Perceptions towards lesbian,
gay and bisexual people in residential care facilities: a qualitative study. International
Journal of Older People Nursing 10, 73–81. doi:10.1111/opn.12058 Silvestre, A., Beatty, R., & Friedman, M. R. (2013). Substance use in the context of LGBT
health: A social work perspective. Social Work in Public Health, 28, 366-376. The Feelings of Alienation That People of the LGBT Community Face Assignment.