Discrimination is any act that deliberately undermines the equality and dignity of a specific individual, group, or entity in favor of others. Such behavior is built on certain characteristics like race, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, or age. Throughout the years, the LGBTQ community remains one of the most discriminated and marginalized social groups globally. Even with the numerous initiatives and interventions meant to establish and promote social justice and equity, discrimination against the LGBTQ community remains alive and well in most societies. According to recent research, one out of five members of the LGBTQ community in the United States experience discrimination within different contexts (Lee& Ostergard). While most countries are championing gender diversity, discrimination against the LGBTQ community is persistent and subtle. For instance, most people do not reveal their true gender identity and sexual orientation as they fear violence, ridicule, and shame from their families and communities. In this situation, legal frameworks are not practical in addressing the issue.
As stated, discrimination against LGBTQ occurs in various dimensions. Firstly, LGBTQ people experience discrimination in the workplace. Regardless of state regulations, most employers use unfair employment and remuneration systems to disadvantage non-gender-conforming employees. Additionally, LGBTQ workers face harassment, hatred, and mistreatment from their colleagues and superiors at work. Studies indicate that LGBTQ people cannot access healthcare as healthcare providers refuse to provide care or generally treat them without dignity. In the legal context, the LGBTQ community lacks a practical legal oversight framework to protect them from harassment and discrimination (Casey et al.). In the social setting, the LGBTQ community remains excluded mainly from social affairs due to heteronormativity and a social disposition that views gender non-conformity as a problem.
Undeniably, numerous studies have produced various reasons why the LGBTQ community faces such backlash from society. Additionally, multiple theories explain why societies promote heterosexuality, much to the oppression, discrimination, and marginalization of the LGBTQ community. This paper analyses structuralism and culturalism in explaining why the LGBTQ community is discriminated against in most countries across the world.
According to culturalism, cultures are diverse but are inherently homogenous (Eriksen). Although cultures may be seemingly different, they exhibit similar characteristics and structures. For instance, all cultures worldwide are made up of language, social norms, cuisine, architecture, festivals, rituals, and ceremonies. Although these aspects are profoundly unique to every culture, they are fundamental to all cultures. Like how every country has a unique national flag, all flags serve a universal purpose of representing particular countries.
Additionally, culturalism asserts that cultures are crucial determinants of individual interests and world view (Eriksen). In this sense, culture enables individuals to gain a better understanding of other cultures. By observing one’s culture, a person acquires knowledge concerning different cultures through comparing the differences and similarities. Furthermore, culturalism points out that culture holds special entitlements that limit individual freedoms, rights, and privileges (Stjernfelt).
Structuralism views society as a system made up of various structures functioning interdependently to create social stability and order. As Lois Althusser stated, society consists of political, literary, ideological, religious, and economic structures that greatly influence one another. Although these structures are equally fundamental, some structures exhibit greater influence, and hence, they largely shape society (Baldick). Besides, structuralism asserts that individuals act according to the circumstances dictated by social structures. In this situation, people can only inherit pre-existing structures and reproduce them without inquiry or alteration. In simpler terms, social structures are solely responsible for shaping society’s direction. Therefore, people cannot determine their rights, interests, and privileges.
Structuralism and culturalism exhibit various similarities. Firstly, both paradigms acknowledge the existence of a greater force that controls society. In culturalism, culture is the central structure that shapes human understanding and behavior. Equally, structuralism reiterates the existence of social structures and the influence of their relationships on society. Besides, both theories downplay individual rights, self-determination, and autonomy. Culturalism views culture as the source of personal understanding, world view, and behavior. On the other hand, structuralism emphasizes the underlying structures that shape individual thinking, behaviors, and traditions. Notwithstanding, structuralism differs greatly from culturalism in that it centers on various entities that act in creating and maintaining social stability (Recchi). As opposed to structuralism, culturalism centers on culture as the universal source of the human worldview.
Concerning LGBTQ discrimination, structuralism explains how the current societies are formed by structures used against the LGBTQ community. For instance, in contemporary society, religion greatly contributes to the adversities experienced by people from the LGBTQ community. Despite their differences, major religions like Christianity and Islam uphold heteronormativity and strictly prohibit same-sex relations based on the principle that they are sinful and cannot lead to procreation. Besides, ideological and political structures are also used in oppressing and marginalizing the LGBTQ community. Presently, various countries across the world have enacted tough legal measures in fighting against same-sex relations. In such countries, discrimination against the LGBTQ community is quite high, with brutal punishments meted out on suspected gays, bisexuals, and lesbians. Since culturalism views all cultures as inherently similar, it explains why the LGBTQ community is discriminated against across all societies. Because all cultures are based on specific norms, values, and attributes, most cultures view the LGBTQ community as deviant, dysfunctional, and out of line with cultural traditions and regulations.
In my view, culturalism best explains why the LGBTQ community faces discrimination across all communities. Firstly, because culture plays a central role in socializing individuals, most cultures have promoted a worldview that only heterosexuality can support continuity and social stability. Consequently, most societies view gender non-conformity as a deviation from the right track. As stated, culturalism views all cultures as internally homogenous. Since most cultural norms support heteronormativity, the LGBTQ community falls out of favor with most cultures and is subject to discrimination and oppression. Lastly, culturalism depicts the current state of affairs in the world, where cultural ideals shape vital aspects like sexuality and are used in violating the rights of the LGBTQ community.
Works Cited
Baldick, Chris. Criticism and literary theory 1890 to the present. Routledge, 2014.
Casey, Logan S., et al. “Discrimination in the United States: Experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer Americans.” Health services research 54 (2019): 1454-1466.
Eriksen, J.-M. “Culturalism: When The Culture Becomes Political Ideology”. Telos. 2013. 163.131-146.
Lee, Chelsea, and Robert L. Ostergard Jr. “Measuring discrimination against LGBTQ people: A cross-national analysis.” Hum. Rts. Q. 39 (2017): 37.
Recchi, Ettore. “Pathways to European identity formation: a tale of two models.” Innovation: The European Journal of Social Science Research 27.2 (2014): 119-133.
Stjernfelt, Frederik. What is culturalism? The anatomy of a contemporary disease in academia and politics. Lexia. 2013. 5. 369-400.
