Gender, sexual orientation, and discrimination based on gender and sexual orientation

As evidenced by citations from the U.S. Census Bureau (2011) and Movement Advancement Project (2012), differential or discriminatory treatment based on gender and sexual orientation is pervasive in the United States. While gender and sexual orientation are foundational dimensions of one’s identity, they are also salient social categories used by individuals to make sense of their social worlds and to make decisions regarding everyday social situations and interactions (Ruble, Martin, & Berenbaum, 2006). Given the importance of gender and sexual orientation as social categories, people often base their attitudes and behaviors toward others on their beliefs, stereotypes, and expectations related to gender and sexual orientation. In some instances, individuals view differential attitudes and behaviors as inherently unfair, prejudicial, or discriminatory. In many instances, however, individuals justify their attitudes or behavior as legitimate based on their perception of the inherent differences amongst people related to gender or sexual orientation (e.g., men and women just like different things) or based on their beliefs about “appropriate” and “normal” roles and behaviors for men and women in a given culture or society (e.g., heterosexuality is the only natural or normal form of sexuality).