Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
As violence against LGBTQ+ persons continues to be a pervasive and serious problem, this book aims to inform mental health providers about the unique needs of LGBTQ+ survivors of interpersonal and structural violence. Individual chapters analyze unique aspects of violence against specific subpopulations of LGBTQ+ persons in order to avoid ineffective and sometimes simplistic one-size-fits-all treatment strategies.
Among the topics covered:
- Macro Level Advocacy for Mental Health Professionals: Promoting Social Justice for LGBTQ+ Survivors of Interpersonal Violence
- Intimate Partner Violence in Women's Same-Sex Relationships
- Violence Against Asexual Persons
- Invisibility and Trauma in the Intersex Community
- Sexual and Gender Minority Refugees and Asylum Seekers: An Arduous Journey
- Sexual and Gender Minority Marginalization in Military Contexts
- Navigating Potentially Traumatic Conservative Religious Environments as a Sexual/Gender Minority
Violence Against LGBTQ+ Persons prepares mental health professionals for addressing internalized forms of prejudice and oppression that exacerbate the trauma of the survivor, in order to facilitate healing, empowerment, healthy relationships, and resilience at the intersection of sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and diverse social locations. This is a valuable reference for psychologists, social workers, counselors, nurses, mental health professionals, and graduate students, regardless of whether they are preparing for general practice, treatment of LGBTQ+ clients, or treatment of survivors and perpetrators of various forms of violence.
Synopsis
Chapter 1: Confronting Diverse Forms of Violence Against LGBTQ+ Persons and Communities by Emily M. Lund, Claire Burgess, and Andy J. Johnson
Chapter 2: Conceptualizing Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity by Geoffrey L. Ream and Eric RodriguezThis chapter describes current concepts of sexual orientation and gender identity. It covers medical and psychological theories, feminist and critical perspectives, and ideologies that support violence against LGBTQ+ persons. Medical and psychological theories employ quantifiable biometric and survey data, and focus on dimensions of attraction, behavior, dating, and identity. They stipulate that nonheterosexual and non-cisgender identification are not psychopathological and not amenable to change through therapy. Critical perspectives use qualitative interview data and examine how sexuality and gender are lived out in people's real lived experiences. They foreground experiences of genderqueer and non-binary gender, bisexuality, and sexual fluidity, in which attractions may change as someone's sexual sense of self evolves. Ideologies supporting violence against LGBTQ+ persons tend to be based in an essentialist view of gender, and see LGBTQ+ identities and practices as harmful to a social order. These ideologies have thought leaders and scholars advocating for them, but they also occur as common sense to people who believe in traditional sexual and gender roles and norms. Those who wish to challenge ideologies supporting violence against LGBTQ+ persons must do so on ideological and policy fronts, aiming to change both scholarly ideas and common sense.
Chapter 3: Understanding Homo/Transphobia by Lauren McLean
Cultural narratives of our society surrounding gender identity and sexuality can provide a rigid narrative of these constructs leading to homophobia and transphobia towards individuals who identify outside of these constructs. This book chapter will explore how cultural narratives create homophobia and transphobia as well as the impact of these phobias on individuals within the LGBTQ+ community. Mental health practitioners need to be aware of the impact of the pervasive discrimination, prejudice, and violence towards LGBTQ+ persons as these acts can create clinical issues that present common problems for child, adolescent, and adult clients, their families, and their partners. In addition, mental health practitioners need to be aware of potential internalized biases that they may hold in order to be able to confront these biases and bracket values so that they can more effectively work with, and be an ally for, LGBTQ+ clients. Furthermore, educators in the field of mental health should strive to create affirming classroom settings and be able to effectively prepare students to work with the LGBTQ+ community. This chapter will address these issues within the mental health community as well as strategies for clinicians to help clients heal from homophobia and transphobia.
Chapter 4: Preventing the Bullying of LGBTQ+ Persons in Schools by Dorothy Espelage et al.
Chapter 5: Bullying Victimization towards LGBTQ+ Youth: Opportunities for Growth and Intervention by Claire Burgess, Micha Martin, Ankur Shrivastava, and Cary Klemmer.
Chapter 6: Promoting Social Change for LGBTQ+ Rights: Dismantling Oppression, Building Peace, and Advocating Change by Haven Herrin
Chapter 7: Macro Level Advocacy for Mental Health Practitioners Promoting Social Justice for LGBTQ+ Survivors of Interpersonal Violence by Nancy Fitzsimons.
Chapter 8: Violence Against Trans Persons by Victoria M. Rodr guez-Rold n.
Chapter 9: Violence Against Lesbians: Myths, Lived Realities, and Healing by Barbara Winstead et al.
Chapter 10: Preventing Violence Against Gay Men by Jillian Scheer.
Chapter 11: Counseling Survivors of Violence Against Bisexual Persons by Taylor Mefford and Eric Chen.
Chapter 12: Sexual