The nation and the family: the impact of national identification and perceived importance of family values on homophobic attitudes in Lithuania and Scotland

The meanings attached to the nation can be consequential for group members’ attitudes and beliefs. We examined how national identity definition can influence the extent of individuals’ homophobia with 159 Lithuanian and 176 Scottish university students who completed a questionnaire which measured their national identification, homophobia, and the extent to which they felt traditional family values were central to their nation’s identity. Consistent with nation-wide differences in the significance given to the family, Lithuanian participants perceived family values to be more important for their national identity and expressed higher levels of homophobia than did Scottish participants. Moreover, the relationship between level of national identification and homophobia was stronger in Lithuania than in Scotland. Analyses revealed that the perceived importance of family values helped explain the difference between homophobia levels in Lithuania and Scotland. In both sites we found an indirect effect of national identification on homophobia via the perceived importance of family values, but this effect was significantly stronger for Lithuanian participants. These findings illustrate the ways in which identification with the nation is relevant to attitudes concerning sexuality, and how this varies according to national context. Our work indicates that LGBT rights campaigns should be informed by the knowledge that homophobia may be perpetuated by national valorisation of the family

Ageism

Young and older people often experience a range of similar concerns in twenty-first century Australia. Despite being at opposite ends of the age spectrum, they can be subject to stereotyping, experiences of discrimination and barriers to affordable housing and employment. Another shared challenge is an over-representation of mental health issues and risk of suicide. This chapter explores these two age groups who make up a significant portion of the Australian population. Fear of ageing and the flow-on effect to wellbeing is critically examined, and the mental health and wellbeing of young people in Australia explored. Reflections on the meaning of spirituality in later years, personal stories of ageism shared by younger and older adults alike, and the role of volunteering and activism as meaningful activities for young people highlight the lived experience of being young or old in Australia. Experiential activities that encourage the learner to test and challenge societal stereotypes, their own perceptions and gain a greater understanding of environmental, social and institutional barriers faced by people at different stages in the life cycle conclude this chapter