Living in multiple worlds Identity satisfaction in sexual minorities Mark Henrickson PhD, RSW Auckland Aotearoa New Zealand

Living in multiple worlds For example, in the Asia-Pacific: tongzhi (China) T, Bo (Taiwan) wonchung, hwarang (Korea) nanshoku (Japan) dogana, kothi, hijra (India) bayot, bakla, bading, lakín-on (Philippines) kathoey (Thailand) fa’afafine, fa’afatama (Samoa) fakaleiti (Tonga) takataapui, whakawahine(NZ Māori) pinapinaaine (Tuvalu) akava’ine (Cook Islands) fiafifine (Niue) māhu (Tahiti) bujang-gadis becong (Indonesia M) supik-jantan, tom-boi (Indonesia F) Minority sexual and gender identities have been noted in every culture and in all times

Living in multiple worlds Various models of sexual identity development have been established, and challenged (e.g., Cass, 1979, etc.) Most of these are stage models (e.g., Confusion, Comparison, Tolerance, Acceptance, Pride, Synthesis) The linearity of these stages has been challenged, particularly in women (e.g., Diamond, 2005, 2006) What is not clear is what contributes to satisfaction with a sexual minority identity

Living in multiple worlds Lavender Islands is a large (n=2,269) national study of sexual minorities in Aotearoa New Zealand 133-item quantitative survey Completed online (84%) or hardcopy (16%) Self-selected participants were 54% male, 45% female (1% were TG, IS or missing) Mean age=35.8 years (range 12-80, SD=12.9) 51% had at least undergraduate degree (compared with just 10% of the general population)

Living in multiple worlds We asked ‘How satisfied are you with your sexual identity?’ (1=very unsatisfied, 7=very satisfied) We were surprised to find that while all participants were quite satisfied (>5.0) with their sexual identities, we found a very clear relationship between age and satisfaction with identity

MenWomenTotal Age group Mean (SD)n n n < (19.3) (1.72) (1.86) (1.83) (1.93) (1.87) (1.61) (1.81) (1.71) (1.63) (1.75) (1.69) (1.69) (1.33) (1.52)315 ≥ (1.49) (1.62) (1.49)128 Total5.86 (1.70) (1.77) (1.74)2209 Mean Satisfaction with Sexual Identity by Age Group and Gender (1=Low, 7=High)

Living in multiple worlds Men’s satisfaction tends to plateau in age group General population literature suggests this happens in life satisfaction about age 65 (Mroczek & Spiro 2005’s ∩-shape) However, Halpin & Allen (2004) found a U-shape satisfaction in gay men based on stages of sexual identity development Women’s satisfaction continues to improve Perhaps this is because women’s sexual identity remains more fluid, and coalesces later than that of men (age 23 v 18) Women’s satisfaction peak may be later than we could detect Perhaps it is an actual difference and sexual minority women just keep becoming more satisfied with their sexual identities

Living in multiple worlds Furthermore, we found that, although still happy with their identities, Asian-born migrants to NZ were the least satisfied with their sexual identities Mean NZ born =5.88 (SD=1.775) (n=1,758) Mean All migrant =5.96 (SD=1.690) (n=483) (ns) Among all migrants: Mean Asian =4.80 (SD=2.059) (n=51 ) Mean Non-Asian =6.09 (SD=1.589), p<.001(n=432,t=-4.32, df=5.24)

Living in multiple worlds So what? The period of greatest dissatisfaction with a sexual minority identity is in the teen/young adult years (ages ) This is a time of highest risk for suicidality, bullying, family conflict around identity, substance use/misuse, risky sexual activity SWers in child welfare and protection, foster care and adoption, community development, education, health and mental health must be aware of the possible social/sexual and identity diversity of our service users and young people, regardless of their presenting or apparent identities and behaviours

Living in multiple worlds Adolescence and young adulthood is a key time for personal and relationship development- sexual minorities may experience delay or confusion in these areas SWers need to learn how to talk about sexuality “Would it not be ironic to discover that social workers who believe they are rejecting colonial and Western values by adopting heteronormative stances and attempting to suppress sexual minorities are, through their disapproval and silence, simply replicating those very colonial values?” Henrickson (2009) in Noble, Henrickson & Han (Eds.) Social Work Education: Voices from the Asia Pacific

Living in multiple worlds There is hopeful news: satisfaction with sexual minority identity will improve over time Things will get better! Individuals will develop resilience SWers will challenge social stigma and oppression   For further information, to view the suite of publications, or to contact the author, go the project website: