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Publication
Affective and attitudinal features of benevolent heterosexism in Italy: The italian validation of the Multidimensional Heterosexism Inventory
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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
ABSTRACT: Introduction People who belong to a sexual and gender minority often face prejudices that have their roots in heterosexism,
a sociocultural system that can manifest itself in diferent ways and sometimes in a seemingly benevolent fashion. The present study examined the psychometric properties of the Multidimensional Heterosexism Inventory (MHI), a scale assessing
aversive, amnestic, paternalistic, and positive stereotypic heterosexism, in an Italian sample.
Methods Two hundred one cisgender and heterosexual individuals (129 women and 72 men) aged 18 to 81 years (M=36.42,
SD=12.56) were recruited online between May and October 2022 and answered questions about social dominance orientation, right-wing authoritarianism, ambivalent sexism, and attitudes toward lesbians and gay men.
Results Confrmatory factor analysis showed that the original 4-factor model of the scale ft the data well. Predictive and
convergent validity of the Italian version of the MHI was adequate, whereas discriminant validity was not fully achieved due
to overlap of multidimensional heterosexism with hostile and benevolent sexism and authoritarianism. Scores were higher
for aversive and amnesic heterosexism in men than in women, but not for paternalistic and positive stereotypic heterosexism. Finally, less educated participants, those with no LGBTQI+friends, and religious participants were higher in all MHI
subscales than their counterparts.
Conclusions This study provides the frst evidence for the validity and reliability of an Italian version of the MHI.
Policy Implications Using the MHI can help to make visible not only the explicit but also the subtle forms of heterosexism,
thus recognizing the multidimensional nature of heterosexism produced in social institutions.
Description
Keywords
Multidimensional Heterosexism Inventory Heteronormativity Sexism Authoritarianism LGBTQI+
Citation
Bochicchio, V., Mezzalira, S., Walls, E., Méndez, L. P., López-Sáez, M. Á., Bodroža, B., Ellul, M. J., & Scandurra, C. (2024). Affective and attitudinal features of benevolent heterosexism in Italy: The italian validation of the Multidimensional Heterosexism Inventory. Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 21(3), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-024-00951-2
Publisher
Springer New York