Preventing Heterosexism and Homophobia.

Edited by Esther D. Rothblum and Lynne A. Bond. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 1996, 282 pages. Cloth, $55.00, Paper, $24.95.

Reviewed by Mary E. Kite, Ph.D., Ball State University, Department of Psychological Sciences, Muncie, IN 47306. E-mail: [e-mail].

Anyone who doubts the prevalence of heterosexism in American society need only consider two recent events. Media hype surrounded the coming out of the sitcom character, Ellen Morgan, and the woman who plays her, Ellen DeGeneres, and the media persistently mentioned Heaven's Gate leader "Do's" alleged homosexuality in their speculations about circumstances leading to the tragic mass suicide of his cult members. These events and countless others bear witness to society's discomfort with gays, lesbians, and bisexuals. The contributors to Esther Rothblum and Lynne Bond's volume on preventing heterosexism and homophobia address this discomfort at many levels. In this insightful and highly accessible volume, the authors examine "both the risks and the joys of being gay, lesbian, and bisexual, and how to prevent heterosexism and its effects on the lives of all people, including those of heterosexuals" (p. x). A tall order, indeed, yet readers will find the editors and contributors have come along way toward meeting that goal. This volume, 17th in the series on primary prevention of psychopathology, edited by George W. Albee and Justin M. Joffe, is organized into three sections. The first, Institutions and Systems, illustrates how our culture both reflects and contributes to heterosexism. In the second, Relationships and Development, authors examine how gay, lesbian, and bisexual identities develop and maintain in a heterosexist culture. The third, Societal Structures and Social Change, is an exploration of how societal changes can work to reduce or eliminate anti-gay bias.

The editorial experience of Rothblum and Bond shows throughout the book. Their invited contributors have written provocative chapters that are uniformly excellent, a rare feat for an edited volume. There is surprisingly little overlap among the chapters, even those addressing similar topics. Moreover, the editors have averted three major criticisms levied at work on heterosexism.

First, the editors avoid the tendency to focus mainly on gay men, providing instead a balanced consideration of gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals (although some chapters are, appropriately, directed mainly at one of these groups). Second, they resist the tendency to take only a White, middle class viewpoint; instead they pay careful attention to ethnicity and to social class, both often-neglected topics in psychological discourse. This is done throughout the text, but authors such as Beverly Green, who writes about the problems with limiting research studies to White, middle class samples, and Oliva Espin, who describes the experiences of immigrant and refugee lesbians, give extensive attention to these issues. Lynda Ames, in her chapter on heterosexism and hate, and Joy Livingston, in her framework for a future free of heterosexism, both explicate the impact of social class on heterosexism. Finally, the editors avoid the tendency to assume that all heterosexuals are heterosexist or that heterosexism equals intentional and motivated hate--a delicate balance is difficult to achieve in a volume intended to address biases toward bisexuals, lesbians, and gay men. I do wish, however, the editors had avoided the often-misused term homophobia. Celia Kitzinger's chapter addresses the many problems with this label, as have others (e.g., Committee on Lesbian and Gay Concerns, 1991). Continuing to use this term, even while acknowledging its limitations, does little to remove it from our vernacular.

Overall, the book is an inviting discussion of an important social issue. Chapters such as Laura Brown's consideration of therapists' biases are thought provoking without being judgmental, and contributions such as Jeanine Cogan's discussion of hate crimes make evident the powerful force of violence against gay people without unnecessary finger pointing and blaming. The authors validate the experiences of lesbians, bisexuals, and gay men without assuming they all have the same experiences. From another vantage point, the volume demonstrates that heterosexuals can have an important, positive impact on those experiences. Some chapters, such as Connie Chan's ideas for combating heterosexism in educational institutions, and Anthony D'Augelli's writings about enhancing the development of lesbian, gay, and bisexual youths, are more immediately applicable than others. Other chapters have more radical perspectives. Rachel Perkin's chapter on rejecting therapy, for example, may rile the sensitivities of believers in psychotherapy. All deserve a hearing, and all offer insights on the problems bisexuals, gays, and lesbians face in our culture and how these problems can be alleviated * A careful reading leads to the conclusion the editors undoubtedly intended: Yes, there is heterosexism, and yes, it is a problem, but it is a problem with a solution. The contributors provide a fine road map leading to that end.

As Leonard Pitts (1997), a columnist for the Miami Herald, recently wrote in a column against heterosexism, "Meanwhile, progress comes. And those who attempt to hold it back are inevitably flattened, left looking quaint and foolish as they recede in history's rear view." This volume should be required reading for everyone wishing to avoid this fate and particularly for those who work toward a future without heterosexism.

References

Committee on Lesbian and Gay Concerns. (1991). Avoiding heterosexual bias in language. American Psychologist, 46, 973-974.

Pitts, L., Jr. (1997, April 5). Despite Falwell's fuss, Ellen is only TV. Miami Herald, G1.