HETERONORMATIVITY AMONGST STAFF OF RESIDENTIAL AGED CARE FACILITIES

This paper presents findings from research which examined the factors influencing heteronormativity (the implicit assumption that a heterosexual orientation is the normative one), and heterosexism (prejudice against non-heterosexual people). The study sampled staff of residential aged care facilities. One hundred and fourteen staff from thirteen facilities in Adelaide, Australia, completed a questionnaire measuring prior exposure to non-heterosexual people; heterosexism; factual knowledge; heteronormativity; and the type of training they had received. As well as finding a significant direct relationship between heterosexism and heteronormativity, and between the three predictor variables, the results indicated a significant combined effect of the three predictor variables on the variable of interest, heteronormativity. It was also found that lack of knowledge affected heteronormativity through its indirect effect on heterosexism. It is concluded that exposure to non-heterosexual people, accurate knowledge, and challenging heterosexism are needed to reduce heteronormativity in staff of residential aged care facilities.