Date of Award

5-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Social Work

Department

Language, Literacy and Culture

First Reader/Committee Chair

Loveland, Emily

Abstract

Heteronormative values of conformity to the norms of the majority group in society have fostered a workplace environment where discrimination against LGBTQIA+ individuals can occur easily and frequently. Members of this group often report feeling unsafe in the workplace and unable to express themselves. This unease creates a workplace that overlooks these individuals and permits discrimination to occur. Members of this vulnerable group are at high risk of experiencing mental health challenges because of the adversity that they face in their daily lives, with the workplace contributing to this issue. Qualitative interviews will be utilized for this research to gain insight into how LGBTQIA+ individuals are handling discriminatory events in the workplace and how that is contributing to their mental health. This research will demonstrate how LGBTQIA+ individuals navigate through various systems, which will allow future social workers to have a better concept of how to serve this population.

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