Knowledge and Attitude of Undergraduate Students Towards Homosexuality and Its Implication on Social Adjustment (a Study of Caritas University, Amorji- Nike, Emene) Enugu State
CHAPTER ONE
Objectives of the study
The general objective of this study is to investigate the attitude of undergraduate students towards Homosexuality and how it affect social adjustment.
The specific objectives of the study area are as follows:
- To understand the extent to which students knowledge about homosexuality affects their attitudes and social adjustment.
- To determine students knowledge about
- To fnd out how students get involved in the act of
- To ascertain how easy it is to disengage from the
- To suggest how this social ill will be stopped.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Introduction
Relevant literatures are reviewed to give support to the study. These literatures are reviewed under the following subheadings. An overview of homosexuality, involvement of undergraduate in the act of homosexuality, students attitudes towards homosexuality and harassment and fear of homosexuals.
An overview of homosexuality
Homosexuality has been defined as the romantic or sexual intercourse or behaviour between members of he same sex. (Beth 1992:2). Homosexuality in different societies has provoked several attitudes such as acceptance, banned and punishment. The act of homosexuality has attracted the attention of many scholars regarding how it all began, in other words, the cause and genesis of the act. Moreoso, the Holy book, the Bible declares the act of homosexuality as immoral and demonic.
Freud, in his view believed that all humans were born bi-sexual in nature and due to restriction in one direction or the other, both heterosexuality and homosexuality developed (Freud 1953) Early psychologist believed that homosexuality was due to mental illness.
Fuller and Thompson (1973) opined that homosexuality is developed through genetic means. Other view as the Hormonal theorists believe that abnormal levels of some pre-natal hormones can lead to an increased chance of homosexuality in an individual. (Dorner et al, 1983).A sociologist Blutenger (2007) believed that people become homosexuals as a result of same-sex environment with no opposite sex to share their sexual desire with. Week (1986) argued that homosexuality develop through the process of social interaction and that sexuality is defined as a matter of power.
However, there has been different view regarding the causal factors of homosexuality. There has also been varied attitudes toward the act in different society. Among other factors which causes homosexuality is fear of opposite sex, molestation. (Jennifer Mcgrath 2007).
Involvement of undergraduate in the act of homosexuality
In the late 1800s, a man named Kraft Ebing was the leading theorist on sexual deviance. He did a lot of research on the causes of homosexuality and how people get involved in the act and creates a convincing answer.
The question is “is homosexuality a choice or a genetic issue? Ebing concluded that it is both, in his most well known work “psychopatia sexualis” he opine that people are born homosexual and others become homosexual. He points to same schooling as one of the ways people become and get involve in homosexual act. He posited that humans have a basic need for sexuality and intimacy and do not loose this need because the socially accepted partners in this intimacy are unavailable. If a young heterosexual boy is placed in a place where there are no women around to get his need for sexual relationship satisfied, he will turn to those around him, that is, other boys in the same predicament. (Blutenger 2007).
CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY
Research Design
This study adopted survey method. A selected sample from the total population of Caritas students will be selected and distributed with questionnaire. This research technique will be applied here due to its variability in using a sample drawn to represent the element within Caritas University, the universe of this study.
Survey method is appropriate in the study of the attitude of undergraduate students towards homosexuality and its implication on social adjustment.
Study area and population
The area of the study is Caritas University, Amorji-Nike, Emene in Enugu State of Nigeria. Caritas University was approved by the Federal Government of Nigeria on 16th December, 2004 and was formally opened on 21st January 2005.
The proprietor of the university is the Sisters of Jesus the Saviour, a religious congregation of Reverend sisters founded by Very Rev. Fr. Prof. Emmanuel M.P. Edeh C.S.S.P. The population of this study Area is 2,850 made up of 1,185 male and 1,675 female undergraduate students.
Sample Size
The sample size of this study is two hundred and eighty five (2.85), 10% of the study population. The researcher considers this simple size large enough for this study, considering the statically analysis that would be employed and for effective management by the researcher due to financial constraints and time.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA
Out of 285 questionnaires distributed 221 were recovered. Analysis of data will be based on the recovered questionnaires, 221.
The above table shows that greater number of respondents are between the ages of 19-21, 96 (43%) respondents, they are followed by age group 16-18, 70 (32%) respondents, age group 22-24 are 3rd 40(18%) respondents, while age group 25-27 are only 10(5%) respondents. The least is age group 28-30 with only 5(2%) respondents. This shows that people enter school at early age.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Summary of findings
Predicated on the data collected for this study the following findings were
made:
Firstly, due to restricted movement and life style, students develop available means of satisfying their sexual urge, through learning from others, therefore engaging in same sex sexual intercourse.
This however known by others who do not get involved in the act, make to have negative attitude towards the act and those involve in it, hence seeing them as sexual deviant, therefore limiting relationship between the heterosexual students and the homosexuals which however has implication on the adjustment of the homosexuals in the school environment.
Secondly, the gender exclusive schools us observed to be one of the major causes of homosexuality, in that due to same sex schooling, many who have been involved sex and who do not have in the act of access to opposite sex resort to homosexuality with the aim of satisfying their sexual desire, therefore homosexuality is learned.
Thirdly, was discovered that with concerted effort the homosexuals can change from homosexual to heterosexual.
Conclusion
The research work conducted on the attitude of undergraduate students towards homosexuality and its implication on social adjustment, using Caritas University as a study area has shown that homosexuality is a social problem, which one of its major causes is restricted movement of the students who are sexually active.
This act, by way of peer interaction is being taught to other students who needs to satisfy their sexual urge, hence increasing like a wick fine in caritas university.
Therefore major steps has to be taken to tackle the cause of this problem so as to manage and sage guard the effect on the society and individuals in our society.
Recommendations
Based on the findings I hereby recommend as follows:
In order to stop this social ill in our environment, educational policy makers, stakeholders and government should stop gender exclusive schools and probably change them into mixed schools.
Also institutions or schools with restricted life style and movement should be freed and students should be allowed a reasonable freedom of movement, restricted movement and life style should be relaxed to a good extent.
Government should also establish effective rehabilitation center for homosexuals in order to assist them recover from their deviant behaviour.
Limitations of the study
One of the limitations of the study is that due to time factor, the questionnaire distributed was not fully recovered, hence reducing the sample size of the study from 285 to 221.
Another limitation of this study is that there was no direct contact with the homosexuals, which could have been well done using interview method and which could have given accurate response.
Suggestion for further studies
Further studies can be carried out using a method that would permit direct contact with the homosexuals so as to get direct response from them.
More so, research is also called to investigate students in mixed institution to really find out if the cause of homosexuality is access to opposite sex when desired at a private place.
REFERENCES
- Beth, (1992). Perspectives on the sexual Scene. New York. Distinctive Press.
- Bendura A. (1967). Social Learning Theory. New York: America Press Butler, (1994). Perspective Teachers Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviour
- Regarding Gaymen and Lesbians. Ohio: Pager Inc.
- Clellan, c. (1990). Reliability of Coverage of Periodical Indexing of Lesbian Theological and Womanist. Ohio: Gregory Publishers.
- Crumpacker, L.V. (1984). Integrating the Curriculum. Teaching about Lesbians and Homophobia. Massachusetts: Andrew Wimellon foundation Press.
- D’Augelli, (1992). Lesbian and Gaymen on Campus. London: Marie Stopes International.
- Estela, (1992). Against Sexual Coercion, Organizing Against Sexual Harassment. California: Radical America press.
