Sexual and gender diversity in higher education in Brazil
An analysis of prejudice among dental students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30979/BrazJDentEduc.v26.2438Keywords:
Students Dental, Prejudice, Sexism, Sexual and Gender MinoritiesAbstract
This study aimed to identify the profile of prejudice against sexual and gender diversity among undergraduate dentistry students in Ceará, Brazil. An observational, cross-sectional study design was adopted, and an online self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted among 276 students. Data were collected using a semi-structured instrument that included sociodemographic variables and the Revised Scale of Prejudice against Sexual and Gender Diversity (PASGD-R). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 22.0, applying t-tests and Mann–Whitney tests at a 95% confidence level. The results indicated a low level of prejudice among students, with an overall mean score of 24.75 (SD=8.78). Students in the 10th semester had the lowest scores of prejudice (21.56±3.00), while those in the second semester had the highest scores (29.20±9.40). The statement “I would prefer my children to be heterosexual” showed the highest level of agreement (2.75±1.46), whereas “I think gay men are disgusting” had the lowest (1.08±0.36). Higher levels of prejudice were found among heterosexual students (p<0.001), those with children (p=0.003), religious individuals (p=0.002), students without training on diversity outside of university (p=0.012), and those who had neither witnessed (p=0.001) nor experienced (p=0.001) discrimination. The study concluded that prejudice is linked to heteronormative values, religiosity, lack of access to information, and the absence of lived experiences with prejudice.
References
Costa AB, Bandeira DR, Nardi HC. Systematic review of instruments measuring homophobia and related constructs. J Appl Soc Psychol [Internet]. 2013;43(6):1324-32. doi: https:/www.doi.org/10.1111/jasp.12140
Assunção RC, Oliveira DC, Nunes FCS, Figueiredo HA, Castro SAR. A linha tênue entre homofobia e liberdade de expressão. EnPe [Internet]. 2022 [citado em 23 de outubro de 2025];3(1):1-20. Disponível em: https://revistas.uece.br/index.php/ensinoemperspectivas/article/view/7377
Gutierrez DMD, Minayo MCS. Produção de conhecimento sobre cuidados da saúde no âmbito da família. Ciênc Saúde Coletiva [Internet]. 2010;15(suppl 1):1497-508. doi: https://doi.org/10.1590/S1413-81232010000700062
Russell S, More F. Addressing health disparities via coordination of care and interprofessional education: lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender health and oral health care. Dent Clin North Am [Internet]. 2016;60(4):891-906. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cden.2016.05.006
Herek GM. The context of anti-gay violence: notes on cultural and psychological heterosexism. J Interpers Violence [Internet]. 1990;5(3):316-33. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/088626090005003006
Sabin JA, Riskind RG, Nosek BA. Health care providers’ implicit and explicit attitudes toward lesbian women and gay men. Am J Public Health [Internet]. 2015;105(9). doi: https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2015.302631
Bonvicini KA, Perlin MJ. The same but different: clinician–patient communication with gay and lesbian patients. Patient Educ Couns [Internet]. 2003;51(2):155-62. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0738-3991(02)00189-1
Silva ALR da, Finkler M, Moretti-Pires RO. Representações sociais de trabalhadores da atenção básica à saúde sobre pessoas LGBT. Trab Educ Saúde [Internet]. 2019;17(2):e0019730. doi: https://doi.org/10.1590/1981-7746-sol00197
Radix AE, Lelutiu-Weinberger C, Gamarel KE. Satisfaction and healthcare utilization of transgender and gender non-conforming individuals in NYC: a community-based participatory study. LGBT Health [Internet]. 2014;1(4):302-8. doi: https://doi.org/10.1089/lgbt.2013.0042
Quinn GP, Sanchez JA, Sutton SK, Vadaparampil ST, Nguyen GT, Green BL, et al. Cancer and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender/transsexual, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) populations. CA Cancer J Clin [Internet]. 2015;65(5):384-400. doi: https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21288
Khalili J, Leung LB, Diamant AL. Finding the perfect doctor: identifying lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender-competent physicians. Am J Public Health [Internet]. 2015;105(6):1114-9. doi: https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2014.302448
Smith DM, Gates GJ. Gay and lesbian families in the United States: same-sex unmarried partner households. Washington, DC: Human Rights Campaign; 2001 [citado em 23 de outubro de 2025]. Disponível em: https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/61046/1000491-Gay-and-Lesbian-Families-in-the-United-States.PDF
Anderson JI, Goodwin S, Diaz-Stevens A, Hughes C, McKay R, Shewchuk R, et al. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) issues in dental school environments: dental student leaders’ perceptions. J Dent Educ [Internet]. 2008;73(1):105-18. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/j.0022-0337.2009.73.1.tb04643.x
Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. Conselho Nacional de Combate à Discriminação. Brasil sem homofobia: programa de combate à violência e à discriminação contra GLTB e promoção da cidadania homossexual. Brasília; 2004 [citado em 23 de outubro de 2025]. Disponível em: https://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoes/brasil_sem_homofobia.pdf
Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. Departamento de Apoio à Gestão Participativa. Política nacional de saúde integral de lésbicas, gays, bissexuais, travestis e transexuais. Brasília; 2013 [Citado em 23 de outubro de 2025]. Disponível em: https://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoes/politica_nacional_saude_lesbicas_gays.pdf
Eliason M, Dibble S, Robertson P. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) physicians’ experiences in the workplace. J Homosex [Internet]. 2011;58(10):1355-71. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2011.614902
Dorsen C. An integrative review of nurse attitudes towards lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender patients. Can J Nurs Res [Internet]. 2012 [citado em 23 de outubro de 2025];44(3):18-43. Disponível em: https://cjnr.archive.mcgill.ca/article/view/2361
Rutherford K, McIntyre J, Daley A, McKenzie K, Ross L, MacLeod M, et al. Development of expertise in mental health service provision for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities. Med Educ [Internet]. 2012;46(9):903-13. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2923.2012.04272.x
Taylor AK, Condry H, Cahill D. Implementation of teaching on LGBT health care. Clin Ensine [Internet]. 2017;15(2):141-44. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/tct.12647
Costa AB, Peroni RO, Camargo ES, Pasley A, Nardi HC. Prejudice toward gender and sexual diversity in a Brazilian public university: prevalence, awareness, and the effects of education. Sex Res Soc Policy [Internet]. 2015;12(4):261-72. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-015-0191-z
Costa AB, Machado WL, Bandeira DR, Nardi HC. Validation study of the revised version of the Scale of Prejudice Against Sexual and Gender Diversity in Brazil. J Homosex [Internet]. 2016;63(11):1446-63. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2016.1222829
Costa AB, Peroni RO, Camargo ES, Pasley A, Nardi HC. Prejudice toward gender and sexual diversity in a Brazilian public university: prevalence, awareness, and the effects of education. Sex Res Soc Policy [Internet]. 2015;12:261-72. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-015-0191-z
Costa AB, Peroni RO, Bandeira DR, Nardi HC. Homophobia or sexism? A systematic review of prejudice against nonheterosexual orientation in Brazil. Int J Psychol [Internet]. 2013;48(5):900-9. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/00207594.2012.729839
Pereira CR, Vala J, Lopes D, Pereira C. O papel de representações sociais sobre a natureza da homossexualidade na oposição ao casamento civil e à adoção por famílias homoafetivas. Psicologia: Teoria e Pesquisa [Internet]. 2013;29(1):79-89. doi: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0102-37722013000100010
Silva AS, Ortolano F. Narrativas psicopolíticas da homofobia. Trivium - Estudos Interdisciplinares [Internet]. 2015;7(1):1-18. doi: https://doi.org/10.18370/2176-4891.2015v1p1
Silva VG. A visibilidade do suposto passivo: uma atitude revolucionária do homossexual masculino [Internet]. 2007 [Citado em 23 de outubro de 2025];7(1):71-88. Disponível em: https://ojs.unifor.br/rmes/article/view/1574
Gomes AAA M. Todo religioso é preconceituoso? Uma análise da influência da religiosidade no preconceito contra homossexuais. Psico [Internet]. 2021;52(4):1-16. doi: https://doi.org/10.15448/1980-8623.2021.4.36291
Natividade M. Homossexualidade, gênero e cura em perspectivas pastorais evangélicas. Rev Bras Ci Soc [Internet]. 2006;21(61):115-32. doi: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0102-69092006000200006
Bach CN, Leonhardt AZ, Muller C, Bianchini J, Rados ARV, Teixeira MFN. Discriminações e preconceitos: temas que precisam de muito debate na formação dos profissionais de saúde. Rev ABENO [Internet]. 2022;22(2):17-29. doi: https://doi.org/10.30979/revabeno.v22i2.1729
Gaspodini IB, Falcke D. Relações entre preconceito e crenças sobre diversidade sexual e de gênero em psicólogos/as brasileiros/as. Psicologia: Ciência e Profissão [Internet]. 2018;38(4):744-57. doi: https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-3703001752017
Costa AB, Bandeira DR, Nardi HC. Systematic review of instruments measuring homophobia and related constructs. J Appl Soc Psychol [Internet]. 2013;43(6):1324-32. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/jasp.12140
Stucky JL, Dantas BM, Pocahy FA, Nogueira PHQ, Nardi HC, Costa AB. Prejudice against gender and sexual diversity in Brazilian public high schools. Sex Res Soc Policy [Internet]. 2020;17(4):429-41. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-019-00406-z
