Aversion toward Homosexuals among Tertiary Education Students in South Africa

Abstract

This study investigated the attitudes of student at tertiary education towards homosexuals. The specific objective of the study was to investigate whether students have aversion toward or discriminate against homosexuals. Furthermore the study aimed to find out the students’ perceptions of usefulness of interventions towards ameliorating the effects of discrimination towards homosexuals at the University of Zululand. The quantitative research approach was employed in this study by the use of a questionnaire in a survey of university students (n = 66). Data collected was analysed by using descriptive statistics, bivariate correlation and Principal Components Analysis (PCA). The findings of the study revealed that while students possess high levels of aversion toward homosexuals, the level of ostensible acts of discrimination is low. On the basis of the result, it was recommended that organising sports events and creating homosexual societies that are vibrant would encourage students to come in more contact with homosexuals in order to have more understandings and insights about homosexuality.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n10p569