This essay investigates tolerance towards homosexuals in Argentina in 1995. It addresses the following questions: “How prevalent is tolerance towards homosexuality in Argentina?” and “Are there any differences between specific groups of society?”, which will be examined regarding age, education and religious practice.
Tolerance is one aspect of self-expression values as part of the value change explained by Inglehart. Therefore the broader aim of this paper is to display how prevalent self-expression values are in Argentina as a transitory and deeply Catholic country.
First, I will explain the theoretical framework, define the term tolerance as it is used here and explain the concept of value change and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Furthermore I will formulate my expectations about the results of my research with data from the World Values Survey. I will then specify which items I used, before displaying the empirical results and drawing a conclusion.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Theoretical framework
3. Methods
4. Results
4.1 Overview
4.2 Differences between groups
5. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Core Topics
This study aims to examine the prevalence of tolerance towards homosexuals in Argentina using data from the 1995 World Values Survey, while identifying how specific socio-demographic factors influence these attitudes in a traditionally Catholic nation.
- The influence of value change and Maslow's hierarchy of needs on social tolerance.
- Empirical analysis of attitudes towards homosexuality across different age groups.
- The correlation between educational levels and the acceptance of alternative lifestyles.
- The impact of religious practice and Catholic institutional influence on moral judgments.
- Comparative analysis of societal groups based on the "least liked" social criteria.
Excerpt from the Book
Theoretical framework
Before analyzing tolerance towards homosexuals in Argentina, the term tolerance as it is used here should be defined. According to the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language tolerance means “the capacity for or the practice of recognizing and respecting the beliefs or practices of others” (The American heritage dictionary of the English language, 2000).
According to Ronald Inglehart there has been a value change over the past decades from traditional, materialist values to post-materialist values or self-expression values. At the basis of this value change are two major assumptions about the causes. The first one claims that we adapt our values to our socio-economic situation, placing personal priority on whatever is in relatively short supply. The second key factor for value change is generational replacement. As our values largely depend on the conditions during our childhood, they differ between generations (Inglehart, 1977).
Closely connected to this concept is Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Maslow divides human needs into different categories, arranged in a pyramid and ascribes them to two broader types: deficiency needs, addressed in response to deficit and growth needs, attended to in response to desire.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: This chapter outlines the research goal of evaluating tolerance towards homosexuality in 1995 Argentina and introduces the central research questions regarding societal differences.
Theoretical framework: This section defines tolerance and applies Inglehart’s theory of value change alongside Maslow’s hierarchy of needs to provide a basis for expected social attitudes.
Methods: This chapter specifies the data sources and the four primary World Values Survey items selected to gauge attitudes towards homosexuals.
Results: This section presents the empirical findings, showing that homosexuals are relatively tolerated compared to other groups, yet face significant barriers when direct contact or broader sexual freedom are considered.
Conclusion: This final chapter synthesizes the findings, confirming that age, education, and religious practice significantly shape tolerance levels in the Argentinean context.
Keywords
Tolerance, Homosexuality, Argentina, World Values Survey, Inglehart, Value Change, Maslow, Hierarchy of Needs, Socio-economic Status, Religion, Education, Age, Post-materialist Values, Self-expression, Catholic Church.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
The paper investigates the level of tolerance towards homosexual individuals in Argentina in 1995 and analyzes how social and demographic variables influence these attitudes.
What central themes are explored throughout the text?
The work focuses on value change theories, the socio-economic determinants of social attitudes, the influence of religion on morality, and generational differences in values.
What is the primary research question?
The study asks how prevalent tolerance towards homosexuality is in Argentina and whether there are significant differences in these attitudes among specific social groups regarding age, education, and religion.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The author utilizes secondary data analysis based on the 1995 World Values Survey, focusing on specific items like "least liked group," "justifiability of homosexuality," and "sexual freedom."
What topics are covered in the main body of the work?
The main body covers the theoretical foundations of tolerance, the empirical results derived from survey data, and a detailed breakdown of how age, education, and religious practice correlate with tolerance levels.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
The core keywords include Tolerance, Homosexuality, Argentina, World Values Survey, Inglehart, Value Change, and Socio-economic Status.
How does the age of respondents impact the results in this study?
The data confirms that tolerance towards homosexuality decreases with age, particularly among those over 50, who were influenced by the unstable economic and political conditions of the 1930s during their childhood.
What role does the Catholic Church play in the findings?
Given that 90% of the Argentinean population was Catholic in 1995, the author argues that the Church's traditional worldview, which labels homosexual behavior as a sin, is a key driver for lower tolerance levels.
- Quote paper
- Inga Nehlsen (Author), 2011, Tolerance towards Homosexuality in Argentina, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/303446
