Study Notes on Gender, Sexuality, and Identity Development in Counselor Education

Gender, Sexuality, and Identity Development in Social, Cultural, and Christian Integration in Counselor Education

Author Bios

  • Shauna Frisbie, PhD
      - Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), approved supervisor for licensed PCs in Texas.
      - Nationally certified counselor, certified eating disorder specialist, approved consultant for eating disorders specialists.
      - Doctorate from Texas Tech University.
      - Professor at Colorado Christian University, research interests: identity development, social media, phototherapy, counselor education, trauma.

  • Beth Robinson, EdD
      - Professor of Counseling at Colorado Christian University.
      - Certified School Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas, over 20 years in training school counselors and licensed PCs.
      - Past academic roles at Lubbock Christian University.
      - Doctorate from Texas Tech University.

  • TeShaunda Hannor-Walker, PhD
      - LPC, NCC, CPCS, licensed in Georgia, editor, associate professor at Liberty University.
      - Former school counselor and director of guidance and counseling for 15 years; author of publications related to counseling.
      - Areas of interest: Christianity, counseling, trauma, poverty, digital addictions, commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC).

  • Lynn Bohecker, PhD
      - PhD in Counselor Education, full professor at Liberty University, Senior Editor of the Journal of Faith Integration in Counseling.
      - CEO of The Counseling Center at Tree City, extensive presentation and publication record.

  • Janita Daggy
      - Doctoral student in Counselor Education and Supervision at Liberty University, holds LPC-S in Virginia.
      - Active client load, supervision of counselors seeking full licensure, research and scholarship agenda, presentations at various levels.

Learning Objectives

  • Define terms related to gender, sexuality, and identity.

  • Understand the biblical paradigm for gender and sexuality.

  • Understand the effects of gender, sexism, and forms of discrimination on mental health and well-being.

  • Familiarize with different ethical codes when working with diverse communities.

  • Know treatment modalities appropriate for PCs working from a biblical worldview.

Vocabulary List

  • Ambivalent sexism: The coexistence of hostile and benevolent attitudes toward women.

  • Asexual: A person who experiences little or no sexual attraction to others.

  • Benevolent sexism: A protective paternalistic attitude towards women, often seen as positive but ultimately restricts autonomy.

  • Binary: The classification of gender into two distinct, opposite forms: male and female.

  • Bisexual: A person who is attracted to both men and women.

  • Cisgender: A person whose gender identity aligns with their sex assigned at birth.

  • Covert discrimination: Subtle or hidden discriminatory acts or behaviors.

  • Gender: The social, psychological, and cultural attributes associated with being male or female.

  • Gender identity: One’s personal sense of their gender, which may differ from the sex assigned at birth.

  • Gender-based discrimination: Inequitable treatment based upon one’s gender.

  • Genderism: Discrimination against those who do not identify strictly as male or female.

  • Heterosexual: A person attracted to members of the opposite sex.

  • Homosexual: A person attracted to members of the same sex.

  • Hostile sexism: Open hostility and negative attitudes toward women.

  • Internalized sexism: Acceptance of gender stereotypes and discrimination by the target group itself.

  • Intersex: Individuals born with sex characteristics that do not fit typical definitions for male or female bodies.

  • LGBTQIA+: An acronym representing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, and other communities.

  • Male privilege: Societal privileges that benefit men over women in various contexts.

  • Nonbinary: Individuals who do not identify strictly as male or female.

  • Objectification: Reducing a person to an object, often seen in sexual contexts.

  • Patriarchy: A societal structure where men hold power and authority over women.

  • Sexism: Prejudice or discrimination based on a person's sex or gender.

  • Sexual orientation: A person's pattern of emotional, romantic, or sexual attraction to others.

  • Transgender: A person whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth.

Introduction to Gender, Sexuality and Identity Development

  • Focuses on gender and sexuality from two paradigms:
      - Biblical worldview: Professional counselors aligning with Christianity.
      - Secular post-modern worldview: Inclusive, primarily Western cultural views.

  • Identity development discussed from both secular and biblical perspectives.

Biblical Paradigm for Gender and Sexuality

  • Concept: Humans were created for relationship with God (Tozer, 2011).

  • The fall (Genesis 3:1; Corinthians 15:21) distanced humanity from God, leaving wounds that affect understanding of gender and sexuality.

  • Sin: Anything contrary to God's will, affecting healthy identity and expression. James 4:17 emphasizes the responsibility of knowing good and acting on it.

  • Counseling professionals (PCs) encounter diverse expressions of gender and sexuality that may not align with biblical teachings, presenting an opportunity for healing.

  • PCs guided by biblical principles must balance love and ethical standards.

Secular Post-Modern Paradigm for Gender and Sexuality

  • In Western society, views opposing minority expressions have faced opposition:
      - The ACA (formed in 1952) counters non-affirming views, sees such views as discrimination.
      - Conversion therapy is often labeled child abuse when applied to minors.
      - 26 U.S. states have banned conversion therapy, although legal in many regions worldwide.
      - Concerns arise regarding potential constitutional infringements on religious freedoms.

  • The faith community's apprehensions regarding conversion therapy bans relate to perceptions of compromised religious freedoms.

  • Many organizations support biblical counselors, e.g., AACC and CAPS, providing ethical frameworks for counseling aligned with biblical teachings.

Understanding Gender

  • God created humanity in His image (Genesis 1:27), implying equality yet with different roles and characteristics.

  • In secular views, gender is a social construct, not strictly biological, subject to socialization from birth (example of color associations with genders).

  • Gender identity refers to one's experience of being male, female, or a mix, which may differ from anatomical sex.

  • Cisgender: Term for individuals whose gender identity matches assigned sex.
      - Assigned sex at birth: A secular approach becoming commonly accepted yet not universal.

  • From a biblical viewpoint, gender is divinely assigned at conception and cannot be altered by human will (e.g., Psalm 139:13–16).

  • Gender-based discrimination can affect men and women, leading to inequities and poorer mental health outcomes.

  • Sexism defined as “prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, typically against women, on the basis of sex” (Oxford, 2024).

  • Male privilege examples illustrate societal advantages men hold, emphasizing the ongoing structure of patriarchy and traditional gender roles.

  • Internalized sexism: Some women may accept traditional roles, perpetuating gender inequality, while others thrive in balancing domestic and career responsibilities.

Gender-Based Violence

  • Victimization associated with gender often disproportionately affects specific groups, particularly women aged 18 to 34. Research suggests sexism accounts for normalized violence against women by sustaining power imbalances.

  • Benevolent sexism is subtle, offering seemingly protective attitudes that are patronizing, while hostile sexism is openly aggressive.

  • Women often experience underestimation of emotional abuse within patriarchal systems.

  • Discrimination against sexual minorities, especially trans individuals, highlights a significant risk of violence fueled by societal biases.

Impact of Sexism on Mental Health

  • Sexism contributes to various mental health issues, particularly for women and girls. Higher stress levels, anxiety, depression, and substance use are linked to sexism.

  • Internalized sexism may moderate the impact of microaggressions on mental health.

  • Eating disorders are affected by sexism, with rising cases among young women, and increasingly among males, illustrating broad societal impacts of gender discrimination.

Understanding Gender and Sexual Orientation

  • Gender identity typically aligns with physical anatomy, but not always for everyone.

  • Intersex: Approximately 1 in 2000 individuals born with atypical sex characteristics, challenging binary gender classification.

  • Sexual orientation defined by APA encompasses attraction patterns ranging from heterosexual, homosexual to bisexual, with asexual individuals exhibiting no attraction.

Sexual Identity Development Models

  • Two prominent models discussed:
      1. Yarhouse’s Model: Integrates a client's religious values into sexual identity formation.
         - Five stages: 1) identity confusion, 2) identity attribution, 3) identity foreclosure vs. expansion, 4) identity reappraisal, 5) identity synthesis.
         - Emphasizes the role of individual narrative and complexity in identity.
      2. Cass’s Model: Focuses on homosexual identity formation and personal congruence, consisting of six stages. Critiques highlight lack of empirical support and cultural sensitivity.