Homophobia, theory, lesbian feminism, social justice
Abstract
Trends in contemporary social work include the use of an eclectic theory
base. In an effort to incorporate multiple theories, this article will examine the social
problem of homophobia using two different theoretical perspectives: John Rawls’ theory of social justice and lesbian feminist theory.Homophobia, a current social problem, can be defined as “dislike or hatred toward homosexuals, including both cultural and personal biases against homosexuals” (Sullivan, 2003, p. 2). Rawls’ theory of
justice and lesbian feminist theory are especially relevant to the issue of homophobia
and provide a useful lens to understanding this social problem. In this article, these
two theories will be summarized, applied to the issue of homophobia, and compared
and contrasted based on their utility.
