According to Russians, sexual orientation is acquired under the influence of society where mass media plays a key role.
MOSCOW, May 17, 2012. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data describing how Russians perceive persons with non-traditional sexual orientation; whether they think that homosexuality is acquired, and if yes, what it is influenced by.
Russians perceive people with different sexual orientation more negatively than people with different ethnic background, social status, or different beliefs. Forty-five percent of Russians have negative emotions contacting homosexuals (to compare: only 10% feel the same when contacting people of different ethnicities). Thirty-eight percent of respondents admit that they do not feel any particular emotions towards people with non-traditional sexual orientation. And only 3% mention that they have positive emotions contacting homosexuals.
According to the majority of Russians, homosexuality is acquired under the influence of society (61%), and it is not innate (25%). Most of those who think so are men (64%), rather than women (58%). Those who consider that this feature is acquired are basically Russians who have gay friends rather than those who do not have gay friends (56% versus 61%, respectively).
Mass media and gay propaganda are key factors that influence sexual orientation (47%), according to Russians. Belonging to a certain social group (35%), to a circle of people with non-traditional orientation (34%), education (33%), or specific environment (28%) are also factors that greatly influence sexual orientation. Negative experiences with the opposite sex are less important (16%), according to Russians.
Russians who have gay friends and Russians who do not have gay friends are divided in opinion. The former tend to put attention to contacting gay circles (44%) or belonging to certain social groups (41%). The latter point out the influence of mass media (49%).
The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted April 14-15, 2012. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 138 sampling points in 46 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.
What feelings do you have when contacting … ? | ||||||
| People of non-traditional sexual orientation | People of different ethnicities | People who are richer or more influential than you | People of different beliefs | People with different interests and values (fans of other sports teams, bands parties et cet.) | People less wealthy or respectful than you |
Negative emotions, antipathy, tension | 45 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 3 |
Calm, no special emotions; I treat this person like any other | 38 | 79 | 76 | 80 | 79 | 85 |
Positive emotions, interest, easiness | 3 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 8 |
Hard to tell | 14 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
In your opinion, is homosexuality innate or acquired under the influence of society? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||||
| Total respondents | I have gay friends/relatives | I do not have gay friends/relatives | I might have gay friends/relatives but I do not know about it |
Innate | 25 | 37 | 24 | 27 |
Acquired | 61 | 56 | 61 | 60 |
Hard to tell | 15 | 7 | 15 | 12 |
If you think that non-traditional sexual orientation is acquired and shaped by society, what factors have the biggest impact on it? (close-ended question, not more than three answers, % of those who believe that non-traditional sexual orientation is influenced by society) | ||||
| Total respondents | Yes, I have gay friends/relatives | No, I do not have gay friends/relatives | I do not know for sure if I have gay friends/relatives |
Influence of mass media, propaganda | 47 | 34 | 49 | 33 |
Education | 33 | 31 | 34 | 30 |
Contacting people of non-traditional sexual orientation (friends, relatives) | 34 | 44 | 32 | 51 |
Specific environment (prison, army et cet.) | 28 | 34 | 28 | 35 |
Belonging to certain social circles, having special way of life (bohemia, show business et cet.) | 35 | 41 | 34 | 45 |
Negative experiences with the opposite sex | 16 | 22 | 15 | 20 |
Other | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Hard to tell | 4 | 6 | 4 | 1 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!