A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY ON THE DISCRIMINATIONS

ENCOUNTERED BY SELECTED LGBTQIA+ SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

STUDENTS IN CSTC

A Research

Presented to the

Faculty of senior High School Department of

CSTC COLLEGE OF SCIENCES TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

In Partial Fulfillment of the

Requirements for the

K-12 CURRICULUM IN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Accountancy and Business Management

by:

Badillo, MJ B.

Bilaro, Jillian C.

Borillo, Sheilla May M.

Bugtong, Krissha Mae A.

Cabisuelas, Jhon Micheal D.

January 2023
 CHAPTER I

The Problem and Its Background

Background of the Study

In Philippines there are various types of Discrimination such as Age

Discrimination, Disability Discrimination, Sexual Orientation, Status as a Parent,
Religious Discrimination, National Origin, Pregnancy, Sexual Harassment, etc. Social
media postings can be against the law if they discriminate against, harass, bully or racially
vilify a person. Discrimination occurs when a person is treated less favorably than another
person because of a particular attribute they have. Harassment or bullying can amount to
discrimination in some circumstances.

Discrimination is the unfair or prejudicial treatment of people and groups based on

characteristics such as race, gender, age, or sexual orientation. That’s the simple answer.
But explaining why it happens is more complicated. The human brain naturally puts things
in categories to make sense of the world. Very young children quickly learn the difference
between boys and girls, for instance. But the values we place on different categories are
learned—from our parents, our peers, and the observations we make about how the world
works. Often, discrimination stems from fear and misunderstanding. Discrimination is a
public health issue. Research has found that the experience of discrimination—when
perceived as such—can lead to a cascade of stress-related emotional, physical, and
behavioral changes. Stress evokes negative emotional responses, such as distress, sadness,
and anger, and can often lead to an increase in behaviors that harm health, such as alcohol,
tobacco, and other substance use, and a decrease in healthy activities, such as sleep and
physical activity. Discrimination can be damaging even if you haven’t been the target of
overt acts of bias. Regardless of your personal experiences, it can be stressful just being a
member of a group that is often discriminated against, such as racial minorities or
individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+. ‘LGBTQIA+’ is an evolving acronym that stands
for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer/questioning, asexual. Many other
terms (such as non-binary and asexual) that people use to describe their experiences of their
gender, sexuality and physiological sex characteristics.

A lack of diversity, perpetuated by discrimination, makes our society weaker.

Diversity breeds creative thinking, democratic communities and innovation. Diversity in
higher education makes better citizens and results in a more vibrant and prosperous society
that benefits everyone. Through this research, it will help children understand the value of
diversity. A diverse set of experiences and viewpoints boosts creativity and helps kids (and
adults) better understand the world around them. On the other hand, discrimination hurts
everyone–not just the targets of discrimination. When people are discriminated against, we
can miss an important opportunity to learn from them.

Statement of the Problem

This study entitled; “A Phenomenological Study on the Discriminations Encountered

by Selected LGBTQIA+ Senior High School Students in CSTC” seeks to answer the
following research questions:

1. What is the demographic profile of the respondents in terms of:

1.1. Age
1.2. Sex?
1.3. Strand?
2. What are the discriminations encountered by the selected LGBTQIA+ senior high
school students?
3. What other implications can be drawn based from the results of the study?
Research Paradigm

INDEPENDENT VARIABLE DEPENDENT VARIABLE

Selected LGBTQIA+
Discrimination
Senior High School
Encountered Students in CSTC.

Figure 1. Independent and Dependent Variable Model of the “A Phenomenological

Study on the Discriminations Encountered by Selected LGBTQIA+ Senior High
School Students in CSTC”

Significance of the Study

The researchers believe that this study entitled; “A Phenomenological Study on the
Discriminations Encountered by Selected LGBTQIA+ Senior High School Students in
CSTC” would be significant to a wide variety of people in the community, specifically to
the following:

To the Respondents, this study would help them to express their hidden feelings
to all the people of how hard it is to feel liked being discriminated.

To the Parents, this study would help them to realize the fact that their child chose
to be a part of LGBTIQA+ was the only way that can make their child happy.

To the Student, this study would make them think about the difference of
discrimination and jokes.
 To the Researchers, this study would help them to understand more the concept of
research, the value of teamwork, cooperation, and not giving up. Aside from that, they will
also become more knowledgeable on the topic that they chose to study.

To the Future Researchers, this research paper could serve as their guide or basis
if they will also study the same topic.

Scope and Limitation

This study is focused on the selected 10 Senior High School Students from the
College of Sciences Technology and Communications INC. located in the town of Sariaya,
in the province of Quezon. The researchers chose their respondents using Convenience
Sampling Technique. Convenience sampling is a non-probability sampling method where
units are selected for inclusion in the sample because they are the easiest for the researcher
to access. This study was conducted from August 2022 until January 2023.
 CHAPTER II

Review of Related Literature and Studies

This section comprises the various related articles and readings as well as related
studies and researchers consider to support and strengthen the concepts of the study.

Related Literature

Foreign

According to Eidelson, Benjamin (2011), discrimination is different treatment that

has a specific explanatory connection to the agent's differential recognition of some
property to the discriminates, and he identify two things that are sometimes wrong with it.
First, in typical examples of unjust discrimination, the conduct demonstrates disregard for
those who are discriminated against' s standing as individuals. Second, much
discrimination is highly offensive simply because of its unintended consequences. It is bad
because it causes unjustified harm or results in unequal distributions. He presents an
analysis of the moral case against racial profiling in law enforcement as an example of how
we should think about this second form of unlawful discrimination.

On the other hand, according to Kasper Lippert-Rasmussen (2017), discrimination

is an important topic. Many disadvantages and disrespectful forms of treatment that people
face is the result of or amount to discrimination. Not unexpectedly, at least since the Civil
Rights movement in the United States, discrimination has frequently been at the forefront
when individuals complain about being unfairly worse off than others or being treated
unfairly.

Since the student’s involvement was evident, according to Stephen T. Russell and
Jessica N. Fish (2016), concluded that LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender,
queer/questioning, intersex and asexual) youth come out at younger ages, and public
support for LGBTQIA+ issues has skyrocketed, why are LGBTQIA+ youth still at high
risk for poor mental health? We begin with an overview of the current environment for
LGBTQIA+ youth, followed by a review of current research on LGBTQIA+ youth mental
health. Over the last decade, research has identified risk and protective factors for mental
health, pointing to promising avenues for prevention, intervention, and treatment. Legal
and policy victories have paved the way for advancements in LGBTQIA+ youth mental
health programs and practices. The implications for clinical care are discussed, as are key
areas for new research and practice.

According to Alex E. Ronsenthal (2021), The United States Supreme Court will
hear Whitman-Walker Clinic v. HHS on September 2, 2020. The District of Columbia
District Court enjoined HHS from implementing key provisions of the Trump
Administration's 2020 rule, which rolled back Obama-era regulations implementing
Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Section 1557, often known as the
antidiscrimination rule, forbids discrimination based on race, color, national origin, gender,
age, or disability in any federally funded health program or activity. Whitman-Walker was
the most recent in a long line of legal challenges to the Obama Administration's 2016 rule
and the Trump Administration's 2020 rule in interpreting the ACA's antidiscrimination
mandate.

Moreover, according to Sara Hajian and Josep Domingo-Ferrer (2012), data mining
is an increasingly important technology for extracting useful knowledge hidden in large
collections of data. There are, however, negative social perceptions about data mining,
among which potential privacy invasion and potential discrimination. The latter consists of
unfairly treating people on the basis of their belonging to a specific group. If the training
data sets are biased in what regards discriminatory (sensitive) attributes like gender, race,
religion, etc., discriminatory decisions may ensue. For this reason, anti-discrimination
techniques including discrimination discovery and prevention have been introduced in data
mining. Discrimination can be either direct or indirect
Synthesis

The above collection of foreign literature provides information that discrimination

is an important topic and that discrimination is a different treatment that has a specific
explanation. It also shows that the number of young people experiencing discrimination
around the world has increased. This includes laws that will help LGBTQIA+ students.
Moreover, Sara Hajian and Josep Domingo-Ferrer state that discrimination can also be
done through social media. These works of literature will aid in providing evidence for the
researchers' study.

Local

According to Dayrit and Alibudbud (2022), perfectionism of physical appearance

(PAP) is widespread in the Philippines. Physical characteristics including skin color,
height, weight, hair length, and what one wears are frequently the basis for discrimination
in the job and in schools.

According to Manalastas and Torre (2013), important political developments in late

2009 and early 2010 raised public awareness of the discrimination and continuous struggle
of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Filipinos for equality and rights.

On the other hand, according to Shiela Antonette Bacud and Diosa Joyce (2021),
One of the most difficult aspects of the journey for LGBTQIA+ youth is coming out in the
open. When one's gender preference is revealed to family, friends, and the community, it
may either be accepted or rejected.

Additionally, according to Healthy People (2011), the persecution and prejudice

that the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual (LGBTQIA+)
community has experienced must be examined in order to comprehend their health issues.
Their estrangement experiences are one of the most underexamined of the many problems
they deal with.

Furthermore, according to Arianne Marie M. Castillo et al. (2019), Gay identity has
been studied in a variety of social science subjects. This was corroborated by Cass (1979),
who said that a person's surroundings and early developmental processes can help to
explain a person's homosexuality.

Synthesis

The above collection of local literature provides information claiming that physical
appearance is the most typical basis for prejudice. Additionally, it describes the continuous
struggles of LGBTQIA+ persons, particularly with regard to their rights and equality, as
well as the possibility of acceptance or rejection by their family, friends, and society if they
reveal their gender preference. Furthermore, it is stated that in order to comprehend the
health difficulties of lgbt persons, people should be aware of their unfair treatment. The
researchers greatly benefit from knowing the challenges of their potential respondents.

Related Studies

Foreign

According to the Transgender Discrimination Survey of Jaime M. Grant et al.

(2011), Those who expressed a transgender identity or gender non-conformity while in
grades K-12 reported alarming Harassment (78%), physical assault (35%). and sexual
violence (12%); harassment was extremely common. Severe that it led almost one-sixth
(15%) to leave a school in grades K-12 or higher education. Respondents reported various
forms of direct housing discrimination, including 19% being denied a home or apartment
and 11% being evicted due to their gender identity/expression.

Additionally, according to the survey conducted by Harrison et al. (2012),

Genderqueer respondents to the survey were more likely than transgender respondents to:
Experiencing police harassment (31% compared to 21%), being physically assaulted (32%
compared to 25%), surviving sexual assault in K–12 education (16% compared to 11%),
being unemployed (76% compared to 56%), and avoiding medical treatment out of fear of
prejudice (36% compared to 27%).
 On the other hand, the journal of Jillian C. Shipherd et al. (2018), The majority of
veterans had obtained a PTSD diagnosis from a health-care practitioner in their lifetimes
(78.72%, n = 37), and over half reported currently experiencing PTSD symptoms.
Approximately 47% of LGBTQIA+ veterans with discrimination-based trauma histories
wanted to seek PTSD treatment completely at VHA (46.81%) or with a combination of
VHA and non-VHA providers (38.30%). Veterans who received PTSD therapy exclusively
from VHA reported greater satisfaction ratings (7.44 on 0–9 scale) than veterans who
received PTSD treatment exclusively from outside VHA (5.25 on 0–9 scale) (5.25 on 0–9
scale).

According to Erin C. Wilson et al. (2016), in their research study titled “The Impact
of Discrimination on the Mental Health of Trans*Female Youth and the Protective Effect
of Parental Support”. Logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios for
mental health outcomes, comparing levels of discrimination and resiliency promoting
protective factors among the sample's (N = 216) sexually active youth. High transgender
discrimination was associated with an increased risk of PTSD (AOR, 2.6; 95% CI 1.4-5.0),
depression (AOR, 2.6; 95% CI 1.2-5.9), and stress related to suicidal ideation (AOR 7.7,
95% CI 2.3-35.2). High levels of racial discrimination were found to be substantially
related with higher levels of chances of psychological stress (AOR 3.6; 95 % CI 1.2–10.8),
PTSD (AOR 2.1; 95 % CI 1.1–4.2) and stress associated to suicide ideation (AOR 4.3, 95
% CI 1.5–13.3).

Moreover, according to Laura E. T. Swan et al. (2021) lesbian, gay, bisexual,

transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) individuals experience intimate
partner violence (IPV) at high rates, even bidirectionally, yet no studies to date have
investigated IPV among LGBT individuals in Latin America. Thus, this study studied
prejudice and IPV victimization and perpetration among LGBTQIA+ individuals in Latin
America. This online, cross-sectional survey had (N = 99) participants who responded to
questions about lifetime IPV victimization and perpetration as well as LGBTQIA+
discrimination. Results indicated that 60.61% of the sample reported at least one form of
IPV victimization at some point in their life, and 56.57% reported at least one form of
perpetration.

Synthesis

The above collection of foreign studies provides information to the proponents that
researchers proposed study has similarities to the researcher’s present study. It is related to
the study because it explained how society treats LGBTQIA+ people across the country
and the pervasive discrimination that negatively impacts all aspects of their lives. In this
study, researchers say that discrimination is an important topic because there are many
disadvantages contained in it, such as unfair treatment of people. It also addresses why
LGBTQIA+ youth are at high risk for poor mental health and legal policy successes that
have led to advances in LGBTQIA+ youth mental health programs and practices. The
researcher’s purpose was to characterize the discrimination experienced or encountered by
the LGBTQIA+ and to apply proper treatment to gender-based activities.

Local

According to the analysis of Layton et al. (2013), their report summarizes the
findings and makes recommendations for the Philippines based on an examination of
gender gaps, strategies, and promising initiatives to combat gender prejudice and advance
equality between men and women in Cambodia, Kazakhstan, and the Philippines, as well
as an inventory of the world's best legal, economic, and social practices. It demonstrates
how to enhance sexual identity job prospects, pay, and treatment of women and men at the
workplace to promote the growth of decent work and gender equality good practices in the
nation.

On the other hand, according to the study conducted by Masilungan and Golfo-
Barcelona (2020), they look into the possibility of establishing a community archive that
might provide a forum for the LGBTQIA+ community in the Philippines to express their
identity and demand full acceptance. A community archive is distinct from other archives
because it prioritizes identification and empowerment over the need to preserve a certain
legacy. The envisioned archive would document and compile life narratives, events, and
activities to show the diversity and commonality of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Additionally, according to Eric Julian Manalastas (2013), this analysis—the first to

do so in the Philippine context—indicates that sexual orientation appears to be significantly
associated with suicide risk, with young Filipino gay and bisexual men at vastly higher risk
for suicidal ideation than heterosexual peers. These findings are consistent with findings in
the global LGBTQIA+ psychology literature.

According to Montao et al. (2022), the researchers used a biographical narrative to

analyze the relationship dynamics of same-sex Filipino couples that experienced
homophobia, heteronormativity, and discrimination. Biographical narratives are a fantastic
way to logically explain social concerns like gender studies. To do this, the researchers
interviewed same-sex couples from the Western Visayas provinces of the Philippines. The
results demonstrated that diverse perspectives represented the basis for creating and
maintaining such a link.

Moreover, according to Geonanga and Kristian Ed G (2018), the goal of their

research is to examine how young Filipino bisexuals form their identities and sexual
orientation. The study's findings indicated that bisexuals go through five stages of identity
and sexual orientation formation.

Synthesis

The above collection of local studies provides information on equality, particularly

the existence of jobs that may be performed regardless of sexual orientation, can be
improved. As discrimination can lead to suicides, it also expresses people's desire to be
accepted by others. It also covers the relational dynamics experienced by same-sex couples.
These studies will help researchers to understand how LGBTQIA+ people reveal their
sexual orientation and identities, as well as how difficult it is and how they do so.
 CHAPTER III

Research Methodology

This chapter presents the research design of the study, the research locale, the
respondents, sampling technique used, data gathering instrument and the data gathering
procedures, validation of the questionnaires and statistical treatment of data.

Research Design

The descriptive method of investigation was used in this study. According to Wil
Kenton (2018) to descriptive statistics are brief descriptive, coefficients that summarize a
given data set, which can be either a representation of the entire or a sample of a population.
Descriptive statistics are broken down into measures of central tendency and measures of
variability (spread). Measures of central tendency include the mean, median, and mode,
while measures of variability include the standard deviation, variances, and the minimum
and maximum variables

Research Locale

Figure 2. Map of Sariaya, Quezon

 Sariaya is the first class and municipality lying at the south-western portion of
Quezon Province in Region IV-A (CALABARZON). It is geographically situated at
coordinates 13 degrees, 57 minutes and 14 seconds north latitude and 21 degrees, 30
minutes and 15.53 seconds east longitude. It is bounded on the north by Mt. Banahaw, on
the northeast by Tayabas, Quezon; on the east by Lucena City; on the south by the Tayabas
Bay; on the southwest by San Juan Batangas; and on the west of the Candelaria. It is located
126 kilometers south of the National Capital Region (Metro Manila) and approximately 11
kilometers from Lucena city (Provincial Capital). Old ancestral mansions, centuries-old
Catholic Church, high quality and safe resorts, and a busy marketplace are landmarks that
make Sariaya a unique and memorable place to visit (http://www.sariaya.gov.ph,2011).

Figure 3. Geographical Location of CSTC, Inc.

The research study was conducted at the College of Sciences Technology and
Communications, Inc. located in Gen. Luna St. Maharlika Highway, Poblacion 3. Arellano
Subdivision Sariaya, Quezon. College of Sciences Technology and Communications, Inc.
is one of the private schools in Sariaya that has a state-of-the-art facility, Wi-fi campus,
highly qualified faculty, and competent technical skills trainors, well-equipped laboratories
and work stations, and limited number of students per class (www.cstc.edu.ph,2015).

Research Instrument

The researchers used self-structured interview questionnaire. This type of

questionnaire was utilized for the gathering of the qualitative data that will be used in the
study. The primary aim of the questionnaire was both to identify the demographic profile
of the respondents and to determine the A Phenomenological Study on the Discriminations
Encountered by Selected LGBTQIA+ Senior High School Students in CSTC.

Data Gathering Procedures

In order to collect data, first, the researchers identified who are their respondents
and had their permission to be the respondents of the study. Next, the researchers explained
to the respondents the study itself and their significance in conducting it. The researchers
also explained and informed them their rights as respondents of the study. After that, the
researchers started the interview and had the respondents share their thoughts or insights
that will be needed in the study. Finally, the researchers analyzed, evaluated, and
interpreted the data and information from the respondents using different statistical tools
and operationalize reality by summarizing it into a narrative so it will be easy to analyze.

Validation of the Questionnaire

The researchers used a number of procedures to ensure that the interview

questionnaires to be used as the data gathering instrument were valid, clear and
comprehendible. The researchers prepared a questionnaire in the form of interview
questions that was checked by the research adviser and the assigned grammarian to test the
validity of each of the questions. The researchers also submitted the interview
questionnaire to the statistician to be guided of what statistical treatments were to be used.
Aside from that, they also consulted their subject teacher to check their questions and to
make sure that they are valid. The research adviser then identified the questions that needed
revisions so that the questionnaires were already free of errors before they were distributed
to the respondents.