Abstract Book of the 4th International Conference on LGBT Studies
Year: 2025
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The Influence of Real-Life Proximity and Parasocial Interactions on Attitudes towards the LGBTQIA+ Community in Mauritius
Vrajishni Dumur, Serena Hevanna Vianello
ABSTRACT:
Although Mauritius has made constitutional advancements, including the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling that decriminalized gay sex by amending Section 250 of the Criminal Code, societal acceptance of queer individuals remains inconsistent and a matter of debate due its fragile social fabric distinguished by its poly-ethnic and poly-religious composition. This study investigated the influence of having direct contact with the LGBTQIA+ community (real-life proximity), and parasocial interactions through media representation of LGBTQIA+ fictional characters on the attitudes towards sexual and gender-diverse minorities in the country. 118 adults took part in an online survey circulated on social media platforms. Data were collected using the Modern Homonegativity Scale, a modified version of the Bogardus Social Distance Scale, and the Parasocial Interaction (PSI)-Process Scale. Results demonstrated that both real-life proximity and parasocial interactions were strongly associated with positive attitudes, and both significantly predicted attitudes towards the LGBTQIA+ community. Interestingly, it was also observed that parasocial interactions had a relatively stronger influence compared to real-life proximity. Since both real-life proximity and parasocial interactions exert an influence on heterosexist attitudes in Mauritius, media representation can be a strong alternative for reducing stigma and sexual prejudice without risking the backlash that direct interventions may provoke. This adds to our understanding of the effects of representation and visibility in developing positive attitudes towards the LGBTQIA+ population and may guide future interventions, advocacy strategies and policies to build a more inclusive Mauritian society.
Keywords: social identity theory, contact theory, imagined contact hypothesis, societal attitudes, heterosexism