International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume VI, Issue VII, July 2022 | ISSN 2454–6186
Wambua Pius Muasa (PhD)
Institute of Youth Studies, School of Arts and Social Sciences
Tangaza University College, Catholic University of Eastern Africa
Abstract: In Africa, homosexuality has been considered morally wrong and against the African culture. Globally, studies have shown negative attitude towards the same gender relationship among the university students. However, there is lack of similar studies with among university students in Kenya and therefore, the objective this study was to establish the influence of demographic variables of age, gender, and level of education on the attitude towards the same gender relationship among university students in Nairobi County, Kenya. The study employed correlational design. Through simple random sampling the study utilized a sample size of 294 participants. The data was collected using the demographic details of the participants and attitude towards homosexuality scale. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and one WAY ANOVA. The results showed that all the demographic variables (age, gender and education level) had insignificant predictive relationship with attitude towards homosexuality, p≤ 0.05.
I.INTRODUCTION
There has been a marked increase in the growth of negative attitudes toward homosexuality in African countries. Studies that have been carried out with students in Africa universities such as Ghana, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, South Africa and others have shown greater condemnation of homosexuality than in any other part of the world (Sollar & Somda, 2011). Despite the push for international laws that protect minorities from inhumane and degrading treatment, Kenya is one of the many African countries that have not signed the December 2008 UN declaration to decriminalize homosexuality (Sollar & Somda, 2011). Studies have shown that many people’s negative attitude toward homosexuality is based on morality, religion, concern for procreation and culture (Sollar & Somda, 2011).
In African countries, it is believed that people are born heterosexuals and those who happen to be homosexuals are thought to have chosen to be so and therefore, they ought to be condemned and punished severely (Anderson, 2007). For instance, the national constitution of Kenya section 162 to 165 indicates very clearly that those who are found guilty of practicing homosexuality are supposed to be given a penalty of fourteen years of imprisonment (The Republic of Kenya, 2010). Homosexuality is one of the sensitive and difficult subjects to discuss and research in the African context because of the societal taboos and the fact that most religious traditions are extremely against it (Shoko, 2010). Due to the