Group identity, empathy and shared suffering: Understanding the ‘community’ impacts of anti-LGBT and Islamophobic hate crimes

Walters, Mark A, Paterson, Jenny, McDonnell, Liz and Brown, Rupert (2020) Group identity, empathy and shared suffering: Understanding the ‘community’ impacts of anti-LGBT and Islamophobic hate crimes. International Review of Victimology, 26 (2). pp. 143-162. ISSN 0269-7580

[img]
Preview
Text
AAM_Walters et al_2019_IRV_Group identity.pdf - Accepted Version

Download (311kB) | Preview
Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/0269758019833284

Abstract

This article examines the indirect impacts of hate crimes on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender and Muslim communities in the United Kingdom. Based on 34 qualitative interviews, we explore both the perceived meaning of ‘community’ in the context of targeted victimization and the emotional and behavioural effects that anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender and Islamophobic hate crimes have on other members of the victim’s group. Building on previous quantitative data undertaken as part of a larger programme of research, this study helps to explain how and why hate crimes have significant indirect consequences on two distinct but commonly targeted communities. The focus on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender and Muslim communities allowed us to draw out similarities and commonalities across different groups, further enhancing the understanding of the impacts of hate crime. In particular, the article highlights how for many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender and Muslim people feelings of anger and anxiety about hate crimes were linked to enhanced levels of empathy towards those that they share a group identity with. These empathic bonds often gave rise to a sense of ‘shared suffering’, with participants frequently feeling connected to group members worldwide through their common experiences of hate and prejudice. Although group identity was important to many participants’ sense of belonging to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender or Muslim communities, it was clear that the most profound impacts of hate crime were experienced when incidents occurred within someone’s local area. This highlighted the importance of location as a key variable in understanding both the meaning of ‘community’ and the indirect impacts of hate crime.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Hate crime, community, group identity, intergroup emotions, empathy
Subjects: C800 Psychology
L300 Sociology
Department: Faculties > Health and Life Sciences > Psychology
Depositing User: Elena Carlaw
Date Deposited: 08 Aug 2019 14:47
Last Modified: 31 Jul 2021 18:01
URI: http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/40280

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

View more statistics