LGBTIQ+ Employees’ Coping Strategies to Deal with Gender Discrimination at Work: A Qualitative Study

The objective of this study is to elucidate the coping mechanisms that LGBTIQ+ individuals employ in response to discrimination based on their sexual orientation and gender identity in the context of business life in Turkiye, with a particular focus on the influence of prevailing social norms and legal deficiencies. It is possible that LGBTIQ+ individuals may refrain from pursuing their rights in the event of discrimination. Consequently, LGBTIQ+ employees develop individual coping strategies in response to discriminatory practices. In this study, interviews were conducted with 19 LGBTIQ+ employees. The objective of the interviews is to ascertain the strategies that employees utilize to cope with discrimination. The structure and generally accepted norms of Turkish society, which justify LGBTIQ+ individuals’ concerns about discrimination and exclusion from social life, have formed the basis of scientific curiosity for this research project. The data obtained from the interviews were transcribed and subjected to a descriptive analysis. The findings were subsequently classified into the following categories: hiding in the workplace, hiding as a result of witnessing discrimination, living a facade, remaining silent in the face of discrimination, confronting discrimination, and not seeking legal rights. The findings indicate that the most prevalent coping strategy employed by LGBTIQ+ individuals is the concealment of their sexual orientation and gender identity. This approach often results in a sense of disconnection from their authentic selves in professional settings. Moreover, the primary strategies employed by LGBTIQ+ employees are identified as working for organizations that are relatively accommodating LGBTIQ+ individuals, working with acquaintances, and imitating a heterosexual lifestyle. The data indicate that individual coping strategies have been employed more frequently by gay and bisexual individuals than by transgender individuals.