The sound of silence: talking about sexual orientation and schooling

DePalma, Renée; Atkinson, Elizabeth

doi:10.1080/14681810600981848

Cited by 102 publications

(62 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…This research identified a widespread discomfort about sex(uality) among professionals, summed up by one interviewee citing the adage "no sex please, we're British" (Male teacher B, LGBT lead). Sexual activity was also explicitly related to, or confused with, sexual and gender identity (see also Clarke, 1996;DePalma and Atkinson, 2006):…”

Section: A Medical Model There Is Something Wrong With the Indivmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Discomfort about sex(uality) was associated with embarrassment and potentially thinking they could 'turn' young people gay or be promoting sexual activity (see also DePalma and Atkinson, 2006;Quinlivan, 2002):…”

Section: "It's Basically Sex Isn't It? the Majority Of People Thinmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The idea that to discuss (homo)sexuality with young people is to promote it, or make it visible, appears to deny that (homo)sexuality is already present in young people's lives (DePalma and Atkinson, 2006;Moran, 2001). In trying or hoping to make (homo)sexuality invisible, workers have the potential to harm young (LGB) people's emerging identities and self-esteem by implying that certain (minority) sexual identities are something to be hidden and/or ashamed of:…”

Section: "In Terms Of Teachers Delivering the Gay Thing In School I mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Studies have suggested that lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) young people are rarely included in the (formal) school curriculum, with some staff uncomfortable or fearful about including LGB issues within their teaching, particularly regarding sex and relationships education (SRE) (DePalma and Atkinson, 2006;Ellis, 2007;Formby, 2011a). It has been suggested that sexual orientation is viewed as a taboo subject, at risk of exclusion for concerns about tackling it incorrectly by unconfident staff, perhaps (still) related to the legacy of Section 28 1 which forbade UK local authorities 1 Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988 was a controversial piece of legislation which stated that a local authority "shall not promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality" (HMSO, 1988 (although ironically not schools) from promoting homosexuality as a 'pretended family relationship' (DePalma and Atkinson, 2006;Ellis, 2007). It has been argued that this legislation created a climate of fear around teaching about LGB identities or relationships, the legacy of which still remains (Greenland and Nunney, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Understanding and Responding to Homophobia and Bullying: Contrasting Staff and Young People’s Views within Community Settings in England

Formby

2013

Sex Res Soc Policy

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Schools have been called the last bastion of homophobia; by comparison little research has been carried out on this subject in youth services. This article reports on qualitative findings from a recent mixed methods study of barriers and facilitators to schools and youth services addressing issues about (homo)sexuality, homophobia and transphobia in one English region. The research sought to more fully understand the contexts in which young people experience and manage their identities and/or the prejudices they may face. Findings are based on 146 self-completion survey responses from young people, and qualitative data drawn from 74 participants involved in in-depth methods (interviews and discussion groups) in nine different settings. This included teachers, youth service workers and young people (aged 11-20) who self-identified as lesbian, gay or bisexual, or heterosexual. The study adds to existing literature by taking a broader view of the social contexts in which young people learn about, make sense of, and practice, identities. In doing so, it suggests ways in which sociological perspectives can add to and expand the current (often psychology-based) body of work on bullying.The article documents six key themes emerging from the data: curriculum inclusion/exclusion; understandings of homophobia and bullying; experiences and impacts of bullying and homophobia; professional responses and support services; issues underlying professional practice; implications for identity management. Drawing on these findings and supporting evidence, the article concludes with a critique of the limiting constraints of individualised anti-bullying discourses, and argues that these risk minimising understandings of the complex social contexts for homophobia and transphobia.2

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Section: A Medical Model There Is Something Wrong With the Indivmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: "It's Basically Sex Isn't It? the Majority Of People Thinmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: "In Terms Of Teachers Delivering the Gay Thing In School I mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Understanding and Responding to Homophobia and Bullying: Contrasting Staff and Young People’s Views within Community Settings in England

Formby

2013

Sex Res Soc Policy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…With most studentteachers now having part-time jobs, they found this 24-7 accessibility to be ideal for their busy lives. Future student-teacher programmes with digital and multimedia interaction will include the fora of chatrooms and bulletin boards, and be inclusive of all young people including those who are questioning their gender identity, because they are a minority whose needs are frequently forgotten in education (see DePalma & Atkinson, 2006).…”

Section: Encourage Testing Ideas Against Alternative Views and Alternmentioning

confidence: 99%

Teaching about Human Relationships Education for primary school student‐teachers using an interactive CD‐ROM

Goldman

Torrisi‐Steele

2009

Pastoral Care in Education

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“I Decided to Teach… Despite the Anger”: Using Forum Theatre to Connect Queer Activists, Teachers and School Leaders to Address Heterosexism in Schools

Francis

Khan

2020

Queer Social Movements and Outreach Work in Schools

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The sound of silence: talking about sexual orientation and schooling

Cited by 102 publications

References 12 publications

Understanding and Responding to Homophobia and Bullying: Contrasting Staff and Young People’s Views within Community Settings in England

Understanding and Responding to Homophobia and Bullying: Contrasting Staff and Young People’s Views within Community Settings in England

Teaching about Human Relationships Education for primary school student‐teachers using an interactive CD‐ROM

“I Decided to Teach… Despite the Anger”: Using Forum Theatre to Connect Queer Activists, Teachers and School Leaders to Address Heterosexism in Schools

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