''Walking on eggshells to not offend people": Experiences of same-sex student couples at a South African university

Abstract

Rules and expectations for appropriate public couple behaviour on university campuses are predominantly heteronormative and marginalise people with other sexual orientations. Such environments pose specific challenges to same-sex couples with regards to everyday open living and enjoyment of their romantic relationships. Our study sought to explore the experiences of same-sex student couples in negotiating public campus life at a South African university. We interviewed six couples and used thematic analysis to analyse the data. We found that the participating couples experienced the campus as an evolving and ambiguous environment with both safe and unsafe public spaces. As a result, couples consistently and consciously monitored their social environments and regulated their public couple behaviour to avoid negative experiences. We conclude the article with suggestions as to how university management can assist in cultivating a more supporting campus environment for same-sex couples.

Studying sexuality: LGBTI experiences in institutions of higher education in Southern Africa

“…University is a space where young people explore many of their 7 multiple identities including sexual identity; they may take this to the next level and be involved in romantic relationships. Campus space seems to police sexualities to the extent that students find themselves self-policing; this is captured by Lesch, Brits, and Naidoo (2017) in their article, 'Walking on egg shells not to offend people': Experiences of same-sex student couples at a South African university which reports findings of a study conducted at the university of Stellenbosch.…”

Living single: A phenomenological study of a group of South African single women

“…South Africa is a predominantly heteronormative society and research indicates that negative views of same-sex relationships prevail (Lesch, Britz & Naioo, 2017; Mwaba, 2009). Although the South African constitution protects individuals’ rights with regards to sexual orientation and the expression thereof, recent incidents of torture, rape, and murder of Black lesbian women indicates a lack of tolerance towards women whose non-hegemonic sexuality is made visible (Sanger, 2010).…”

“A Gay Agenda”: Troubling Compulsory Heterosexuality in a South African University Classroom

“…The article concludes with a call for student affairs professionals, faculty, and staff to address heterosexist and gender-expression oppression on campus. Both Lesch et al's (2017) and Graziano's (2004) studies highlight that if SU is serious about addressing gender and sexuality diversity, then it has to be more intentional about its curricula and provide a policy response that offers an inclusive and welcoming environment to gender-and sexuality-counternormative students.…”

“…Writing specifically about the experiences of same-sex student couples at SU, Lesch, Brits, and Naidoo (2017:140) report that couples experienced the university as “ambiguous” with both “safe and unsafe spaces.” This ambiguity can be understood in that some participants found the campus “open-minded,” “gay friendly,” and “accepting,” while others experienced “[l]ingering homophobia, resentment, [and] strange looks.” One of the participants, David, described the environment as having “a sort of conservative edge most of the time [which] makes it difficult to know which environment you are not safe [in]” (Lesch et al 2017:135). An earlier study conducted by Graziano (2004:280–81) with 20 gay, lesbian, and bisexual graduate and undergraduate students at SU reported that the students experienced the campus environment as homophobic and hostile.…”