Homophobia and sexuality diversity in South African schools: A review

Abstract

ABSTRACTPost-apartheid, there has been an increase in research on issues of gender and sexuality diversity in South African schools. To build upon and advance gender and sexuality diversity studies, I conducted a review of the literature that addresses how lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth experience schooling and how schools, if at all, respond to gender and sexuality diversity. Of the 27 publications reviewed, the findings show how schools proliferate compulsory heterosexuality and heteronormativity. The proliferation makes explicit gender and sexuality binaries in the curriculum, pedagogy, and school culture that assume that learners identify as heterosexual and embody heteronormative gender expression and expectations. In a nutshell, the corpus of research describes the challenges LGBT youth face in schools and points to the need for change. I conclude by offering ideas about schooling, teacher education, and future research on gender and sexuality diversity in South African education.