Homophobic violence in a Northern Cape school: Learners confront the issue

Abstract

abstract Violence has become synonymous with South African schooling. A burgeoning body of literature points to homophobia as a source of such violence. Research conducted by social justice research institutes and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) found that homophobic violence undermines young people’s inherent right to human dignity, and has devastating psychosocial effects. Efforts to combat school-based violence more generally, and homophobic violence in particular, have to a larger extent been insufficient and ineffective. This briefing reflects on learner voices on how to combat the problem of homophobic violence in South African schools. Data was gathered through observation, informal recorded face-to-face interviews and focused group discussions with male learners (between the ages of 17 – 19 years). Themes such as: ‘the extent of homophobic violence’ and ‘what could be done to deal with violence in the school context’ were explored. The research found that homophobic violence is pervasive, and that boys experience routine discrimination on the grounds of their sexual identity. Learners proposed multipronged interventions, focussing on families, schools, and communities at large. These interventions are aimed at promoting a culture of tolerance and respect in and outside the school context.