“I think we had one or two of those, but they weren't really”: Teacher and Learner Talk on Bisexuality in South African Schools

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe present study answers the following questions: How does bisexuality feature in teacher and learner talk on gender and sexuality diversity and what priorities, if any, does an analysis of such talk on bisexuality hold for the teaching and learning of gender and sexuality diversity? Drawing on in-depth interviews with bisexual learners and classroom observations and interviews with teachers, the findings show that teacher's talk is imbued with themes highlighting that bisexual youth are confused, transitory, unrestrained, hypersexual, and somewhat at risk. Their talk of bisexuality is heterosexualized denying and discouraging young people as bisexual. Equally striking is how bisexual youth, spurred on by different experiences, understand and, in turn, resist heterosexist and heteronormative practices. The findings call into question the teaching of nonheterosexualities in South African education.