Learners’ perceptions of learners regarded as having a homosexual orientation in an independent secondary school environment

In schools today discrimination based on sexual orientation takes place on a regular basis. This form of discrimination leads to aggression towards learners perceived to be homosexual, as well as towards those with a homosexual orientation. For more than 15 years South Africa has been a democratic c...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hendrik P. Mostert, Chris Myburgh, Marie Poggenpoel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2012-10-01
Series:Curationis
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.curationis.org.za/index.php/curationis/article/viewFile/24/1056
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author Hendrik P. Mostert
Chris Myburgh
Marie Poggenpoel
author_facet Hendrik P. Mostert
Chris Myburgh
Marie Poggenpoel
author_sort Hendrik P. Mostert
collection DOAJ
description In schools today discrimination based on sexual orientation takes place on a regular basis. This form of discrimination leads to aggression towards learners perceived to be homosexual, as well as towards those with a homosexual orientation. For more than 15 years South Africa has been a democratic country with laws that protect learners who have a homosexual orientation. Nevertheless, aggression and discrimination towards these learners still occur in schools. Aggression often leads to verbal and physical bullying of the victims by perpetrators. The objectives of this research were to explore and describe Grade 11 learners’ experiences of aggression towards learners perceived to be homosexual as well as those with a homosexual orientation in an independent secondary school environment. The research design was qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual in nature. The data for this investigation consisted of essays based on a published newspaper photograph, phenomenological group interviews, observations and field notes. Tesch’s method of data analysis was used, and an independent coder assisted. Three themes were identified, discussed and supported by a literature control: that learners experience that it is right and acceptable to have a homosexual orientation; that they experience ambivalence towards homosexual orientation of learners; and experienced feelings that it is wrong to have a homosexual orientation. Recommended guidelines are provided to address aggression towards learners perceived to be homosexual and those with a homosexual orientation.
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spelling doaj.art-b67516c4d23d4f0db76bf81e9b6d5ab02022-12-21T20:15:01ZengAOSISCurationis0379-85772223-62792012-10-0135117Learners’ perceptions of learners regarded as having a homosexual orientation in an independent secondary school environmentHendrik P. MostertChris MyburghMarie PoggenpoelIn schools today discrimination based on sexual orientation takes place on a regular basis. This form of discrimination leads to aggression towards learners perceived to be homosexual, as well as towards those with a homosexual orientation. For more than 15 years South Africa has been a democratic country with laws that protect learners who have a homosexual orientation. Nevertheless, aggression and discrimination towards these learners still occur in schools. Aggression often leads to verbal and physical bullying of the victims by perpetrators. The objectives of this research were to explore and describe Grade 11 learners’ experiences of aggression towards learners perceived to be homosexual as well as those with a homosexual orientation in an independent secondary school environment. The research design was qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual in nature. The data for this investigation consisted of essays based on a published newspaper photograph, phenomenological group interviews, observations and field notes. Tesch’s method of data analysis was used, and an independent coder assisted. Three themes were identified, discussed and supported by a literature control: that learners experience that it is right and acceptable to have a homosexual orientation; that they experience ambivalence towards homosexual orientation of learners; and experienced feelings that it is wrong to have a homosexual orientation. Recommended guidelines are provided to address aggression towards learners perceived to be homosexual and those with a homosexual orientation.http://www.curationis.org.za/index.php/curationis/article/viewFile/24/1056perceptionslearnersperceived homosexualityhomosexual orientationwhole-school approachindependent secondary school
spellingShingle Hendrik P. Mostert
Chris Myburgh
Marie Poggenpoel
Learners’ perceptions of learners regarded as having a homosexual orientation in an independent secondary school environment
Curationis
perceptions
learners
perceived homosexuality
homosexual orientation
whole-school approach
independent secondary school
title Learners’ perceptions of learners regarded as having a homosexual orientation in an independent secondary school environment
title_full Learners’ perceptions of learners regarded as having a homosexual orientation in an independent secondary school environment
title_fullStr Learners’ perceptions of learners regarded as having a homosexual orientation in an independent secondary school environment
title_full_unstemmed Learners’ perceptions of learners regarded as having a homosexual orientation in an independent secondary school environment
title_short Learners’ perceptions of learners regarded as having a homosexual orientation in an independent secondary school environment
title_sort learners perceptions of learners regarded as having a homosexual orientation in an independent secondary school environment
topic perceptions
learners
perceived homosexuality
homosexual orientation
whole-school approach
independent secondary school
url http://www.curationis.org.za/index.php/curationis/article/viewFile/24/1056
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AT mariepoggenpoel learnersperceptionsoflearnersregardedashavingahomosexualorientationinanindependentsecondaryschoolenvironment