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...
Main Authors: | , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2012-10-01
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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. |
first_indexed | 2024-12-19T15:57:46Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-b67516c4d23d4f0db76bf81e9b6d5ab0 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 0379-8577 2223-6279 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-12-19T15:57:46Z |
publishDate | 2012-10-01 |
publisher | AOSIS |
record_format | Article |
series | Curationis |
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 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT hendrikpmostert learnersperceptionsoflearnersregardedashavingahomosexualorientationinanindependentsecondaryschoolenvironment AT chrismyburgh learnersperceptionsoflearnersregardedashavingahomosexualorientationinanindependentsecondaryschoolenvironment AT mariepoggenpoel learnersperceptionsoflearnersregardedashavingahomosexualorientationinanindependentsecondaryschoolenvironment |