Skip to main content

Introduction: The Synergistic Potential of the Outreach Work and Activism of Queer Social Movements and Schools

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Queer Social Movements and Outreach Work in Schools

Abstract

This opening chapter introduces the educational outreach work done by queer social movements in schools. Queer social movements have been active in changing educational policies and legislation to prevent discrimination and violence based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression as well as influencing schools through their general advocacy work, media campaigns, research projects, instructional material production, and cooperation with other nongovernmental organizations working with schools. The chapter underscores the hindrances, challenges, tensions, and contradictions implicit in connecting the outreach work of queer social movements with teaching, learning, and support in schools. It concludes by highlighting the need for schools and queer social movements to build alliances to address the gap in educational policies and addressing gender and sexuality diversity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Abbott, K., Ellis, S., & Abbott, R. (2015). “We don’t get into all that”: An analysis of how teachers uphold heteronormative sex and relationship education. Journal of Homosexuality, 62(12), 1638–1659.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allen, L. (2019). Heterosexual students’ accounts of teachers as perpetrators and recipients of homophobia. Journal of LGBT Youth. https://doi.org/10.1080/19361653.2019.1643272.

  • Baruch-Dominguez, R., Infante-Xibille, C., & Saloma-Zuñiga, C. (2016). Homophobic bullying in Mexico: Results of a national survey. Journal of LGBT Youth, 13(1–2), 18–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhana, D. (2012). Understanding and addressing homophobia in schools: A view from teachers. South African Journal of Education, 32, 307–318.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhana, D. (2014). ‘Managing’ the rights of gays and lesbians: Reflections from some South African secondary schools. Education, Citizenship and Social Justice, 9(1), 1–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carrara, S., Nascimento, M., Duque, A., & Tramontano, L. (2016). Diversity in school: A Brazilian educational policy against homophobia. Journal of LGBT Youth, 13(1–2), 161–172.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chipatiso, R., & Richardson, E. (2011). Understanding role in HIV/AIDS interventions: A case study of themba interactive (TI). In D. Francis (Ed.), Acting on HIV: Using drama to create possibilities for change. Rotterdam: Sense Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • DePalma, R., & Atkinson, E. (2009). Undoing homophobia in primary schools. Stoke-on-Trent: Trentham Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duggan, L. (2003). The Twilight of Equality. Boston, MA: Beacon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferfolja, T. (2007). Schooling cultures: Institutionalizing heteronormativity and heterosexism. International Journal of Inclusive Education., 11(2), 147–162.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Francis, D. (2010). ‘Sex is not something we talk about, it’s something we do’: Using drama to engage youth in sexuality, relationship and HIV education. Critical Arts, 24, 228–244.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Francis, D. (2013). “You know the homophobic stuff is not in me, like us, it’s out there”—Using participatory theatre to challenge heterosexism and heteronormativity in a South African school. South African Journal of Education, 33(4), 1–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Francis, D. (2016). ‘I felt confused; I felt uncomfortable … my hair stood on ends’: Understanding how teachers negotiate comfort zones, learning edges and triggers in the teaching of sexuality education in South Africa. In V. Sundaram & H. Sauntson (Eds.), Global perspectives and key debates in sex and relationships education: Addressing issues of gender, sexuality, plurality and power (pp. 130–145). London: Palgrave Macmillan. Available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1057/9781137500229_9.

  • Francis, D. (2017). Homophobia and sexuality diversity in South African schools: A review. Journal of LGBT Youth, 14(4), 359–379. Available at https://doi.org/10.1080/19361653.2017.1326868.

  • Francis, D. (2019). ‘Keeping it straight’ what do South African queer youth say they need from sexuality education? Journal of Youth Studies, 22(6), 772–790.

    Google Scholar 

  • Francis, D., & Brown, A. (2017). ‘To correct, punish and praise’ LRC leaders experiences and expressions of non-heterosexuality in Namibian schools. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 21(8), 1–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Francis, D., & DePalma, R. (2015). ‘You need to have some guts to teach’: Teacher preparation and characteristics for the teaching of sexuality and HIV/AIDS education in South African schools. SAHARA-J: Journal of Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS, 12(1), 30–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Francis, D., & Francis, E. (2006). Raising awareness of HIV-related stigma and its associated prejudice and discrimination. South African Journal of Higher Education, 20, 48–59.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Francis, D., & Reygan, F. (2016). Relationships, intimacy and desire in the lives of lesbian, gay and bisexual youth in South Africa. South African Review of Sociology, 47(3), 65–84. https://doi.org/10.1080/21528586.2016.1163290.

  • Francis, D., Reygan, F., Brown, A., Dlamini, B., McAllister, J., Nogela, L., … Muller, M. (2018, May 17). A five country study of gender and sexuality diversity and schooling in Southern Africa. Africa Education Review, 16(1), 1–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoosain Khan, G. (2013). Using drama to (dis)locate queer sexuality. In D. Francis (Ed.), Sexuality, society and pedagogy (pp. 133–147). Stellenbosch: SUN Media.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoosain Khan, G. (2014). Cross-border art and queer incursion: On working with queer youth from southern Africa. Agenda, 28(4), 125–137.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kjaran, I., & Jóhannesson, J. (2017). Teaching about the pink holocaust in and Icelandic upper secondary school classroom: Queer counterpublic? In T. Vaahtera, A. Niemi, S. Lappalainen, & D. Beach (Eds.), Troubling educational cultures in the Nordic countries (pp. 140–157). London: The Tufnell Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kjaran, J., & Lehtonen, J. (2017, December 12). Windows of opportunities: Nordic perspectives on sexual diversity education. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 22(10), 1–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kjaran, J., Francis, D., & Hauksson, O. (2019). Creating a queer counter-space in high schools in Iceland and South Africa: A drama inspired pedagogical approach. In J. Kjaran & H. Sauntson (Eds.), Schools as queer transformative spaces: Global narratives on sexualities and genders (pp. 17–35). London and New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lehtonen, J. (2012). Opettajien käsityksiä seksuaalisuuden kirjosta [Teachers’ perceptions on sexual diversity]. Finnish Journal of Youth Studies, 30(2), 19–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lehtonen, J. (2014). Sukupuolittuneita valintoja? Ei-heteroseksuaaliset ja transnuoret koulutuksessa [Gendered choices? Non-heterosexual and trans youth in education]. The Finnish Journal of Gender Studies, 27(4), 67–71.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lehtonen, J. (2017). Troubling Normativities? Constructing sexual and gender diversity in the educational work of LGBTI human rights association Seta. In T. Vaahtera, A. Niemi, S. Lappalainen, & D. Beach (Eds.), Troubling educational cultures in the Nordic countries (pp. 117–139). London: Tufnell Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lehtonen, J., & Taavetti, R. (2018). Ambivalent positions and challenging contexts in researching “rainbow youth” in Finland. In J. Hearn, T. Shefer, K. Ratele, & F. Boonzaier (Eds.), Engaging youth in activism, research and pedagogical Praxis: Transnational and intersectional perspectives on gender, sex, and race (pp. 75–90). New York and London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rasmussen, M. L., Sanjakdar, F., Allen, L., Quinlivan, K., & Bromdal, A. (2017). Homophobia, transphobia, young people and the question of responsibility. Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education, 38(1), 30–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, D. E. (2018). Homophobic and transphobic violence against youth: The Jamaican context. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 23(2), 250–258.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • UNESCO. (2016). Out in the open: Education response to violence based on sexual orientation and gender and gender identity/expression. Paris: UNESCO.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dennis A. Francis .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Francis, D.A., Lehtonen, J., Kjaran, J.I. (2020). Introduction: The Synergistic Potential of the Outreach Work and Activism of Queer Social Movements and Schools. In: Francis, D., Kjaran, J., Lehtonen, J. (eds) Queer Social Movements and Outreach Work in Schools. Queer Studies and Education. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-41610-2_1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-41610-2_1

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-41609-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-41610-2

  • eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics