Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Troubling Anti-Oppressive Education

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Troubling the Teaching and Learning of Gender and Sexuality Diversity in South African Education

Part of the book series: Queer Studies and Education ((QSTED))

  • 381 Accesses

Abstract

There are clear parallels between Kumashiro’s writing and the work of South African scholars on how anti-oppressive education has been conceptualized. In this chapter, I bring together Kumashiro’s anti-oppressive framework and the South African scholarship on gender and sexuality diversity and schooling, to trouble how the teaching and learning of non-heterosexualities happen. Kumashiro makes a whole lot of sense, and so I use his work while remaining critical, and, similarly, use the various South African writings that add a whole lot of understanding and context.

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

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 99.99
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

  • 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. doi:10.1177/1746197913497663

  • Butler, A., Alpaslan, A., Allen, J. G., & Astbury, G. (2003). Gay and lesbian youth experiences of homophobia in South African secondary education. Journal of Gay & Lesbian Issues in Education, 1(2), 3–28. doi:10.1300/J367v01n02_02.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Butler, A., & Astbury, G. (2008). The use of defence mechanisms as precursors to coming out in post-apartheid South Africa: A gay and lesbian youth perspective. Journal of Homosexuality, 55(2), 223–244. doi:10.1080/00918360802129485.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, C., & MacPhail, C. (2002). Peer education and the development of critical consciousness: participatory HIV prevention by South African youth. Social Science and Medicine, 55, 331–345.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Connell, R. (2007). Southern theory : The global dynamics of knowledge in social science. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deacon, R. A., Morrell, R., & Prinsloo, J. (1999). Discipline and homophobia in South African schools: The limits of legislated transformation. In D. Epstein & J. Sears (Eds.), A dangerous knowing: Sexuality, pedagogy and popular culture (pp. 164–180). London: Cassel.

    Google Scholar 

  • DePalma, R., & Francis, D. (2013). Letting our commitments rest on the shelf: Teaching about sexual diversity in South African schools. In D. Francis (Ed.), Sexuality; society and pedagogy. Bloemfontein: SUN Media.

    Google Scholar 

  • DePalma, R., & Francis, D. (2014a). Silence, nostalgia, violence, poverty … : What does “culture” mean for South African sexuality educators? Culture. Health & Sexuality, 16(5), 547–561. doi:10.1080/13691058.2014.891050.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DePalma, R., & Francis, D. (2014b). South African life orientation teachers: (Not) teaching about sexuality diversity. Journal of Homosexuality, 61(12), 1687–1711. doi:10.1080/00918369.2014.951256.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Epstein, D., & Morrell, R. (2012). Approaching southern theory: Explorations of gender in South African education. Gender and Education, 24(5), 469–482. doi:10.1080/09540253.2012.711036.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Francis, D. (2012). Teacher positioning on the teaching of sexual diversity in South African schools. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 14(6), 597–611. doi:10.1080/13691058.2012.674558.

    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.

    Article  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.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Francis, D., & Msibi, T. (2011). Teaching about heterosexism: Challenging homophobia in South Africa. Journal of LGBT Youth, 8(2), 157–173. doi:10.1080/19361653.2011.553713.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Human Rights Watch. (2011). We’ll show you you’re a woman’: Violence and discrimination against Black lesbians and transgender men in South Africa. New York: Human Rights Watch.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kowen, D., & Davis, J. (2006). Opaque young lives: experiences of lesbian youth. Agenda, 20(67), 80–92. doi:10.1080/10130950.2006.9674701.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumashiro, K. (1999). “Barbie,” “big dicks,” and “faggots”: Paradox, performativity, and anti-oppressive pedagogy. Journal of Curriculum Theorising, 5(1), 27–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumashiro, K. (2000). Toward a theory of anti-oppressive education. Review of Educational Research, 70, 25–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumashiro, K. (2001). “Posts” perspectives on anti-oppressive education in social studies, english, mathematics, and science classrooms. Educational Researcher, 30(3), 3–12. doi:10.3102/0013189X030003003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumashiro, K. (2002). Troubling education: Queer activism and anti-oppressive pedagogy. New: RoutledgeFalmer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumashiro, K. (2004). Uncertain beginnings: Learning to teach paradoxically. Theory Into Practice, 43(2), 111–115. doi:10.1207/s15430421tip4302_3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumashiro, K. (2010). Seeing the bigger picture: Troubling movements to end teacher education. Journal of Teacher Education, 61(1-2), 56–65. doi:10.1177/0022487109347318.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumashiro, K., Baber, S., Richardson, E., Ricker-Wilson, C., & Wong, P. (2004). Preparing teachers for anti-oppressive education: International movements. Teaching Education, 15, 257–275.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McArthur, T. (2015). Homophobic violence in a Northern Cape school: Learners confront the issue. Agenda, 1–7. doi:10.1080/10130950.2015.1056587.

  • Msibi, T. (2011). The lies we have been told: On (homo) sexuality in Africa. Africa Today, 58(1), 54–77.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Msibi, T. (2012). “I”m used to it now’: Experiences of homophobia among queer youth in South African township schools. Gender and Education, 24(5), 515–533. doi:10.1080/09540253.2011.645021.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Msibi, T. (2014). The need for more African voices on theorising same-sex desire in Africa. Pambazuka News, (667). Retrieved from http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/90723

  • Msibi, T. (2015). The teaching of sexual and gender diversity issues to pre-service teachers at the University of KwaZulu-Natal: Lessons from student exam responses. Alternation, 12, 385–410.

    Google Scholar 

  • Msibi, T. (2016). Bitter knowledge. In M. N. Rodriguez, J. W. Martino, C. J. Ingrey, & E. Brockenbrough (Eds.), Critical concepts in queer studies and education: An international guide for the twenty-first century (pp. 23–33). New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Potgieter, C., & Reygan, F. (2012). Lesbian, gay and bisexual citizenship: A case study as represented in a sample of South African life orientation textbooks. Perspectives in Education, 30(4), 39–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reygan, F., & Francis, D. (2015). Emotions and pedagogies of discomfort: Teachers responses to sexual and gender diversity in the Free State, South Africa. Education as Change, 19(1). doi:10.1080/16823206.2014.943259.

  • Richardson, E. (2004). “A ripple in the pond”: Challenging homophobia in a teacher education course. Education as Change, 8, 146–163.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Richardson, E. (2008). Using film to challenge heteronormativity: South African teachers “get real” in working with LGB Youth. Journal of LGBT Youth, 5(2), 63–72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Richardson, E. (2009). Considering the lives of LGBTI youth in HIV & AIDS education efforts. In C. Mitchell & P. Pithouse (Eds.), Teaching and HIV & AIDS in the South African classroom. Macmillan: Johannesburg.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sigamoney, V., & Epprecht, M. (2013). Meanings of homosexuality, same-sex sexuality, and Africanness in two South African townships: An evidence-based approach for rethinking same-sex prejudice. African Studies Review, 56(02), 83–107. doi:10.1017/asr.2013.43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tamale, S. (Ed.) (2011). African sexualities. Cape Town Nairobi: Fahamu/Pambazuka.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wells, H., & Polders, L. (2006). Anti gay hate crimes in South Africa: Prevalence, reporting practices, and experiences of the police. Agenda, 67, 12–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilmot, M., & Naidoo, D. (2014). “Keeping things straight”: The representation of sexualities in life orientation textbooks. Sex Education, 14(3), 323–337. doi:10.1080/14681811.2014.896252.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa

    Dennis A. Francis

Authors
  1. Dennis A. Francis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Copyright information

© 2017 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Francis, D.A. (2017). Troubling Anti-Oppressive Education. In: Troubling the Teaching and Learning of Gender and Sexuality Diversity in South African Education. Queer Studies and Education. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-53027-1_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-53027-1_2

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, New York

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-137-53026-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-137-53027-1

  • eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation