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Curationis

versão On-line ISSN 2223-6279
versão impressa ISSN 0379-8577

Curationis vol.35 no.1 Pretoria Jan. 2012

 

ORIGINAL RESEARCH

 

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

 

 

Hendrik P. MostertI; Chris MyburghII; Marie PoggenpoelIII

IDepartment of Educational Psychology, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
IIDepartment of Educational Psychology, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
IIIDepartment of Nursing Science, University of Johannesburg, South Africa

Correspondence

 

 


ABSTRACT

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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Correspondence:
Chris Myburgh
PO Box 524, Auckland Park 2006, South Africa
Email: chrism@uj.ac.za

Received: 25 July 2011
Accepted: 06 Aug. 2012
Published: 04 Oct. 2012

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