Date of Award
2008
Publication Type
Master Thesis
Degree Name
M.A.
Department
Sociology and Anthropology
Keywords
Education, Sociology of.
Supervisor
Adam, Barry (Sociology & Anthropology)
Rights
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Abstract
This thesis reports a qualitative analysis of heterosexual males' perception of school climate for lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) peers. Fifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with males 16-18 who have attended a public or Catholic secondary school. Findings indicate that gay youth often occupy lower status positions in the school's social hierarchy. Heterosexual males did not typically want to associate with or be friends with gay peers for fear of being perceived as gay and being "hit on". Verbal harassment against LGB youth was common and was reportedly not dealt with by teachers. Homosexuality was not addressed in the classroom. Perceptions around the phrase "that's so gay" are explored. Dissenting views on homosexuality and popularity are also presented. Findings are discussed in relation to Connell's theory of masculinity with emphasis on the performance of heterosexual masculinities. Recommendations include challenging hegemonic masculinity in schools through curriculum and other avenues.
Recommended Citation
Bortolin, Sandra, "Exploring the interplay of masculinities and homophobia in the high school climate" (2008). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2043.
https://scholar.uwindsor.ca/etd/2043