tackling homophobia in haydon school. is this true in your school? the terrence higgins’ trust and...
TRANSCRIPT
Is this true in your school?
The Terrence Higgins’ Trust and Stonewall survey of more than 300 schools in England and Wales found in 1996:
82% were aware of verbal homophobic bullying in their school; 99% had an anti bullying policy in school; However only 6% recognised homophobic bullying within their policy.
The excuses…..
Staff have perhaps heard of Section 28 and think their hands are tied.
Some schools claim that parents may object to them doing this work.
Name calling is part of growing up.
Stonewall…
a lobby group that provides information to government agencies, including the DfES recommend:
Schools include homophobia in the bullying policy
Define homophobic bullying within the policy Have clear procedures in dealing with
bullying Take quick and effective action
Lesbian & Gay men’s experiences of being bullied at school
Male (%) Female (%) Type of bullying Name-calling 85 69 Public ridicule 75 54 Hitting/kicking 68 31 Rumour mongering 57 67 Teasing 58 56 Frightened by a look/stare 54 44 Belongings taken 47 31 Social isolation 24 41 Sexual assault 13 5
Where does homophobic bullying take place?
Corridors Classrooms
School grounds
Changing rooms
On the way
home
Other places
Called names
Teased
Hit/kicked
Frightened by look/stare
Rumour mongering
Public ridicule Sexual assault Belongings taken
Key: Frequently Regularly Sometimes
Homophobic bullying
Includes, but not limited to
Calling another student “gay, poof, dyke, lesbo”.
Isolating a student because there are more masculine or feminine than others
Physical violence towards another student for acting ‘different’
Address the use of language
The words gay, lesbian & bisexual are stigmatised or used negatively. This should be challenged
Discussion: You overhear a student say to a friend - “that’s gay”. What action should you take?
Staff attitudes & language
Be aware of your own use of languageStaff are often unaware that a single
comment can spark bullying
Dealing with homophobia
Challenge students using negative language - “that’s gay”
Don’t accept any kind of name calling in your classroom or around the school
Any violence must be dealt with immediately
The next stepsProvide positive images of lesbian & gay people along-
side those of other individuals and community groups, acknowledging the sexuality of famous and successful
lesbians & gay people both past and present. The work needs to be placed in a wider context where lesbians and gay men are seen as citizens and participants in a wide range of activities both past and present.
This should happen in the same way as ensuring work presented to pupils includes positive images of black, minority ethnic people, women and people with disabilities, etc.
A school should celebrate diversity
Discussion: Give an example of how you could include a positive image of a famous gay man or lesbian within a lesson.