“You gotta pull yourself towards yourself.” A sociological analysis of how Transgender and Gender Diverse (TGD) school attending youth, school managers and teachers understand and respond to transphobia in South African schools

Francis, D. (2023) “You gotta pull yourself towards yourself.” A sociological analysis of how Transgender and Gender Diverse (TGD) school attending youth, school managers and teachers understand and respond to transphobia in South African schools. Teachers and Teaching: Theory and Practice, (doi: 10.1080/13540602.2023.2225417) (Early Online Publication)

Abstract

This paper explores how transphobia is understood and responded to in South African schools. Drawing on qualitative data gathered from in-depth interviews with teachers, school managers, and TGD school-attending youth, the findings show that while there are minimal efforts to respond to and dismantle transphobia, school managers and teachers increasingly reproduce cisnormativity instrumentalising TGD youth to either assimilate or change. The analysis crystalises that cisgenderism is highly institutionalised in South African schools, pointing to an urgent need for targeted strategies to include TGD learners. This article sets the stage for further research on transphobia in schools and its response.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Early Online Publication
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Francis, Professor Dennis
• Authors: Francis, D.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Education
• Journal Name: Teachers and Teaching: Theory and Practice
• Publisher: Routledge (Taylor & Francis)
• ISSN: 1354-0602
• ISSN (Online): 1470-1278
• Published Online: 15 June 2023