This essential book focuses on lesbian and gay issues in education, demonstrating why and how educational administrators, teachers, and teacher educators need to re-evaluate their policies and pedagogy to create better learning environments. It explores the social and educational impact of homophobia and heterosexism upon students, teachers, and school systems--and suggests ways to limit the damage.
With in-depth interviews, case studies, and cutting-edge research, this pioneering book examines:
- how representations of masculinity and sexuality in schools limit opportunities for male students
- how the needs of lesbian and gay youth are defined in educational contexts--and the consequences of framing those needs as they are
- a lesbian mother's experiences with the schooling and education of her children
- why queer theory can be useful in the general education of a surprising number of groups of students
- how heterosexism and homophobia are addressed--or not addressed--in teacher training
- how sexuality-based discrimination affects people working in education
- how definitions and understandings of homophobia are often caught in academic debates about whether it is a psychiatric disorder or simple prejudice in homophobes
