Non-Normative Gender and Sexual Identities in Schools: - Schools Out

LGYM Youth Focus Group Framework 17/06/08
Introduction:
My research is looking into how the school environment
affects young peoples sexual and/or gender identity development, focussing
on the difficulties faced by young people who identify, or who are beginning
to identify, as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT).
Although I am going to ask the group a number of questions, please do not
feel you have to answer them all. The session is meant to be relaxed and
interactive, so although I do have some key things I would like to cover,
depending on your answers and experiences the session may go off in many
directions and that is fine. The important thing is that you feel combatable
with what we are doing and you feel able to contribute anything you think is
relevant. If at any point you do not feel combatable please let me know or
(and hopefully this wont happen!) if you feel extremely uncomfortable, free
to leave at any point.
Please ask me to clarify anything you do not understand, to take leads from
other people in the group and discuss things with them as well as me.
Although I’m asking the questions, we do not need to stick rigidly to the
schedule and it should be more of a group discussion than an interview, so if
appropriate ask each other questions and compare experiences. Also,
although I would like to hear about your experiences, it’s OK to tell me
about any second hand experiences you have too, maybe of friends or
relatives.
Finally, if there is anything I ask which you would like to answer, or to
elaborate on, or anything else you would like to talk to me about, but do not
feel combatable doing in front of the group, you can speak to me one-to-one
afterwards, or if you prefer via phone or email at a later date – just ask!
Experiences at school:
1. Can you tell me a bit about your own experiences at school relating
to your gender and/or sexual identity? E.g. did you get bullied, did
people you know get bullied, how did the school deal with it and
what were the teacher’s attitudes?