Non-Normative Gender and Sexual Identities in Schools: - Schools Out
Non-Normative Gender and Sexual Identities in Schools: - Schools Out
Non-Normative Gender and Sexual Identities in Schools: - Schools Out
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AM: Ok, um sort of stick<strong>in</strong>g with kids <strong>in</strong> school I wonder that given a lot of young people<br />
are often unaware of their own sexuality or gender identity dur<strong>in</strong>g their school years or at<br />
least they are negotiat<strong>in</strong>g it rather than be<strong>in</strong>g fully confident of it. Why do you th<strong>in</strong>k they<br />
are s<strong>in</strong>gled out for the homophobic, biphobic <strong>and</strong> transphobic bully<strong>in</strong>g? What are the<br />
markers that people pick up on?<br />
SS: I th<strong>in</strong>k there’s a whole series of th<strong>in</strong>gs. I mean it’s really <strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g, I mean I was<br />
very heavily bullied as a kid <strong>and</strong> it was never, the word lesbian was never mentioned um<br />
<strong>and</strong> I’m try<strong>in</strong>g to th<strong>in</strong>k, what was it about me that enabled people to bully me <strong>and</strong> I th<strong>in</strong>k<br />
it was sort of general lack of confidence not fitt<strong>in</strong>g I, um I th<strong>in</strong>k (sigh) you see I th<strong>in</strong>k<br />
what’s <strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g is that if you are a boy <strong>and</strong> the girls like you, you are sorted cos the<br />
girls will protect you.<br />
AM: Yes.<br />
SS: If you are boy <strong>and</strong> the girls don’t like you, you’re fucked. Nobody’s go<strong>in</strong>g to protect<br />
you. Um if you are a girl then I th<strong>in</strong>k there is all sorts of stuff around <strong>and</strong> I th<strong>in</strong>k you<br />
know my culture <strong>and</strong> what’s happen<strong>in</strong>g with kids now is very different. But what did<br />
shock me was that if you looked at what was happen<strong>in</strong>g to trans men, was much worse<br />
than what was happen<strong>in</strong>g to trans women.<br />
AM: Right.<br />
SS: If you look at the equalities review work that Steven Whittle did, now that was a<br />
surprise because I th<strong>in</strong>k now hang on you would have expected kids to tolerate <strong>and</strong> work<br />
with girls be<strong>in</strong>g tom boyish, so if that isn’t happen<strong>in</strong>g then what’s go<strong>in</strong>g down her.<br />
AM: Yeah.<br />
SS: but I th<strong>in</strong>k there’s a th<strong>in</strong>g about difference, there’s a th<strong>in</strong>g about not conform<strong>in</strong>g you<br />
know <strong>and</strong> adolescent is a really challeng<strong>in</strong>g time about want<strong>in</strong>g to be a rebel <strong>and</strong> want<strong>in</strong>g<br />
to conform.<br />
AM: Yep.<br />
SS: And the complications of that at the best of times is difficult, <strong>and</strong> as you know your<br />
hormones danc<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> not be<strong>in</strong>g 100% sure <strong>and</strong> try<strong>in</strong>g to work out who the hell you are.<br />
AM: Yeah.<br />
SS: Um, there’s that whole I dunno I th<strong>in</strong>k just a lack of groundedness which I th<strong>in</strong>k kids<br />
delight at tak<strong>in</strong>g a pop at.<br />
AM: Yeah, def<strong>in</strong>itely I th<strong>in</strong>k difference <strong>and</strong> just anyth<strong>in</strong>g that s<strong>in</strong>gles you out as not<br />
quite…
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