Queer Activism in South African Education: Disrupting Cis(hetero)normativity in Schools

This book explores how South African educational practices, discourses, and structures normalize cisheteronormativity, and how these are resisted within schools and through contemporary forms of activism. It offers insights into the contributions of queer and transgender social movements to education, based on ethnographic research with activists, teachers, school managers, parents, and school-attending youth. It challenges assumptions in the field and makes a novel contribution to the national and international literature and research.

Format: Hardback
Length: 170 pages
Publication date: 19 August 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Offering a vital and critical contribution to the ongoing debates on gender, sexuality, and education in South Africa, this book delves into the intricate ways in which South African educational practices, discourses, and structures perpetuate cisheteronormativity, while also highlighting the ongoing resistance against these norms within schools and through contemporary forms of activism. Not only does it enrich the existing research literature on gender, sexualities, and schooling, but it also underscores the significant contributions of queer and transgender social movements, which have made influential legislative, teaching, learning, and support contributions to education. Through ethnographic research conducted with queer and transgender activists, teachers, school managers, parents, and school-attending youth, the book presents real-life quotes and observations that offer a deeply critical perspective on gender and sexualities, education, and activism. Employing spatial and affect theories, the book challenges the assumptions that underpin this field of research, making a novel contribution to the national and international literature and research. Furthermore, the book provides valuable insights for thinking about and advocating for informed action to challenge cisheteronormativity within and beyond schools.

Weight: 500g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032034416