ABSTRACT
To learn about homosexualities would be helpful. What is masturbation on the feminine side? To understand what it is like when going through (and having) sexual intercourse would be information. To explore female genitalia deeper would be interesting. What is a period? IN DETAIL
(Anonymous questions in a ‘suggestion box’ on sex education from a boy in Year 9)
Why has teaching about sex and sexuality in schools failed to satisfy the evident needs of these young people? What has prevented teachers from affirming young lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) people’s identity? Why do teachers steer clear of answering questions like those on the boy’s list? What is the effect of not dealing with these concerns? What issue of equality is at stake here? This chapter sets out to address these questions by exploring the phenomenon of homophobia in English secondary schools. My aim is first to provide some illustrative accounts of how sexuality is imbricated in teaching, learning and extracurricula aspects of schooling; second, to give a brief description of the statutory requirements and guidance to schools in relation to young people, sex and sexuality; third, to suggest some practical strategies for dealing with questions and
Schools can be a particular focus when we think about how and what young people learn about sexuality. This no doubt reflects the combined effects of the spotlight thrown onto school-based sex education by the largely prurient media attention and the high degree of governmental policy activity in the area. These two interests generally spiral round each other in ‘feeding-frenzies’ with fairly predictable ideological positions occupied by the government and the tabloid press. As a longterm media mapping exercise by Patricia Kingori et al. (2004) has shown, these ‘frenzies’ lead to the production of coverage which is often both distorted, hyperbolic, and in which the story is used primarily as a means to rehearse the ideological position of the paper. In recent years the UK has seen headlines like, ‘Scandal of sex lessons for kids aged 7’ (Daily Express, 27.02.2002), ‘Pill plan for schoolgirls gets furious response’, (The News (Portsmouth), 26.02.2000) and ‘900 pupils given sex aids at school’ (Bicester Advertiser, 05.06.2002). All of which conspire to form the impression that schools are both very active and the most important site of learning about sexuality for young people.
