A Sociological Exploration of the Need for Safe Spaces for Lesbian and Gay Students on a South African University Campus

Autor/inn/en	Tshilongo, Tshanduko; Rothmann, Jacques
Titel	A Sociological Exploration of the Need for Safe Spaces for Lesbian and Gay Students on a South African University Campus
Quelle	In: Transformation in Higher Education, 4 (2019), Artikel 77 (12 Seiten) PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Verfügbarkeit
Zusatzinformation	ORCID (Tshilongo, Tshanduko) ORCID (Rothmann, Jacques)
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	2415-0991
Schlagwörter	Foreign Countries; College Students; LGBTQ People; Educational Environment; School Safety; Needs Assessment; Student Attitudes; Campuses; Homosexuality; Social Bias; Preferences; School Policy; Self Disclosure (Individuals); Student Organizations; Student Rights; Social Networks; Social Support Groups; South Africa + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Ausland; Collegestudent; Lernumgebung; Pädagogische Umwelt; Schulumwelt; Bedarfsermittlung; Schülerverhalten; Homosexualität; Schulpolitik; Student organisations; Schülerorganisation; Studentenorganisation; Studentenvereinigung; Studentenvertretung; Social network; Soziales Netzwerk; Social support; Soziale Unterstützung; Südafrika; Süd-Afrika; Republik Südafrika; Südafrikanische Republik
Abstract	Background: The role of safe spaces on university campuses for gay and lesbian students remains a contested issue. This is attributed to the fact that the visibility of these students on university campuses presents a duality: On the one hand, the creation of such spaces provides a sense of communal belonging, safety and visibility for these students which could contribute to de-mystifying stereotypes. On the other hand, such increased visibility may further exacerbate a backlash to those who disclose their sexual identity, which manifests in verbal and/or physical homophobia. Aim: The article reports on an explorative sociological study on the need for such safe spaces for lesbian and gay students on North-West University's Potchefstroom campus. Setting: The focus of the research was to explore the need for safe spaces on the North-West University's Potchefstroom campus. The aim was to investigate the perceptions of selfidentified gay and lesbian students on the importance of providing such spaces. Methods: A qualitative research design, informed by the meta-theoretical principles of social constructionism, interpretivism and queer theory, was applied. Probability and snowball sampling methods were used along with 20 semi-structured interviews with 10 self-identified gay and 10 self-identified lesbian students. Thematic analysis was used to code the data. Results: Participants expressed dualistic narratives regarding their experiences on campus. Some indicated that they did not experience any discrimination whereas others recalled particular incidences of homophobia. These differences notwithstanding, participants provided particular definitions of such spaces, identified its preferred formations and reasons for being in favour of and against its implementation. Conclusion: Findings suggest that the introduction of formal policies is essential in deciding on whether safe spaces are necessary and to inform the decisions of students require this to disclose their identities. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	AOSIS. 15 Oxford Street, Durbanville, Cape Town, 7550 South Africa. Tel: +27-21-975-2602; Fax: +27-21-975-4635; e-mail: publishing@aosis.co.za; Web site: https://thejournal.org.za/index.php/thejournal
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2020/1/01