How do Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Teachers Experience UK Rural School Communities

Bibliographic Data

ID5933085
AuthorsCatherine Lee (0000-0002-4564-0787, Anglia Ruskin University, corresponding author)
Year2019
Volume8
Issue9
Pages249
Publication date2019-08-31
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSocial Sciences (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2076-0760 • E-ISSN: 2076-0760
PublisherMDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT)
DOI10.3390/socsci8090249
OpenAlexW2970177866
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited26

This article examines how lesbian, gay and bisexual teachers in rural schools negotiate their sexual identities within the workplace. Although there has been progress towards LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) inclusion for teachers in urban and suburban schools, this article shows that their rural counterparts often experience their school communities differently. A questionnaire gathered data from school teachers in the United Kingdom identifying as LGBT. Whilst a small number of transgender, gender queer and non-binary teachers completed the questionnaire, it is important to note that these teachers taught only in urban environments. In rural schools, respondents identified only as lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB). Therefore, LGB is used when referring to the rural respondents in this study and LGBT is used when referring generally to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. The experiences of teachers working in rural schools were compared with those working in urban or suburban school settings. Results showed that LGB teachers in rural communities lack the opportunity to speak their identity into existence at school, and often find their personal and professional identities incompatible, leading to low self-worth, depression and anxiety. The article shows that in rural school communities, traditional and conservative rural norms and values are compelling and are often protected at the expense of creating safe and inclusive workplaces for LGB teachers

Homosexuality · Human sexuality · Lesbian · Political science · Queer · Rural area · Sexual identity · Sexual minority · Sexual orientation · Sociology · Transgender · Gender Diversity and Inequality · Gender Roles and Identity Studies · Gender Studies · LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy · Psychology

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