Homophobic bullying
an introduction
Peter Dankmeijer, director GALE
Homophobia?
“The irrational fear, rejection or hatred towards those
who are or are perceived to be gay, (lesbian, bisexual
and / or transgender)”
However, most of the bullying towards LGBT people is not
“irrational” but a conscious choice with considerable
social commitment.
Prefer:
SOGI* related negative behavior
*sexual orientation and gender identity
Bullying?
“Repeated aggressive behavior by a
bully that intentionally inflicts harm
to a victim... combined with a
perception of imbalance of power.”
SOGI negative behavior:
• Is often not personalized
• Is often not perceived as intentional
(name-calling)
• Power imbalance is part of
heteronormativity
Heteronormativity
• Preference
• Roles
Everybody is
heterosexual,
a different
orientation is bad
or needs
explanation
Everybody
conforms to their
peer group,
nonconformist
behavior is private
• Openness
Everybody is a
man OR a women
and behaves like
that
Everybody
wants an
everlasting
monogamous
relationship, sex is
for procreation
• Sexuality
The social
exclusion
spiral
Norms governing social
organization and sexuality
Deviations
from the
norm
Stereotyping
Violence
Discrimination
Negative
emotions
Social
distance
Negative
attitudes
Prevalence
*UNESCO draft report 2016
1.
LGBT almost all report homophobic or transphobic violence in school
2.
Always higher rates of bullying and victimization
3.
Most prevalent: psychological/emotional, verbal, social exclusion
4.
Primary targets: boys who fail to ‘conform’ to masculinity
5.
Homophobic and transphobic violence increases during adolescence
6.
LGBT students hide sexual orientation/gender identity at school
7.
Also affects heterosexuals (perceived to be gay or “different”)
Impacts
1.
Lower level mental health
2.
Increased risks of depression, feelings of anxiety, fear, helplessness,
loneliness, self-harm (72%, Europe)
3.
Suicide rate 5 times as high as among heterosexual peers
4.
Higher rates of smoking, alcohol and drug use (USA: 64%)
5.
Lower marks (Europe, 37%)
6.
School drop-out (Europe: 13-36%)
Impact mechanisms
State-sponsored SOGI bullying
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Censorship laws (so-called anti-gay propaganda)
Forbidding LGBT supportive school resources
Not allowing LGBT youth support clubs/services
Lack of protection of LGBT teachers
Allowing stereotyping school resources
Refusing to deal with specific LGBT aspects in
anti-bullying policies
7. Not setting quality
standards
(“freedom of education/religion”)
Solutions other than generic
1. A broad perspective on bullying/social behavior
2. Take societal norms and processes into account
3. Deal with fear of being different from the norm
4. Integrate social acceptance of SOGI
in school policies on social behavior
and curriculum
5. International commitment: Paris May 2016