Binary-trans, non-binary and gender-questioning adolescents' experiences in UK schools. Issue 1 (2nd January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bower-Brown, Susie; Zadeh, Sophie; Jadva, Vasanti
• Is Part Of: Journal of LGBT youth. Volume 20:Issue 1(2023)
• Page Start: 74
• Page End: 92
• Publication Date: 2023-01-02
• Subjects: Transgender -- non-binary -- gender-questioning -- school -- adolescence; Sexual minority youth -- Periodicals; Sexual minority youth -- Education -- Periodicals; 306.76083505
• DOI: 10.1080/19361653.2021.1873215
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1936-1653

Abstract

Abstract: A growing number of adolescents are using a number of different identities to describe their gender. Schools have been noted for their uninclusive environments and high levels of discrimination for LGBTQ + individuals, yet research has neglected the school experiences of UK gender-diverse adolescents. This article explores the school experiences and navigation strategies of gender-diverse adolescents in the UK, examining the experiences of binary-trans, non-binary and gender-questioning adolescents separately. The data presented in this article come from a large survey of LGBTQ + young people's social experiences; a subsample of 74 adolescents' (25 binary-trans, 25 non-binary, and 24 gender-questioning) open-ended responses were selected for qualitative thematic analysis. Findings highlight that gender-diverse adolescents experience discrimination within the school environment from the curriculum, space, peers and teachers, and a number of strategies, including disclosure negotiation, cognitive restructuring and proactive protection, are used to navigate this environment. Findings shed light on the school experiences of gender-diverse adolescents, and suggest that the British school system is fundamentally unsuitable for non-binary and gender-questioning identities.