Loading...
Inclusion of LGBTIQ perspectives in school-based sexuality education in Aotearoa/New Zealand: an exploratory study
Abstract
In Aotearoa/New Zealand, sexuality education is one of seven key areas of learning in the Health and Physical Education (HPE) subject area within The New Zealand Curriculum. Since 2015, sexual diversity (lesbian, gay, bisexual identities and perspectives) and gender diversity (transgender; non-binary gender) have been explicitly included in the curriculum guidelines for teaching sexuality education in schools. Based on survey data collected from a convenience sample of 73 participants aged between 16 and 19, this study focused on the prevalence of sexuality education provision, its content and the inclusion of sexuality and gender diversity in the wider school environment. Despite sexuality education being a mandatory part of HPE, only around three-quarters of respondents remembered having been taught it at some point in years 9 and 10. Sexuality education was also reported to primarily attend to conventional content areas (e.g. heterosex; biological function) and therefore was not inclusive of sexuality and gender diversity. Inclusion in the wider school environment was also limited; mainly being restricted to easy to implement measures (e.g. allowing same-sex partners at balls; having a rainbow ally group). The implications of these findings for the development, wellbeing and human rights of young people are also discussed.
Type
Journal Article
Type of thesis
Series
Citation
Date
2020-12-30
Publisher
ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
Degree
Supervisors
Rights
This is an author’s accepted version of an article published in Sex Education: Sexuality, Society and Learning. © 2020 Informa UK Limited.