Bullying in the school environment (Reading)

Sexuality is an important topic amongst teenagers, and schools are a place where children learn what’s acceptable both regarding sexual orientation and gender roles, expression, and gender identity. Schools are also the primary place for youths to socialise, form friendships, and from the age 7 to 19 this is the place they spend most of their days at. If someone is harassed or abused at school, they must face that day after day. It is visible that for LGBTI+ youth, school can be experienced as an unsafe place for a variety of reasons.

Plenty of LGBTI+ youth reports feeling uncomfortable or unsafe in their schools, this may lead to avoiding particular areas ( i.e bathrooms, lockers) or not taking part in particular activities where they might have bad experiences, or in extreme cases they might even avoid attending school, which can cause failure at classes or even at being kicked out, resulting in worse options for their academic success. An unwelcoming or hostile school environment can cut back LGBTI+ students from accessing all academic possibilities, from socialising or from engaging with the school community.

When talking about the negative effects of bullying we don’t solely mean harsh verbal or physical harassment, but every manifestation of non-acceptance, starting from LGBT-phobic remarks. Anti-LGBTI+ remarks contribute to hostile school climates. Any negative remark about sexual orientation, gender, or gender expression may signal to LGBTI+ students that they are unwelcome or unaccepted, even if these negative remarks are not directly aligned to the individual sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression of the LGBTI+ student who hears it, or they are not particularly directed at given student, but appear in the form of jokes or stereotypes. Especially if these remarks come from a teacher or other adult, as this normalises these types of behaviours.