Schooling cultures : institutionalizing heteronormativity and heterosexism

This paper explores how some schooling cultures in New South Wales (hereafter NSW), Australia, police and silence non-heterosexuality through a number of institutional processes which enable homophobia and heterosexism to flourish, while normalizing and constituting heterosexuality as the dominant and only valid sexuality. The discussion shows that despite an apparent broader societal 'tolerance' for non-heterosexuality, as well as legislation that condemns anti-'homosexual' discrimination in education in NSW, homophobic prejudice often in the form of silence, omission and assumption prevails. It illustrates that schools need to be much more aware and proactive in addressing issues pertaining to this social justice issue to ensure a safe and equitable learning and teaching environment for all members of the school community. There is not one but many silences, and they are an integral part of the strategies that underlie and permeate discourses. (Foucault, 1978, p. 27) Lying is done with words, and also with silence. (Rich, 1980/84, p.186).