Children’s meanings of same-sex sexualities: a study of 8 and 9 year-old boys and girls in a primary school.
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Date
2020
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Abstract
This study explores the meanings of same-sex sexualities among Grade 3 children aged eight and nine years old. This study took place at Moonlight Primary School (pseudonym) situated in Newlands West, north of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal. Thirty learners were involved in this study; they were all interviewed individually in order to share their meanings of same-sex sexualities. Findings reveal that children in primary schools define same-sex sexuality as boys who display feminine traits or girls who display masculine traits. Within this study, findings also reveal that children do not regard same-sex sexuality as a sexual identity, but as an ‘act’ that is done by boys and girls who do not want to conform to normative gendered traits. Boys and girls in primary school have been deemed innocent and asexual. However, this study reveals that children in primary school monitor normative gender traits and bully peers who do not conform to heteronormative traits. The school playground is one of the sites where children’s sexualities are scrutinised by peers. In primary school, games are gendered and children who do not conform to that are marginalised and victimised by peers. In South Africa, the foundation phase curriculum does not include same-sex sexualities.
Families and places of worship condemn same-sex sexualities. Parents do not want their children to be associated with homosexuality. Parents also presume that all children are heterosexuals. They also believe sexuality is for adults and not for children because they are deemed to be still young and innocent. Study also reveals that media (television) helps children to identify non-normative gendered traits. Findings reveal that religious institutions do not share their thoughts and views about same-sex sexualities. Some places of worship clearly state that homosexuals are bad people because they do not conform to normative gendered traits and are perceived as a threat to the status quo. The findings also reveal that boys and girls always want to maintain normative gendered traits in school, therefore they always play with peers of the same sex to avoid being bullied by peers. Homophobic insults and homophobic bullying are very common in primary schools, therefore usage of the word gay or isitabane (derogatory word for gay) is very frequently used by children.
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Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.