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Browsing School of Education Foundations by Author "Nichols, H. J."
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Item Open Access The influence of LGBTQ celebrities on school youth’s perceptions of gender and sexual diversity(University of the Free State, 2023) Botha, Tercia; Nichols, H. J.𝑬𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉 In recent times, South Africans have started to acknowledge and support counter-normative celebrities; celebrated Gay Pride Parades in cities such as Johannesburg and Cape Town; watched same-sex relationships on popular soap operas such as “Generations”; listened to music from counter-normative performers within the music industry and elected gay and lesbian members in the South African parliament. Role models such as celebrities, parents, teachers, and peers influence the attitudes and behaviours of teenagers and school youth. This can determine what kind of person they become, including their appearance, attitudes, gender and sexual diversity, and goals in life. A key aspect of identity development is the media, specifically social media, and television; hence, there is increasing concern that the youth learn more about gender and sexual diversity outside schools than in the formal curriculum. It is not surprising that the school youth are bound to look at LGBTQ celebrities in the media, in order to form their perceptions based on gender and sexual diversity. This research study explores the influence of LGBTQ celebrities on school youth’s perceptions of gender and sexual diversity. Using a case study methodology, semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven Grade 10 high-school learners studying at a co-ed high school in the Free State province of South Africa. Findings reveal that exposure to LGBTQ celebrities does influence their perceptions of gender and sexual diversity; the high-school learners expressed a need to be taught about gender and sexual diversity for their peers and teachers to have a better understanding; they revealed that they educate themselves on social media and learn more about gender and sexual diversity outside the schoolyard rather than in the formal curriculum; religion, culture and their parents also played a role in their perceptions of gender and sexual diversity. While the data is clear evidence of the influence of LGBTQ celebrities on their perceptions of gender and sexual diversity, it also revealed that the school youth realised the importance of being taught about gender and sexual diversity in the school system and they expressed a need to be taught for a better understanding. I conclude by calling on UMALUSI; the Department of Education; the Independent Examinations Board, and the South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute officials and inspectors of schools to pay regular visits to schools to ensure that the codes of conduct and policies are implemented thoroughly according to the South African Schools Act of 1996, the South African Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. ___________________________________________________________________