Straight allies: Combating homophobia and interrogating heteronormativity 'straight' on

This thesis investigates the experiences of five allies and their involvement in Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) in secondary schools in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. Drawing on both queer theoretical perspectives and Kumashiro’s (2002) framework of anti-oppressive education, I investigate what motivates or influences allies' decisions to become members of GSAs, and I explore their roles as allies in secondary schools. This inquiry portrays how allies play a critical role in facilitating social change in their schools, and how GSAs positively contribute to school communities. By investigating the experiences of allies, I wish to emphasize the importance of authorizing students' perspectives as a powerful opportunity to engage students in transforming educational policy and practice. Moreover, this process of student engagement draws attention to how educators might nurture alliances between straight-identifying and queer pupils in schooling by listening to the voices of students themselves.

Name thesis:degree_name

M Ed

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Education

Grantor dc:publisher

The University of Western Ontario

Year dc:date.issued

2012

Author dc:creator

• Lapointe, Alicia A

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Wayne Martino

• Ally
• Gay-Straight Alliance
• Heteronormativity
• Heterosexism
• Homophobia
• Straight Ally

Language dc:language.iso

en_ca

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14721/33113

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:uwo.scholaris.ca:20.500.14721/33113