HOMOPHOBIC VIOLENCE IN SCHOOL

what is revealed by the discourses of teachers in continuing education

Abstract

This paper analyses the discourses of 30 public school teachers enrolled in a Specialization Course on Gender and Diversity in School (online), offered by a gender studies center (NIPAM) of Federal University of Paraiba (UFPB), in Joao Pessoa, Brazil, during 2014-2015. In the closing of the module on Sexuality and Sexual Orientation, an exam open question offered an opportunity to investigate teachers' responses to homophobic violence. The question was about how to intervene in an incident of homophobia in school, considering various roles: principal, teacher, technical assistant, parent. Results indicated different intervention proposals along two main axes: 1) conscientization through the development of pedagogical activities about differences and respect among students and members of the school community; 2) referral to school and external authorities, such as psychologist and Juvenile Court officers. A relevant aspect for the management of homophobia in school emerged: the need of joint actions in order to overcome it, although teachers' responses still show conceptual shortcomings, which may limit the quality of their pedagogical interventions.