Overview
This research examines parents’ perspectives regarding the inclusion of gender and sexuality diversity in school curriculum across Australia and to understand how parents of gender and sexuality diverse children (or those perceived to be by others) navigate their child’s experiences in school.
Although there has recently been much in the media about addressing gender and sexuality diversity in school education, very little is actually known about what parents think is appropriate for their children to learn at school, at what level such knowledge should be conveyed, how it should be conveyed (if at all) or who should deliver this information.
Specifically, the aims of this research are to:
- Provide national data about parents’ perspectives regarding the inclusion or exclusion of gender and sexuality diversity in school curriculum and practices; this information may be of use to future curriculum and policy development.
- Examine the stories and experiences of parents/carers of gender and/or sexuality diverse children, focusing on their navigation of, and engagement with, state school systems.
- Write, develop, implement and film a performed ethnography for use as an online educational resource for teachers, pre-service teachers and school communities. This resource will share the findings of the study in a user-friendly manner.
Why do we need a study of this kind?
To date, no large-scale research has been conducted in Australia that examines parents’ perceptions of gender and sexuality diverse related content inclusions in curriculum.
Who is conducting the study?
This research is being conducted by a team of highly skilled researchers in the area of gender and sexuality in education from the School of Education at Western Sydney University. The team has a combined experience of teaching and researching in this field spanning over three decades, with a proven track record in undertaking nationally-competitive and complex research projects. The study is being funded by the Australian Research Council (ARC), Project ID: DP180101676.