Fem 80
TA: Kristin Conover
“Take Arms Against a Sea of Troubles and by Opposing End Them”
Any person who has spent his or her preteen years in a public school knows that children are cruel. Some say that this truth is character building, while others know that the teasing and harassment can do more harm that a simple blow to ones self-esteem. This is especially true of LGBTQ youths, who have an extra step to take in their individual development This has been shown in many past incidents regarding LGBTQ youths and their peers. Children need to be better educated on the effects of their actions, through both new school programs and the authority figures in their lives.
One instance where taunting and harassment went too far and did irreversible damage was the E.O Green Junior High School Shooting, when openly gay Larry King was killed by a classmate, Brandon McInerney. (Young, Gay, and Murdered, www.thedailybeast.com) Both boys were young, under fifteen, and both came from troubled homes, with irresponsible and often violent role models. In the news, King was portrayed as “flaunting” his sexuality, and his school criticized for supporting it, or at least for not intervening in some manner. The lesbian vice-principle, Epstein, was under questioning for not interfering when tensions arose between McInerney and King. These tensions were due to King’s open expression of himself, which he did without breaking any school rules. There were many instances where King’s “behavior” was encouraged (the encouragement was later criticized), as well as instances where his behavior was condemned (which sets a terrible example for impressionable youths). Where do our values lie? Should schools encourage our LGBTQ youth to express and defend themselves as we would any heterosexual member of society or do we create boundaries and restrictions for those who’s actions are more inclined to place them in harm’s way, and thus sending the wrong message to students? There appears to be a fine line between the two possibilities.
On September 18th, 2011, an LGBTQ teenager, Jamey Rodemeyer, hung himself after suffering constant bullying on his various online social networks. (After Another Teen Suicide, Can We Do Better Than “It Gets Better”?, www.queerty.com) The comments all taunted him mercilessly and encouraged him commit suicide. This is another instance when the hurtful words of ignorant children have severe and irreversible consequences. Though this is a pressing matter, it is not a simple one to solve.
History has shown that adolescents through young adulthood are difficult to control and have a tendency towards violence. An equally prevalent trend is the harassment of LGBTQ youths around the world and the stifling of their culture. Reasons as to why this may be so are researched in the Netherlands. (“Gay bashing -- a rite of passage?”, Culture, Health, and Sexuality) Interviewed “gay bashers” stated that “gays represent everything that [the gay bashers] considered to be dishonorable” or effeminate. Another reason given, was the anti-homosexual violence gave their lives meaning as well as a sense of belonging during a difficult time in their life. Basically, these two statements imply that they are causing others harm because they feel a need to unite with their peers against a common enemy, chosen because they do not understand those who are different from themselves.
All this can be remedied, though slowly and with great effort, through new strategies for educating students from a young age on tolerance. When children learn to appreciate, or at least endure, those who are different from them, there will be change in how LGBTQ youths are treated. One of the best propositions dealing with this idea of enlightening students, is the strategy of replacing “zero-tolerance” with “zero-indifference”. (“Bullying, Harassment, and Violence Among Students”, Original source unknown, Introduction to LGBTQ Studies Reader) This idea would be a step further than “zero-tolerance”, preventing negative actions towards LGBTQ youth before they happen, or a “plan to notice the behaviors, comment on them, intervene, and make corrections accordingly”, involving extensive training on all authority figures within the schooling system. If this is what needs to happen to end violence and harassment towards queer youth, then so be it. It is the time for change and troubled youths will not wait.
Stein, Nan. "Bullying, Harassment, and Violence Among Students." Radical Teacher. Print.
Van Der Meer, Theo. "Gay Bashing: A Rite of Passage?" Culture, Health, and Sexuality. 2nd ed. Vol. 5. Taylor and Francis, 2003. Print. Homophobia and Anti-Gay Violence.
Villarreal, Daniel, and Dan Avery. "After Another Teen Suicide, Can We Do Better Than “It Gets Better”? / Queerty." Queerty - Free of an Agenda. Except That Gay One - Gay News, Politics, Culture. QUEERTY, 21 Sept. 2011. Web. 08 Feb. 2012. <http://www.queerty.com/after-another-teen-suicide-can-we-do-better-than-it-gets-better-20110921/>.
"Young, Gay and Murdered in Junior High." The Daily Beast. Ed. Ramin Setoodeh. Newsweek, 18 July 2008. Web. 08 Feb. 2012. <http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2008/07/18/young-gay-and-murdered.html>.
I agree with your suggestion on how children should be better educated on tolerance and the effect of their actions. I feel like it is too common of a trend that children have in teasing and bullying anyone who is different. Barbara Smith states in her article how, “homophobia is usually the last oppression to be mentioned, the last to be taken seriously... but it is extremely serious, sometimes to the point of being fatal”. I think this is an important concept that our youth is not understanding or taken into consideration. I also think it is unfortunate that this problem is continually getting worse due to new technology that is now available to our youth. Our youth now has access to Facebook and other electronic sources that make them an easy target for cyber bullying. My mother is a 6th grade teacher and constantly tells me stories about children who post hateful comments about other students on Facebook, and how more students participate and contribute to these hateful posts. This is unfortunate and I can definitely agree with your statement about how bulling takes an extra toll on LGBTQ youth because they have to take an extra step in character development. If heterosexual youth have a difficult time facing bullying, it is crucial that we take action in helping support LGBTQ youth because they are the most vulnerable to physical or mental damage. I think that replacing the “zero tolerance” policy with a ”zero indifference” would be effective, however wonder what would be the best strategy to approach this change. I feel like it would be extremely difficult to introduce a LGBTQ tolerance program in schools because too many parents are still conservative. Even if parents are tolerant of LGBTQ affiliated people, it is a completely different situation when it comes to educating your children on the matter.
ReplyDeleteRyan Agsalud
ReplyDeleteTa: Kristin Conover
1:00-1:50
I agree with your post because there is a serious lack of education on the LGBTQ culture and the violent and aggressive actions that are directed towards them. A prime example as mentioned in the post was the case of Larry King. What struck me as the most surprising is the way the jurors, the school, and even Larry King’s father, Greg King reacted to the murder and the trial. During the case, the jurors were conflicted between the conviction of murder and manslaughter based on the harassment Brandon McInerney received from Larry. According to an article by Catherine Saillant, the jurors found that Larry’s aggressive flirting pushed Brandon to his breaking point, which somehow justifies his drastic actions. Some jurors even wore “Save Brandon” bracelets, adding insult to injury. Furthermore, the school found his behavior provocative, such as his choice of dress in women’s shoes, which was deemed as a ploy to receive attention. Lastly, Larry’s own father was angered by the school because of their school’s “enabling of his provocative behavior” (Saillant).
I believe a common theme within the Larry King case is ignorance. The idea that Larry’s homosexuality was “flaunting of provocative” behavior” is a prime example that the general public has a lack in LGBTQ culture. Homosexuality is not a tool for attention, it’s not a phase, but it is a characteristic of a human being. The decision to wear women’s heels is no different of a decision for a heterosexual male to choose to wear the underwear he is wearing. It is a part of who they are and is not meant to be treated as a spectacle. I’ve mentioned before that education must be brought to the youth of today in order to fight the ignorance of tomorrow. Educating the youth can enlighten them and therefore give them a chance to develop a cognitive and empathetic understanding of the culture. At a young age, children and teenagers will be able to view individuals of the LGBTQ culture as equals and will hopefully foster a better society where homosexuality and heterosexuality will not be just black and white.
Ellie Cavazos
ReplyDeleteKristin Conover
Thursday 1-1:50pm
I agree with your post and thoughts on bullying as experienced by LGBTQ youth. It is unfortunate that we as a considered “progressive” nation see, hear and maybe have experienced the effects of this cruel behavior. It is said that children’s brains are like sponges, soaking in tidbits of information that will serve useful to them as they progress in age. To optimize that thought, we then should consider several factors that shape their psychological, cultural and social development. A child’s environment, ethnic background, religious affiliation and family dynamic all contribute to either aiding or hindering how they view difference. At a young age children begin to understand social differences and how they operate in the context of a greater whole, either positive or negative. The total “elimination of sex discrimination” (Stein, pg 49) begins by conditioning the mindset of children and by promoting as Stein says, a “zero-indifference” attitude towards those who identify as LGBTQ or any marginalized community for that matter. The onset of bullying and taunting begins roughly around mid-childhood and flourishes through early and mid adolescence. With that being said there are two windows of time that will help condition youth to indifference, and in best cases, it is hoped generations will move towards full acceptance of those peers who identify as LGBTQ and also become knowledgeable about LGBTQ history and culture. The windows of time in which to condition youth are considered sensitive and critical time frames. In moving towards Stein’s idea of “zero indifference”, the development towards acceptance needs to begin in early childhood and should be supplemented by positive parent involvement, community building as well as teacher and staff training (Stein, pg 51). Though this may not be an easy undertaking it is one that will prove fruitful to assure opportunities for social development, a lighter childhood/adolescent transition, and as years progress full acceptance of LGBTQ culture.