Abstract
Since 1994, South Africa's government has prioritised transforming society, especially educational institutions. Contributing towards transformation can occur through the formal curricula of a higher education institution. That said, exploring how higher education curricula promote the transformation of gender and sexual diversity outside of the confinements of heterosexuality to contribute to equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) is essential. However, it necessitates a suitable theoretical framework to understand how themes on gender and sexual diversity have been included in module contents. Seven premises of queer theory have been identified and explained to understand the inclusion of themes on gender and sexual diversity in module contents of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Findings that emanated from this book chapter include (among others) that greater representation of all members of society in module contents necessitates that educators be aware of how their beliefs about gender and sexual diversity oppress and exclude LGBTIQ+ students in their classrooms.
TopQueer Theory: A Theoretical Framework For Exploring Gender And Sexual Diversity Development And Inclusion In Higher Education Curricula
Queer theory is a difficult concept to define (Thiel, 2018). For some, it mainly involves theorizing about gender and sexual diversity. Others, however, employ it as a form of “political action” (Harding 2011, p. 198). Moreover, queer theory focuses not only on scrutinizing how people theorize identity but also on problems associated with the notion of theorizing gender and sexual identities (Thiel, 2017).
Key Terms in this Chapter
Closet: The closet here describes the captive space in which LGBTIQ+ individuals find themselves regardless of the approach (assimilationist or liberationist) they take to fit into a heterosexual society. It is a space in which LGBTIQ+ people remain hidden from the heteronormative, as they cannot disclose their sexual orientation or gender identity. The inclusion of the closet concept is crucial for understanding the captive space within which LGBTIQ+ people may find themselves at various times.
LGBTIQ+: LGBTIQ+ refers to the plurality of gender and sexuality that people identify with (for example lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex, queer, and questioning (LGBTIQ+), among others. This abbreviation has been used in this study when referring to broader groups of supposed subgroups.
Undergraduate programmes: Undergraduate programmes refer to courses students enroll for at universities after school for example a degree in Social Work or Sociology.
Educators: Educators in this chapter refers to lecturers/faculty teaching at a university/college and teachers who teach at public/private schools.
Module contents: Module contents refer to all the sources (as in literature, videos, PowerPoint slides) used in the subjects part of the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes students enroll for.
Modules: Modules refer to the subjects students take and which forms part of the programme they enroll for which they have to pass in order to graduate.
Postgraduate programmes: Postgraduate programmes refer to courses students enroll for after their first degrees for example an Honors degree.