Chris DSouza 5801245

Reading Assignment Sociology 101

In reading Shane Towns Queer(y)ing Masculinities in Schools: Faggots, Fairies and the First IV, he reveals the three hetero-normative practices within a school environment, through the careful selection and interviewing of ten homosexual males, and carefully recording their experiences in high school in terms of homosexuality. The three hetero-normative practices that Town has identified is, firstly the silence surrounding sexuality, but more specifically homosexuality. There was a reinforcement of binaries in high school, of what is thought to be masculine, heterosexual and gay etc. These binaries were kept intact by firstly, silencing all talk of homosexuality and secondly through the lack of intervention and recognition of verbal and physical homophobic acts.1 Secondly the pathologisation surrounding homosexuality, e.g. AIDS being aligned with homosexuality rather than with sexual practices, Town shows the connection between disease and homosexuality is the cause for discouragement in exploring the homosexuality within the interviewees. Thirdly Town states the separation of the feminine from the masculine, through forms of physical and verbal abuse as the third form of hetero-normativity in schools. Davies (1993) and Epstein (1996) identified primary schooling as a site where young boys learn how to be heterosexual men. 2 In attempting to fit in with the masculine idea at the school, they had to participate in homophobic abuse, contributing to a low self-esteem within them. Finally Town made a distinct link between homosexuality and suicide, although none of the participants attempted suicide; they had talked in length about considering it, in order to escape the masculine ideas enforced on them in high school.

1 2

(Town, Shane 1999) (Town, Shane 1999)