- Title
- The experiences faced by lesbian, gays, bisexual, and transgender students at the University of Fort Hare
- Creator
- Nyakwima, Esther Rutendo
- Subject
- Gays
- Subject
- Homosexuality
- Subject
- Bisexuals
- Date Issued
- 2014-11
- Date
- 2014-11
- Type
- text
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/10353/25227
- Identifier
- vital:64070
- Description
- Sexual orientation is one of the vital aspects that a person’s identity, persona, self-esteem, solidarity, equality and worthless are determined. Misconceptions and prejudices often lead to emotional, psychological and verbal discrimination or victimisation and even physical violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender life. This study explored the experiences, challenges faced by LGBT students at the University Of Fort Hare and the strategies they employ to deal with these challenges and policies which are in place to protect them. The study utilized the psychodynamic theory and the social cognitive theoretical framework to illustrate the homosexuality nexus. The study employed a qualitative and quantitative research methodology which utilised questionnaires and interviews as a methods of data collection. The study revealed that the homosexual population at the University Of Fort Hare is experiencing homophobia, condemnation, homophobic attacks, prejudicial remarks, discrimination and abuse. It was noted that perceived discrimination is rampant from heterosexual students in every category related to discrimination. While the findings do not prove that discrimination causes mental health problems, data collected takes a step towards demonstrating that the social stigma felt by LGBT students has mental health consequences. Inequitable experiences may affect stress levels because discrimination is shadowed by prejudice remarks against homosexuals. The results of the study have further revealed that homosexual students are resilient to harsh circumstances like violence and discrimination. They are by no means secure within their own gendered and sexual lives. They have an idea as to what strategies and implementation tactics would work best for them, given their socio-cultural framework. Homosexual students successively adopt various strategies to protect themselves, such as boundary setting, avoiding certain circumstances, hiding identities, revenging and some openly admitting that they are gay students. Although there are policies in place to protect homosexual students at the University Of Fort Hare, gay and lesbian students have adopted their own strategies to protect themselves as they are unaware of these policies. However, in terms of policies safeguarding homosexuals, it can be noted that the University Of Fort Hare has generally adopted a top-down policy, one-size fits all approach to solving gender issues on campus. The policies are mainly centred on the distribution of resources and strict guidelines on the way people or inmates should conduct themselves towards each other.
- Description
- Thesis (MSoc) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2014
- Format
- computer
- Format
- online resource
- Format
- application/pdf
- Format
- 1 online resource (148 leaves)
- Format
- Publisher
- University of Fort Hare
- Publisher
- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities
- Language
- English
- Rights
- University of Fort Hare
- Rights
- All Rights Reserved
- Rights
- Open Access
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- Visitors: 165
- Downloads: 21
Collections
UFH Department of Social Work & Social Development
| Thumbnail | File | Description | Size | Format | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Details Download | SOURCE1 | Final_dissertation_Esther_Nyakwima.pdf | 1 MB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download |