Michael Wardle

Prejudice, Acceptance, Triumph: The Experiences of Gay and Lesbian Teachers in Secondary Education Michael Wardle

Prejudice, Acceptance, Triumph takes a look at the lives of gay and lesbian teachers working in the British secondary education system post- Section 28. While legal changes have transformed the lives of gays and lesbians and society has become noticeably more accepting since the 1980s, there is still disquiet in some quarters whenever they come into professional contact with children. In this, his doctoral thesis, Michael Wardle balances the gay perspective with method- ologically sound detachment and asks questions of a carefully selected cross-section of secondary school teachers, such as: who are you 'out' to? Colleagues? Managers? Parents? Pupils? How does being gay or lesbian shape your professional relationships with these diverse groups? What are your experiences of homophobia and censorship? And what about gay pupils? Where do they fit into the professional lives of gay and lesbian teachers? This study asks questions that range from the mundane to the controversial and comes back with some surprising answers, uncovering an unpredictable medley of prejudice, acceptance and yes, even triumph.