Sexual Cultures in Aotearoa / New Zealand Education

Aotearoa New Zealand was recently rated by the Lonely Planet travel guide as the second most "gay friendly" country in the world, with some of the most advanced human rights legislation. Research suggests, however, that New Zealand’s relatively "inclusive" social climate is not always reflected in our educational settings. This book explores how the assumption that heterosexuality is the norm operates in education, and the discriminatory effects of this for teachers, for students, and for parents, in early childhood education, schools, tertiary and alternative settings. How can education settings become more socially just sites of inclusion for sexual and gender diversity? Contributors from a wide range of sectors discuss their research and invite others to join them in resisting the many injustices perpetuated by the unchecked discriminatory discourses that have shaped New Zealand education historically, and which continue to do so today.

Alexandra Gunn works at the University of Otago College of Education teaching and researching in early childhood education, inclusion, assessment, and teacher education. Formerly an early childhood teacher, Alex’s work interests centre on social justice; in particular on teachers’ beliefs and practices and how these reflect, produce and disrupt taken-for-granted norms. She previously co-editedTe Aoturoa Tataki: Inclusive early childhood education (NZCER Press). Lee Smith finished her PhD (Education) at the University of Otago in 2012. Since then she has undertaken a number of research roles at the University of Otago and in the wider community. Her research interests include gender, sexuality, youth and spatiality.