Learning about sexual minorities in school and at home: How critical pedagogy can challenge heterosexism

AbstractCollege students, as a relatively privileged demographic, are in a unique position to reinforce or challenge stereotypes of sexual minorities. While much research has explored the social impact of heterosexism (e.g. hate crimes and bullying), few studies have sought to explore how heterosexuals form antigay attitudes. This study aims to fill that gap by examining how college students learn and make sense of messages about sexual minorities. Qualitative data for this study were derived from interviews with college students at a Midwest University in the United States. In three main findings, we report that, despite what may have been good intentions, messages learned from formal education and family may have been misinterpreted. Encouragingly, we found that students relied on information from formal education and intergroup contact more than messages from media. Drawing from critical pedagogy, we conclude with suggestions for promoting critical thinking in the college classroom in order to promote ...