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    "I just want to be who I am" : Exploring the barriers faced by lesbian early childhood teachers as they disrupt heteronormative practices in Aotearoa/New Zealand. (2015)

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    Type of Content
    Theses / Dissertations
    UC Permalink
    http://hdl.handle.net/10092/10691
    http://dx.doi.org/10.26021/9969
    
    Thesis Discipline
    Education
    Degree Name
    Master of Education
    Publisher
    University of Canterbury. School of Educational Studies and Leadership
    Collections
    • Education: Theses and Dissertations [702]
    Authors
    Cooper, Kathleen Fleur
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    Abstract

    This thesis reports on a small scale qualitative research project located in Aotearoa/New Zealand. The objective of the research was to understand how lesbian teachers disrupt heteronormativity in early childhood settings. The literature was reviewed nationally and internationally. It argues that heteronormativity is the main barrier preventing teachers speaking about lesbian and gay issues. Heteronormativity is a discourse that works to maintain heterosexual hegemony. As a result of this dominance, acceptance of lesbian and gay issues is still a contentious issue within Aotearoa/New Zealand early childhood settings. This study provided an opportunity for heteronormativity to be viewed solely from a lesbian teacher’s paradigm. My intention was to also examine the strategies that participants used to challenge heteronormative dominance. Participants negotiated risks to ensure that both children and adults were aware of the hegemonic view point enforced by heteronormativity. A feminist post-structuralist and queer theory paradigm was used to frame the analytical approach.

    Keywords
    lesbian; earlychildhhod; Aotearoa; heteronormative; gay-issues
    Rights
    Copyright Kathleen F Cooper
    https://canterbury.libguides.com/rights/theses

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