Inside Out: A Gay Teacher Educator’s Self-Study

• In Event: Reaching Cultural Understanding Through Self-Study

Abstract

In this self-study, a gay teacher educator explores the importance of teacher educators’ gender identities and sexual orientation. Queer theory provides a critical context. Narrative inquiry is employed as a method of inquiry; artefacts written by the author over the years are examined. Three meanings of turning something inside out structure the paper. The first, to cause confusion, is used to examine identity formation amidst heteronormativity and homophobia. A second, to turn the inner surface outward, reflects progress towards making gay identity explicit in his work as an educator. The final section, builds on turning inside out as changing something utterly to explore how he situates himself as a gay professor. Implications for queer and straight teacher educators are considered.

Author

• Julian D. Kitchen, Brock University