The Impact of Gender Divergence on Adolescents' Well-Being: Does the School Context Matter?

• In Event: Gender and Its Relations to School Experiences, Achievement, and Violence, Across Countries and From Kindergarten Through Adolescence

Abstract

Schools are often heteronormative environments. This study investigates the possible negative effect of different school cultures —by both the level of traditional gender-ideology and homonegativity—on the well-being of gender-divergent students —as evidenced by gender (a)typicality and pressure for gender-conformity—. We examine these associations in a sample of 4987 Flemish students, who were questioned three times in 2012-2014. Results from multilevel regression analyses show that both gender-typical and atypical adolescents feel worse in heteronormative than liberal schools. Furthermore, the social acceptance of boys seems to be more conditional on gender-conformity in heteronormative than liberal schools. Overall, liberal schools ensure higher well-being for all students (regardless of sex or gender-divergence) and student-teacher relationships seem central in explaining these school differences.

Authors

• Wendelien Vantieghem, Vrije Universiteit Brussel

• Mieke Van Houtte, Ghent University