Torn in Two: School Counselors' Experiences of Working With Arab LGBT Youth  

• In Event: Shaping Inclusive Futures: Multicultural Perspectives on Education and Well-Being

Abstract

This study examined school counselors' experiences of working with Arab LGBT youth. The study included semi-structured interviews with 60 female Muslim counselors in Arab schools in Israel. Data were analyzed using interpretive phenomenological analysis. Four main themes were developed: Religious prohibition of LGBT sexuality, etiological considerations, working practices, and resources. Our findings point to the unique challenges facing Arab school counselors who are torn between their professional values and traditional norms. Among the strategies counselors used for managing this tension were separating homosexuality from homosexuals, passive listening while avoiding proactive inquiry, and referring to homosexuality as a transient phase. Our findings emphasize the need to develop culturally relevant programs for students, teachers, and families that address LGBT sexuality.

Authors

• Raneen Khaled Da'as, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

• Ortal Slobodin, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev