Rainbow Schools? Gender Identity and the Perception of School Climate by LGBTQ+ Youth in German-Speaking Switzerland (Poster 10)

• In Event: AERA Poster Session Friday 3:20 p.m.
  In Poster Session: Quantitative Approaches to Queer Education Research

Abstract

This study examines how LGBTQ+ youth in German-speaking Switzerland perceive their school climate according to their gender identity. The theoretical framework of the school climate dimensions is used to conceptualize LGBTQ+ specific school experiences. Using data from the SOGUS project, involving an online survey of 564 LGBTQ+ youth participants, the study employed items of the National School Climate Survey (Kosciw et al. 2020) with open-ended questions. Results indicate significant harassment and discomfort among non-binary and trans students compared to cis peers, with cis females reporting higher acceptance and comfort. The findings underscore the critical role of school climate in LGBTQ+ students' psychosocial development, offering nuanced insights into their varied experiences and informing more effective interventions and support mechanisms.

Authors

• Ad J. Ott, University of Bern

• Christa Kappler, Zurich University of Teacher Education

• Tina Hascher, Universität Bern