Identity mobilization of undergraduate students belonging to the LGBTQIA+ universe
LGBTQIA+, gender identity, sexual orientation, homophobia, stereotypy, bullying
This experiential narrative research, with a qualitative approach and exploratory orientation, to be carried out in the methodological format of a multi-case study, aims to understand how undergraduate students of English as a foreign language who identify themselves with the LGBTQIA+ universe (lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transvestites, transgender, queers, intersex, asexual and more) mobilize, negotiate, construct and exercise their identities in the classroom. Therefore, it is interesting to investigate these students in interaction with colleagues and teachers within the school context. The theoretical framework is composed by: Norton and Toohey's (2011) concept of identity, inputs from Queer Theory, Lippmann’s (2010) understanding of stereotypy, Warwick, Chase and Aggleton’s (2004) perspective on bullying, and Borrilo’s (2012) understanding of homophobia. Due to the circumstance of emergency remote teaching, data generation will be done through audio recording of three narratives, to be provided in semi-structured virtual interview sections, throughout a semester. The data generated by the first interview will be discussed in light of the theoretical framework. Those generated by the second will be analyzed as follows: first, the identity experiences will be identified in the narratives; then, they will be categorized according to their nature, based on Miccoli's framework of learning experiences (MICCOLI; BAMBIRRA; VIANINI, 2020). With this procedure, the composition of the experiences mobilized by the participants will be evidenced, allowing us to observe their formation in interaction with the context. The data generated by the third interview will be analyzed according to the correlation of its content with the context of the classroom, in order to explain the mutual influence that the experiences lived inside and outside the classroom have, in the expectation that we can support the educational environment with regard to combating stereotypes, bullying and homophobia. We hope that the process of getting to know the identity mobilization of students who identify themselves with the LGBTQIA+ universe in the classroom can help fight prejudice, homophobia, stereotyping and bullying. We also indirectly seek inputs that can support pedagogical practices capable of promoting better quality of life in the school environment.