An Analysis of the Impact Literature Choices in K-12 ELA Curriculum have on the LGBTQ+ Student Population
Date
2020-09-04
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Southern New Hampshire University
Abstract
As a high school ELA teacher, I have seen first-hand, the negative impact some literature
choices have on students identifying outside of the binary definitions most often encouraged in
society. This paper addresses the challenges and concerns with the current literature used in high
school ELA classrooms and breaks down the negative impact on the ever-growing population
identifying outside of cisgender and heteronormative groups. While identities that do not fit
within these two categories are becoming more accepted, school curricula are not keeping up
with these changes. The subconscious identification of characters portraying traditional gender
roles reinforces the stigma associated with alternate identities. In order to address the growing
awareness of the fluidity of identity found in modern society, the current selection of literature
used in the high school English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum which reinforces cisgender
and heteronormative characters needs to be reviewed and revised.
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