Poetry and Pose : Heterosexual Male Teachers’ Presentation of Gender Identity In the Secondary School English Classroom

Curnett, Joshua and Warin, Jo (2021) Poetry and Pose : Heterosexual Male Teachers’ Presentation of Gender Identity In the Secondary School English Classroom. PhD thesis, Lancaster University.

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Abstract

Abstract: In this PhD thesis, I have investigated this question: How and why do heterosexual male secondary school English teachers present gender identity in the classroom? Prior to my thesis, little or no research existed regarding this question. I have reviewed literature in the areas of gender identity, masculinity studies, secondary education, and Queer educational theory to delineate the boundaries of my thesis study as well as identify a gap in the literature where my research lies. In addition, I have used the nascent methodology of braided autoethnography for my research: a braided autoethnographic approach allows me to write about my own experience alongside as well as within the narratives I developed regarding the interviews of my research subjects. As a result of my study, I have found that the subjects and I converge upon and diverge from different points regarding how and why we present our gender inside and outside of the secondary school English classroom, particularly regarding our sense of masculinity as essential or contextual. I conclude the thesis with three recommendations regarding my findings: 1) this research question suggests further study as it is currently written and also in various, new forms; 2) the nascent methodology of braided autoethnography necessitates further theoretical and practical description, and 3) secondary school teacher training can be developed regarding the contextuality of the teacher’s presentation of gender identity within a classroom.