Transgender and gender-expansive (TGE) students encounter harassment, microaggressions, and adverse experiences in schools (Kosciw et al., 2022). In music classrooms, these students may find a safer space, although the choral classroom, in particular, can be a highly gendered environment (Palkki, 2019). Researchers have described the experiences of TGE students in music classes (Bartolome, 2016; Nichols, 2013; Silveira, 2019). Some quantitative studies exist examining the experiences and attitudes of music teachers working alongside TGE students (Cates, 2022; Silveira & Goff, 2016). However, there is little to no qualitative research that examines the experiences of choral music educators who work with TGE students.
In this study I aimed to explore and understand the experiences of four teacher participants who worked alongside TGE students in their choral music classrooms. Two research questions guided this study:
1. What experiences or circumstances might act as catalysts for change for a secondary choral teacher teaching transgender and gender-expansive students?
2. How does the experience of teaching a transgender or gender-expansive student change a secondary choral music teacher's perspective, approach, or classroom?
Data were gathered during the fall and winter of the 2021–2022 school year and included semi-structured interviews and artifacts. Interview transcripts served as the primary source of data. Participants shared their own individual experiences as they worked alongside TGE students and themes were organized across individual case studies and a cross-case analysis.
The participants made changes to their practice and pedagogy as they worked with TGE students. Cross-case analysis uncovered the themes of isolation, autonomy, and inattention as catalysts for change for teachers as they worked alongside TGE students. Teacher participants also changed their practice regarding language, uniform policies, and voicing. The findings from this study add to the growing literature about the experiences of TGE students in music classes.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bu.edu/oai:open.bu.edu:2144/46917 |
| Date | 15 September 2023 |
| Creators | Peithmann, Lauren K. |
| Contributors | Carter, Bruce A. |
| Source Sets | Boston University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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