There are reports of rising hostility towards homosexuality in schools. But is it also -- or only -- a language shift?
March 11, 2008 11:35 AM
Should we be worried about the apparent rise in homophobia in schools? A survey by a teachers' union, reported this morning, believes it is "endemic" and on the rise.
Colleagues expressed surprise at this, given that homophobia in other parts of our society appears to have faded. "Even the Daily Mail has given up," said one.
Our news report notes that, "The word 'gay' was reported to be the most frequently used term to put someone down, followed by 'bitch' and 'slag'."
Is this, though, just a change in the use of the word or evidence of growing hostility?
The online Oxford English Dictionary has recorded changes in the use of the word since its first written mention in 1310, when it meant "light-hearted, exuberantly cheerful, sportive, merry".
It takes us through changes until in 1825 it has a recorded slang use meaning a woman living by prostitution.
In 1935 it begins life as American slang for homosexual.
But the OED also notes another change taking place in the US as early as 1978, when it becomes a description of something "Foolish, stupid, socially inappropriate or disapproved of; 'lame'."
Here are the draft additions to the dictionary from 2003:
1978 G. KIMBERLY Skateboard 41 'It looks terrific on you.' 'It looks gay.'
1987 Creem Close-up Presents No. 1. 6 Your so-stupid-they're-funny captions are gay. Get into some [real] humor.
1999 T. PARKER & M. STONE Cartman's Mom is Dirty Slut in South Park Scripts: Bk. 1 150 (stage direct.) As the camera zooms in on their faces, that gay 'Near/Far' song from 'Titanic' plays.
2001 Washington Post 8 May C9 Today, they [sc. teenagers] often use gay as an adjective meaning 'stupid'... A gay movie is a stupid movie or one that makes no sense or one with a lame plot or all of those things.
2002 Independent 3 Oct. 21/3 At last the first official confirmation that the term 'gay' has now ousted 'pants' as the popular youth slang for 'naff.'
So is the word 'gay' in the vocabulary of school students ahead of our general understanding or a reflection of something more sinister?
If it is the latter, possibly adopting the experience of Holland would help. One colleague reported that Dutch equivalent of sixth form students are required by law to have at least a 2.5-hour session on homosexuality, taught by people from gay organisations and not by their usual teachers. Even faith schools are included in this requirement. However, the Dutch government has also reported increasing hostility to homosexuality in schools.
Our Comment is free editors are already commissioning a blog straight from the sixth form to find out the inside story -- if there is one.
