Abstract (eng)
While the last decade experienced a rise in the social acceptance of homosexuality, educational contexts still seem limited in their focus on the active integration of the dimension of sexual orientation. Instead, approaches are often rejected and accused of representing an invasive form of ‘forced sexualization’. Especially in educational research, a gap regarding the contextualization of gay and lesbian narratives within the subject of History is observable.
The study follows the cyclic procedure of educational action research to investigate the motives and potential impacts of contextualized approaches of integrating Queer History within Austrian history lessons. The project focuses on teaching procedures which are not simply added on existing curricula, but actively embed LGBT-issues in the established contexts of teaching History. Based on considerations of the social significance of the concept of sexual orientations, the role of teachers, and legal frameworks provided by the Austrian Ministry of Education, a theoretical foundation is created. In addition, the study introduces selected LGBT- oriented educational approaches and transfers their focus to the History classroom to develop contextualized teaching units. Following their execution and observation, students’ responses will be categorized and interpreted.
The comparison of the insights stemming from theoretical, legal, and practical investigations suggests that the implementation of contextualized gay and lesbian issues has been accepted by the students without evoking observable resistance. Instead, the students’ feedback implies that individual processes of contemplation, positioning in social discourses and the evocation of further questions have been promoted, furthermore supporting their personal development and process of reasoning.