Different Kinds of Love Faith and sexual orientation in social work education Matthew Gough Nottingham Trent University Different Kinds of Love: Matthew Gough. Beyond Belief Conference, Bradford University, September 2011

Context Mental Health Workshop: disclosure of self? Integrity Authentic Risks: unprofessional, lose control Sexual orientation/ faith/ politics Different Kinds of Love: Matthew Gough. Beyond Belief Conference, Bradford University, September 2011

Context part II Media polarising faith ‘v’ LGB sexual orientation Hall/Preddy v Bull/Bull, 2011 R v Derby City Council, 2011 Climate anti religion? Role of hetero-sexism? Commonality in discrimination? Different Kinds of Love: Matthew Gough. Beyond Belief Conference, Bradford University, September 2011

Literature context LGBT sexual orientation awareness and need to challenge hetero-sexism needs developing in social work education (Fish, 2008; Jeyasingham, 2008; Trotter et al, 2006) Social work students and practitioners need competence in religion/ faith (Gilligan and Furness, 2006; Furman et al, 2004 Tension between areas apparent in sociological literature (Yip, 2007; Wilcox, 2003) Juxta position in social work education? Social work highly values and ethics literature (Parrott, 2006; Dominelli, 2008; Banks, 2006) Different Kinds of Love: Matthew Gough. Beyond Belief Conference, Bradford University, September 2011

Research questions? How does learner’s faith & sexual orientation impact on their ability to integrate commitment to diversity & anti discriminatory practice? How inclusive/ affirming is sw education? Is our curriculum competent & sophisticated? Different Kinds of Love: Matthew Gough. Beyond Belief Conference, Bradford University, September 2011

Method Mixed qualitative and quantitative questionnaire 200 BA SW students (Years 1-3/4) 35 responses L 1 (29%) (had new teaching on faith) L 2 (37%) (negligible teaching faith/LGB) L 3 (29%) (teaching on LGB/ negligible faith) Different Kinds of Love: Matthew Gough. Beyond Belief Conference, Bradford University, September 2011

Faith/ Religion/ Spirituality The following is most accurate… Spirituality/faith not match the above (14%) Muslim faith (6%) Christian Faith (40%) No faith (40%) Different Kinds of Love: Matthew Gough. Beyond Belief Conference, Bradford University, September 2011

Sexual orientation LGB 17% (6) ‘Straight’ 83% (29) Different Kinds of Love: Matthew Gough. Beyond Belief Conference, Bradford University, September 2011

How open are you about your faith/ sexuality on the SW programme? ‘No problem’ Faith = 23 (66%) Sexuality = 26 (77%) Guarded (‘a little’ to ‘would not be open’) Faith = 9 (26%) Sexuality = 7 (21%) Different Kinds of Love: Matthew Gough. Beyond Belief Conference, Bradford University, September 2011

Comments “Being a Muslim, I am wary of what people may think of myself due to terrorist attacks in the US & UK” “I am passionate about my lack of faith” “I have quite strict Christian values – also I’ve been struggling with some of my religious values while I have been on the degree –I’m quite happy about this though” Different Kinds of Love: Matthew Gough. Beyond Belief Conference, Bradford University, September 2011

Further comments “I would mention it if I felt it was relevant but I do not feel my sexuality has anything to do with my work or practice. From previous experiences, I would rather not inform people to be then put in a ‘box’. I would rather be known for my work and not my sexuality”. Different Kinds of Love: Matthew Gough. Beyond Belief Conference, Bradford University, September 2011

Importance of faith/ sexuality in social work education 90% rated both as very or vitally important Over 60% rated both as requiring more time (otherwise ‘about right’) “integral to service users..sexuality is private but deserves more attention as uncomfortable…” Different Kinds of Love: Matthew Gough. Beyond Belief Conference, Bradford University, September 2011

Concerns/ suggestions about learning “tutors compound sexuality stereotypes..they need training” “lecturers unable to challenge negative sterotypes..equating paedophilia with gay men…I challenged with little support” Different Kinds of Love: Matthew Gough. Beyond Belief Conference, Bradford University, September 2011

Concluding findings Those who disclosed LGB or faith identity more likely to be guarded Clear strong consensus for more teaching of both subjects No apparent hostility/ devaluing of either sexuality or faith as subjects Different Kinds of Love: Matthew Gough. Beyond Belief Conference, Bradford University, September 2011

Next steps PhD study: sw eduation and faith/ sexual orientation Extend questionnaire Case studies: student/ academic experience Interested in participation/ more information? matthew.gough@ntu.ac.uk Different Kinds of Love: Matthew Gough. Beyond Belief Conference, Bradford University, September 2011

References Different Kinds of Love: Matthew Gough. Banks, S (2006) Ethics and values in social work (third ed), Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan Dominelli, L. 2008. Anti-Racist Social Work. London: Palgrave. Fish, J (2008) Far from mundane: theorising heterosexism for social work education, Social Work Education, 27(2), March 2008, pp.182-193 Furman L, Benson P, Grimwood C and Canda E (2004) Religion and Spirituality in Social Work Education and Direct Practice at the Millennium: A Survey of UK Social Workers, British Journal of Social Work Vol 34, pp. 767-792 Gilligan, P and Furness S (2006) The Role of Religion and Spirituality in Social Work Practice: Views and Experiences of Social Workers and Students, British Journal of Social Work, Vol 36, pp. 617-637 Jeyasingham D (2008) Knowledge/ignorance and the construction of sexuality in social work education, Social Work Education, 27(2), pp.138-151.Mulé N (2006): Equity vs. Invisibility: Sexual Orientation Issues in SocialWork Ethics and Curricula Standards, Social Work Education, 25:6, 608-622 Parrott L (2006) Values and ethics in social work practice. Exeter: Learning Matters Trotter J, Brogatzki, L, Duggan L, Foster E and Levie J (2006) Revealing disagreement and discomfort through auto-ethnography and personal narrative: sexuality in social work education and practice, Qualitative Social Work, 5(3), pp.369-388 Wilcox, M (2003) Coming Out in Christianity: Religion, Identity, and Community. Bloomington Indiana: Indiana University Press Yip, A (2007). Sexual orientation discrimination in religious communities. In: Badgett, L., & Frank, J, (eds). Sexual Orientation Discrimination: An International Perspective. London: Routledge Different Kinds of Love: Matthew Gough. Beyond Belief Conference, Bradford University, September 2011