1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

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

16. References Different Kinds of Love: Matthew Gough.
Banks, S (2006) Ethics and values in social work (third ed), Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan
Dominelli, L  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
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
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
Jeyasingham D (2008) Knowledge/ignorance and the construction of sexuality in social work education, Social Work Education, 27(2), pp Mulé N (2006): Equity vs. Invisibility: Sexual Orientation Issues in SocialWork Ethics and Curricula Standards, Social Work Education, 25:6,
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
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