The 'Same' but not the 'Same'

Globalisation was the interlocking of different nations into a ‘one’ or global community. Technology has allowed the immediate communication between different countries hence they are able to form stronger bonds. Major sections of society have made breakthroughs in culture and identity however sections of society face challenges. The topic on gay marriage remains a controversial issue in the media and politics as it is contested by different sections of society that does not entirely accept all forms of diversity. Hurts’ article highlights Ms Fosters’ patience on national legislation of same-sex marriage. Walters and Hayes’ article on homosexuality in America raises the reasons why homosexuality receives negative discourse.

Diversity has different forms such as gender, sexual orientation, race etc. many individuals in society suffer from repression because they turn away from conventional portrayals of a human being. Through globalization individuals have gained more freedom to represent their interests to the public sphere however some do not have the same opportunity as others. Ms Foster who is Mr Abbott’s (current PM) sister desires to see national same-sex legislation take place in Australia. The issue of same-sex marriage could be an extreme reformation on the traditional concept of marriage between man and woman. Marriage is a part of culture as any other major aspect of society consequentially marriage should adjust to the changing and contemporary times. Individuals have grown different beliefs about marriages that do not comply with conventions. Walter and Hayes’ article highlights homosexuality’s repression in a micro-level, “employment and educational settings pressure homosexuals to comply with institutionalized ‘heterosexism’ by denying their sexual identity…” Homosexuals do not simply face repression from a political level but also in everyday contexts. They live in denial or a particular fear of ‘coming out’ because society pushes homophobic connotations in schools and the public sphere. Schools may have enforced equality on homosexual staff and students however they fail to protect them because individuals live in fear of physical harm. If these issues occur in America they are not and almost different in Australia. Ms Foster and her partner remains deprived of this equality, homosexuals in schools and the public sphere feel threatened by an imposing homophobic regime.

There were students in my high school that were homosexual and they received negative attitudes from fellow classmates and even disdain from the teaching staff. They had the capacity to perform well in school however they had difficulty in achieving this because of homophobic tendencies. As a future teacher it is integral to look beyond an individual’s sexual orientation and find the potential to succeed in life. Homosexual repression in a micro and a macro scale is not the answer to accept diversity into the community. When an individual faces challenges because of their identity it has heavy negative impacts on their cognition and life. It is the job of teachers to be able to reach out to students and teach ethics that do not harm another person’s identity. Imposing an incompatible identity on a person or a student is only detrimental to belonging in society and to oneself. Globalization encourages sameness between countries however this ‘sameness’ can abandon individuality or diversity.

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/tony-abbotts-sister-hopes-gay-marriage-survives-pms-challenge-20131022-2vyj6.html

A. S. Walters PhD, MPH & D. M. Hayes PhD (1998) Homophobia Within Schools, Journal of Homosexuality, 35:2, 1-23, DOI: 10.1300/J082v35n02_01