Breaking the Silence: Sexual Orientation in Social Work Field Education.
- Resource Type
- Article
- Authors
- Newman, Peter A.; Bogo, Marion; Daley, Andrea
- Source
- Journal of Social Work Education; Winter2009, Vol. 45 Issue 1, p7-27, 21p
- Subject
- Fieldwork (Educational method)
Social services
College teacher attitudes
Gay students
Schools of social work
Teacher-student relationships
Sexual orientation
Social work education
LGBTQ+ students
Teacher attitudes
Gay male students
Lesbian students
Sex discrimination in education
College teachers
- Language
- ISSN
- 10437797
The purpose of this study was to explore field instructors' experiences and insights in working with lesbian and gay MSW students. In-depth 1- to 1.5-hour interviews were conducted with 8 field instructors selected using purposive sampling. Data were analyzed using narrative thematic analysis and a constant comparative method. One set of themes emerged across all informants; a second set emerged exclusively from lesbian- and gay-identified informants. Dynamic interactions among the student, the field instructor-student relationship, and the agency context suggest the importance of moving beyond individual-level conceptualizations to address sexual orientation-related barriers and opportunities in field education. Reprinted by permission of the publisher.