Abstract

Multiple qualitative and quantitative studies have investigated homophobic language and its associated correlates. However, very few studies have approached this phenomenon from an ethnographic methodology. Furthermore, no studies to date have used an ethnography to study this language in a conservative religious community. In this study, the primary researcher conducted semi-structured interviews with 20 randomly selected males, all 12th-grade students attending a rural high school and conducted 102 hours of observations in the high school they attended. Utilizing a phenomenological hermeneutic method, a group of researchers analyzed the interviews and observations. Based on interpretations from this analysis, findings indicated that students used HL to marginalize other students; to both challenge adult authority and emulate admired adults; to get attention and assert authority by using rebellious and taboo language; to explore their sexuality and masculinity; to police sexuality and masculinity within the parameters of religious beliefs and expected roles; and to increase group cohesion. The researchers explored each of these themes and considered how adolescents both shape and are shaped by their within-group culture, their school culture, and their personal beliefs. To conclude, the researchers suggest group-based strategies for a more accepting school culture that decreases adolescents’ use of HL.

摘要

多项定性和定量研究调查了恐同语言及其相关因素。然而，很少有研究从人种学方法论研究这一现象。此外，迄今为止，还没有研究使用民族志在保守的宗教社区中研究这种语言。在这项研究中，主要研究人员对 20 名随机选择的男性进行了半结构化访谈，这些男性都是一所农村高中的 12 年级学生，并在他们就读的高中进行了 102 小时的观察。利用现象学解释学方法，一组研究人员分析了访谈和观察结果。根据该分析的解释，研究结果表明学生使用 HL 来边缘化其他学生；既挑战成人权威，又模仿受人尊敬的成人；使用叛逆和禁忌的语言来获得关注和维护权威；探索他们的性取向和阳刚之气；在宗教信仰和预期角色的范围内监督性和阳刚之气；并增加团体凝聚力。研究人员探索了这些主题中的每一个，并考虑了青少年如何塑造和被他们的群体内部文化、学校文化和个人信仰所塑造。总而言之，研究人员提出了基于群体的策略，以建立一种更容易接受的学校文化，从而减少青少年对 HL 的使用。研究人员探索了这些主题中的每一个，并考虑了青少年如何塑造和被他们的群体内部文化、学校文化和个人信仰所塑造。总而言之，研究人员提出了基于群体的策略，以建立一种更容易接受的学校文化，从而减少青少年对 HL 的使用。研究人员探索了这些主题中的每一个，并考虑了青少年如何塑造和被他们的群体内部文化、学校文化和个人信仰所塑造。总而言之，研究人员提出了基于群体的策略，以建立一种更容易接受的学校文化，从而减少青少年对 HL 的使用。