A systematic scoping review of physical education experiences from the perspective of LGBTQ+ students

ABSTRACT

Despite shifts towards inclusivity, physical education (PE) is still perceived as unwelcoming towards students who identify as sexual and gender minorities (LGBTQ+). A systematic scoping review was conducted to garner an enhanced understanding of the empirical literature exploring LGBTQ+ student experiences within PE. Studies were identified by searching eight electronic databases which produced 962 abstracts from which eight articles were eligible for inclusion. Data were then extracted, summarized, and thematically synthesized into a conceptual map. The majority of the articles reviewed relied on samples that were predominantly comprised of able-bodied white cisgender individuals, with only half of the articles involving adolescent participants. Across studies, the omnipresence of cis-heteronormativity in PE adversely influenced LGBTQ+ experiences through homophobic and transphobic practices. The qualitative studies included in this review highlighted the implicit and explicit gendering processes that work to gender students as well as physical activities. Although cis-heteronormativity and its resulting exclusive practices should continue to be challenged in policies, the experiences of current LGBTQ+ students within PE should be prioritized to inform and evaluate inclusive PE policies, curricula, and teacher training.

KEYWORDS:

• Sexuality
• gender
• diversity
• school
• adolescence
• physical activity

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Marcela Isuster, our experienced librarian liaison at the Humanities and Social Science Library at McGill University, for aiding us in generating this scoping review protocol and Adam Ziabari for acting as the second reviewer of the abstracts.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Funding Details

The first author was supported in part by funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC CGSD 767-2019-1850).

Notes

1 In 1990, the World Health Organization officially confirmed that homosexuality is not a mental illness.