The geographies of heteronormativity: The source of symbolic homophobic violence at a South African university

Abstract

This article examines how symbolic homophobic violence is produced from hegemonic and heteronormative
institutional geographies. This study forms part of a larger project with Life Orientation student-teachers that
investigated the strengthening of HIV and AIDS integration in the curriculum. Five student teachers from the class
cohort used photovoice to illustrate how students with same-sex sexual identities were subjected to othering,
discrimination, bigotry and overt forms of violent aggression emanating from their non-conforming gender
expressions. Through photovoice-narrative interviews, I found that their transgression in spatial heterosexual
norms resulted in intimidation, vilification and, in extreme cases, overt forms of violence by peers. This article
focused on two themes, namely the physical geographies of symbolic homophobic violence and punishment,
and discipline of geographies of the non-normative gendered body. Although symbolically homophobic
violence can be linked to individual resistance to same-sex sexuality, this article shows that symbolic violence is
largely reproduced by the contours of heteronormativity maintained by institutional geographies. If universities
are committed to inclusive and safe learning spaces for diverse identities then they will have to interrogate how
hegemonic cultures mobilise discourses that enforce systemic oppression.