Research led by professors from the University of Alicante (UA) suggests that literature can be a key tool for improving the acceptance of affective-sexual and gender diversity in school settings. The study, published in the scientific journal Education Sciences, analyzes how the inclusion of narratives with non-heteronormative characters in primary education can foster more positive attitudes among students.
The researchers from the Didactics of Language and Literature area at UA, Guillermo Soler, María Ribes, and José Rovira-Collado, conducted interventions in Spanish Language and Literature classes with 77 sixth-grade primary school students from two schools in Elche. Over one school year, an experimental group worked with various literary works reflecting different affective-sexual and gender realities, while the control group continued with their usual readings.
The works used included titles such as Little David, which tells the story of the son of a male couple; Titiritesa, about a girl's desire to marry another girl; and And Tango Makes Three, which recounts the adoption of a chick by a male penguin couple. In addition to reading, guided activities were carried out to discuss the representation of non-normative characters and address situations of rejection or harassment, promoting reflection on respect and inclusion.
After the experience, the results showed that the experimental group exhibited greater acceptance of having lesbian or gay friends, with no rejection responses recorded, unlike the control group where 6.5% expressed disagreement. Regarding the acceptance of bisexual and trans individuals, both groups exceeded 70% acceptance without statistically significant differences.
Differences became more evident when asking about the possibility of being attracted to people of the same sex, with 45.2% positive responses in the experimental group compared to 28.3% in the control group. The authors emphasize that these responses assess the willingness to accept that possibility, not determine students' sexual orientation.
The researchers propose the importance of reviewing the educational curriculum to incorporate content that reflects on sexual diversity and gender identity from the early stages. The goal is not only to raise awareness of different realities but also to prevent situations of harassment and promote safe school environments.
