School Support and Absenteeism among Students with Non-Normative Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Gender Expression (SOGIE): A Comparative Study of Four Latin American Countries

Abstract

School discrimination and violence against children and youth with non-normative sexual orientation, gender identity and expression (SOGIE) is an issue of concern across the globe. International institutions and civil society organizations have called on the international community to build comprehensive education sector responses to homophobia, lesbophobia, biphobia and transphobia. Previous studies have shown that the existence of diverse forms of school support is associated with positive outcomes for students with non-normative SOGIE. This paper explores the relationship between the presence of supportive school staff members and levels of absenteeism among queer students in Brazil, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay. Using individual-level data from the 2015- 2016 National School Climate Surveys fielded in those four Latin American countries, in a multivariate regression model, I find that the presence of welcoming staff members is correlated with reduced levels of absenteeism caused by feelings of unsafety or discomfort among students with non-normative SOGIE. When I differentiate my relationship of interest based on students’ gender identity, I obtain mixed results.