An intersectional analysis of early-career young cisgender women teachers’ experiences of learner-on-teacher violence

African Journal of Career Development

 
 
Field Value
 
Title An intersectional analysis of early-career young cisgender women teachers’ experiences of learner-on-teacher violence
 
Creator Kganya, Huma E. Maake, Tshepo B.
 
Subject Sociology; Criminology sex; gender; age; physical appearance; female teacher; male learner; secondary schools; violence; South Africa
Description Background: Learner-on-teacher violence is a growing global concern, and South African schools are not exempt from this issue. However, the specific experiences of early-career young cisgender women teachers remain underexplored, despite their heightened vulnerability at the intersection of sex, gender, age, physical appearance and structural factors such as inadequate institutional support.Objectives: This article presents an intersectional analysis of how intersecting identity markers, such as sex, gender and age, alongside physical appearance and structural vulnerabilities, shape the heightened susceptibility of early-career young cisgender women teachers to violence from male learners.Method: The study used qualitative research, conducting eight interviews with early-career young cisgender women teachers from secondary schools in Tshwane, Gauteng.Results: The findings show that young cisgender women teachers are especially vulnerable to male learner violence, influenced by a small age gap and patriarchal gender ideologies. This vulnerability impacts their psychological well-being, affecting their interactions with learners and the school environment.Conclusion: The intersection of sex, gender, age, physical appearance and structural vulnerabilities produces a distinct form of learner-on-teacher violence, underscoring the specific risks faced by early-career cisgender women teachers. This vulnerability requires targeted attention and intervention to protect them from male learner violence. Collaborative efforts from the Department of Education and schools are necessary to support and safeguard these teachers, especially in schools with a history of violence.Contribution: This study enhances our understanding of how male learner violence affects the teaching experiences and well-being of early-career young cisgender women teachers in secondary schools.
 
Publisher AOSIS
 
Contributor
Date 2025-08-28
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion — —
Format text/html application/epub+zip text/xml application/pdf
Identifier 10.4102/ajcd.v7i1.171
 
Source African Journal of Career Development; Vol 7, No 1 (2025); 11 pages 2617-7471 2709-7420
 
Language eng
 
Relation
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:

https://ajcd.africa/index.php/ajcd/article/view/171/695 https://ajcd.africa/index.php/ajcd/article/view/171/696 https://ajcd.africa/index.php/ajcd/article/view/171/697 https://ajcd.africa/index.php/ajcd/article/view/171/698
 
Coverage Tshwane, Gauteng — Female teachers aged between 23 and 29
Rights Copyright (c) 2025 Huma E. Kganya, Tshepo B. Maake https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
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