Wilhelm Disbergen
In the current curriculum for social work at Unisa, homosexuality is defined as abnormal.
In Unisa’s textbook homosexuality falls within a category entitled “Sexual Deviancy”.
The description of homosexuality reads: “Most homosexual males pass for normal in society and only a small percentage are explicitly effeminate. Effeminate males feel a strong need to reject their masculinity and desire, consciously or unconsciously, to identify with women.
“Psychological studies indicate the absence of a parent, over-attachment to a parent, conscious identification with a parent and conscious or unconscious seduction by a parent as possible causes.
“In recent years there has also been considerable medical research to determine whether homosexuality may not perhaps be hereditary. So far the results have not been conclusive.
“Although this is not always the case, it would seem that paedophiles were exposed to childhood sexual trauma.” The next subheading in the chapter on sexual dysfunction is “Incest”.
Asked why these beliefs were still contained in Unisa’s textbooks years after such opinions have been discredited, Professor Frederik Snyders, acting deputy dean of social sciences, said World War II was also still being taught at Unisa.
Professor Willem van Delft, head of the department of social sciences, said the department is not homophobic and that an amended study guide will hopefully be available next year.
Ian Orbeton of Unisa’s Sexual Orientation Forum said a gender specialist offered to revise the study guide and tutorial letters, but the help was declined.
Carrie Shelver, director of the Lesbian and Gay Equality Project, said it is unacceptable for institutions to continue to propagate “outdated” information on lesbian and gay people.
“In 1975 the International Lesbian and Gay Association lobbied to have homosexuality declassified as a dysfunction in various psychology textbooks and here we find in South Africa that some social workers are still being taught that gay people are abnormal, deviant and dysfunctional,” Shelver said.
“To reinforce societal prejudices in health care professionals is unacceptable and dangerous.”