Gender Diversity Among High School Students: Challenges and The Role of Schools Toward A Gender-Just Future
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11594/ijmaber.07.09.25Keywords:
Gender diversity, Gender equality, Gender-just future, Gender-responsive education, LGBTQIA+Abstract
This study examined gender preference diversity among high school students, the issues and challenges they encounter, and the role of educational institutions in promoting gender equality. A sequential explanatory mixed-methods design was applied, combining qualitative interviews with quantitative surveys among Grades 7–10 students at City of Malolos Integrated School–Sto. Rosario during the 2025–2026 school year. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis, while quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The findings revealed that although many students were open about their gender identity and received acceptance from family and peers, they continued to experience bullying, discrimination, and social exclusion within the school environment. Participants commonly coped by remaining silent or avoiding confrontation. The quantitative findings indicated that schools implemented gender-responsive practices to a moderate extent; however, gaps in awareness and consistent implementation persisted. The study recommends strengthening gender-responsive policies, increasing awareness programs, enhancing faculty training, and expanding institutional support to foster a safer, more inclusive, gender-just future and equitable educational environment.
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References
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Abreu, R. L., Audette, L., Mitchell, Y., Simpson, I., Ward, J., Ackerman, L., Gonzalez, K. A., & Washington, K. (2022). LGBTQ student experiences in schools from 2009–2019: A systematic review of study characteristics and recommendations for prevention and intervention in school psychology journals. Psychology in the Schools, 59(1), 115–151. https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.22508
Ahmed, S. K. (2024). How to choose a sampling technique and determine sample size for research: A simplified guide for researchers. Oral Oncology Reports, 12, 100662. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oor.2024.100662
Al Atoom, M., Abdel Razeq, N. M., Othman, A., Shaheen, A., Abu Hananneh, M. M., Al-Nabelsi, M., Langer, A., & Gausman, J. (2024). Development of gender identity during adolescence: Perspectives from Jordanian and Syrian youth. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 29(1), Article 2312853. https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2024.2312853
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Bishop, M. D., Fish, J. N., Hammack, P. L., & Russell, S. T. (2020). Sexual identity development milestones in three generations of sexual minority people: A national probability sample. Developmental Psychology, 56(11), 2177–2193. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0001105
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Choukas-Bradley, S., & Thoma, B. C. (2022). Mental health among LGBT youth. In D. P. VanderLaan & W. I. Wong (Eds.), Gender and sexuality development. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-84273-4_18
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deMayo, B. E., Gallagher, N. M., Leshin, R. A., & Olson, K. R. (2025). Stability and change in gender identity and sexual orientation across childhood and adolescence. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 90(1–3), 7–172. https://doi.org/10.1111/mono.12479
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Fernandes, T., Alves, B., & Gato, J. (2023). Between resilience and agency: A systematic review of protective factors and positive experiences of LGBTQ+ students. Healthcare, 11(14), 2098. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11142098
Galamgam, M. A., Bautista, J., Eblacas, I., & Rosario, E. (2021). An analysis on the implementation of the Gender-Responsive Basic Education Policy. The ASTR Research Journal, 5(1), 31–42.
Generale, M. P., & Cubing, E. M. (2023). Gender awareness: Classroom experiences of senior high school students. Journal of Gender, Culture and Society, 3(2), 15–30. https://doi.org/10.32996/jgcs.2023.3.2.3
GLSEN, American School Counselor Association, American Council for School Social Work, & School Social Work Association of America. (2019). Supporting safe and healthy schools for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer students: A national survey of school counselors, social workers, and psychologists. GLSEN.
Hall, W. J., Dawes, H. C., & Plocek, N. (2021). Sexual orientation identity development milestones among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer people: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 752536. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.752536
Han, Z. Y., Ye, Z. Y., & Zhong, B. L. (2025). School bullying and mental health among adolescents: A narrative review. Translational Pediatrics, 14(3), 463–472. https://doi.org/10.21037/tp-2024-512
Hapal, D. K. (2023). In fight for equal rights, queer Filipinos build communities on social media. Pulitzer Center.
Hapal, D. K. (2023, February 12). Disinformation on SOGIE bill spreads as Filipino queers face real-world discrimination. Pulitzer Center.
Hocking, C. (2017). Occupational justice as social justice: The moral claim for inclusion. Journal of Occupational Science, 24(1), 29–42. https://doi.org/10.1080/14427591.2017.1294016
Jebb, A. T., Ng, V., & Tay, L. (2021). A review of key Likert scale development advances: 1995–2019. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, Article 637547. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.637547
Johns, M. M., Lowry, R., Barrios, L. C., Demissie, Z., McManus, T., Rasberry, C. N., Robin, L., & Underwood, J. M. (2019). Vital signs: Disparities in violence victimization and suicide risk among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender high school students—Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2017. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 68(3), 67–71. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6803e1
Katz-Wise, S. L., Godwin, E. G., Parsa, N., Brown, C. A., Pullen Sansfaçon, A., Goldman, R., MacNish, M., Rosal, M. C., & Austin, S. B. (2022). Using family and ecological systems approaches to conceptualize family- and community-based experiences of transgender and/or nonbinary youth from the Trans Teen and Family Narratives Project. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 9(1), 21–36. https://doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000442
Kay, C. M. (2022). Challenges of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA) students in higher education (Doctoral dissertation, Walden University). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection.
Kosciw, J. G., Clark, C. M., Truong, N. L., & Zongrone, A. D. (2020). The 2019 National School Climate Survey: The experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer youth in our nation's schools. GLSEN.
LaFave, J., & Inwards-Breland, D. J. (2025). Intersectionality in youth who are transgender and gender diverse. Pediatric Annals, 54(10), e344–e348. https://doi.org/10.3928/19382359-20250828-03
Lee, J. G. L., Ylioja, T., & Lackey, M. (2016). Identifying lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender search terminology: A systematic review of health systematic reviews. PLoS ONE, 11(5), e0156210. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0156210
Leung, E., Kassel-Gomez, G., Sullivan, S., Murahara, F., & Flanagan, T. (2022). Social support in schools and related outcomes for LGBTQ youth: A scoping review. Discover Education, 1, Article 18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44217-022-00016-9
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