3: Teacher Agency for Social Justice

Teachers are centrally important in creating inclusive learning settings, especially when it comes to sexuality and sexual diversity. They are at the center because teachers have the power to create a classroom where everyone feels welcome or a place where people feel left out. When students realize this, they see teachers as strong people who can change the learning environment by accepting or rejecting sexual diversity. Making classroom learning welcoming for everyone is not just about what is taught; it is also about how teachers act, talk, and think. When teachers actively use inclusive teaching and learning practices, they recognize that students have different sexual identities, making them all feel like they belong. On the other hand, if teachers act in ways that make others feel excluded, like by being quiet, leaving things out, or giving negative responses, they add to a climate where sexual diversity is seen negatively, which can cause harm and alienation. Therefore, teachers' actions and views play a big role in removing or strengthening the barriers to sexual diversity and inclusion not only in the classrooms but in schools in general. This chapter discusses the concept of teacher agency in the context of social justice by providing a thorough look at the theoretical views that affect how agency is thought of and used in educational settings. Through presenting how these ideas apply to language teaching, this chapter shows how teachers can take part in actions that support fairness and justice in their classrooms and beyond.