Imaginary on intervention in biphobic bullying in Galician social workers

Abstract

Violence is a behavior that is strongly rooted in society for different reasons. One of the ways in which violence can materialize is in the educational sphere (bullying) among equals, with sexual orientation being one of the determining factors. Social intervention in this type of violence is an essential response of the community. This community aspect necessitates a qualitative approach to this phenomenon, starting from a phenomenological paradigm (with a subjectivist, epistemological perspective and interpretive theory), in order to analyze the type of intervention and the main aspects upon which it seeks to act. This study uses open-ended interviews with 14 Galician social workers to study the resolution of case of biphobic bullying (eight worked in basic community social services, three in specialized social services and three in public health). The social workers were selected through convenience sampling. The results reveal that empowerment, the use of non-stigmatizing and heteronormative language, as well as the promotion of networks, the knowledge of social reality and the link with LBGTI groups by social workers are determining factors. Both micro and macrosocial measures are essential, as is the use of social pedagogy and transdisciplinarity.