Lesson 5.3: Creative resistance

4. Exercise: Humour in queer education

In one of the episodes, Teaching While Queer podcast discusses how humour can create “safe emotional spaces” where people can discuss identity and politics without immediate defensiveness. Laughter, in this sense, is not a distraction from resistance – it is part of its emotional infrastructure.

Follow this link to access the podcast page and scroll down to Episode 171: “How Humor Creates Safe Spaces for Queer Educators” (2024) to give it a listen:

https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/66ecb4729e9e392fde290eb0

Reflect

How has humour played a role in your own educational experiences?
Can you recall any moments when humour helped create a safe space for you or your peers?
How important is authenticity for educators, especially those from queer backgrounds? In what ways can humour enhance their authenticity in the classroom?
What specific strategies can educators use to incorporate humour into their teaching?