Telling different stories: contemporary narratives available to young people making sense of their gendered and sexual lives in England and Sweden

This chapter draws on British Academy/Leverhulme funded research in England and Sweden to examine narratives used by and about lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT+) young people. Our research, using interviews, discussion groups and vignettes with practitioners and young people, indicates that in England young LGBT+ identities were often framed within a dominant narrative as vulnerable and/or conflated with mental ill-health. However, this was resisted by many LGBT+ young people themselves, who called instead for more inclusive approaches to schooling and/or youth work, that do not necessarily see them as having mental health issues, but which recognise that they might sometimes require additional support within their everyday lives. In Sweden, the level of support available to young people was impressive, but LGBT+ young people did still face challenges. Although the dominant narrative in Sweden suggests that they were less likely to be seen as having a mental health problem, a more generally inclusive approach to education meant that young LGBT+ people’s specific needs were not always recognised. Although dominant narratives currently circulating in England and Sweden are quite different, we argue that these narratives limit the possibilities of young people in both countries to construct their own unique stories.