Reflecting on Sex and Gender

This weeks articles by the Trevor Project and RI Department of Elementary and Secondary Education were very informative. I appreciated how the RIDE focused on working together to foster safe and inclusive education environment. They began the document by stating, it is "imperative that the school system, along with family and education professionals, be supportive role models and advocates for the safety and well-being of children". They gave shocking and alarming data that showed 42% and 40% of gender non-conforming students reported bullying and being excluded. This highlights the urgency and need for teamwork. All children deserve to feel safe and included, and if they are hurt or embarrassed, it will interfere with their ability to focus and retain information in class.

Additionally, RIDE reports that "in May, 2001, Rhode Island became the second state in the country to explicitly prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity or expression, thereby protecting transgender people from discrimination in employment, housing, credit, and public accommodations". It is wonderful that awareness is being brought up regarding these topics but the statistics are still disturbing. Furthermore, it is not surprising that kids report being bullied or feeling suicidal because of their gender non-conformity when students of diverse backgrounds or low socioeconomic status are also excluded and made fun of. The battle against race and finance has been going on much longer than sex and gender issues. I don't know what the solution is but I fear we are not even close to finding one yet.

I also really liked how RIDE and the Trevor Project gave specific examples of best practices to help make transgender and nonbinary students feel welcomed and supported. For example, RIDE gave detailed instructions on how certified school nurse teachers should handle medical documents and protecting confidentiality. "In the case of a transgender student, a school nurse should use the student’s preferred name, and should use the student’s birth name only when necessary to ensure that the student receives appropriate care and to enable the school nurse to coordinate care for the student with other health care providers or licensed professionals, as well as to file health insurance claims". This is really important information for myself because I am a nurse. Another best practice that I appreciated was the misgendering topic in the Trevor Project article. I can definitely understand how hurtful it could be being called the wrong pronoun even if it is an honest mistake. I value the importance of how we start our classes with the moo in even more now. With frequent reminders of how someone wants to be referred to, it can help to prevent mistakes.

The author, RI Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, argues that gender non-conforming youth are subjected to bullying and segregation that cause mental health issues and suicidal ideation. They provide guidance based on state and federal laws that encourage an inclusive environment, reduce stigmatizing and promote communication.

The author, The Trevor Project, argues that transgender and nonbinary people are misunderstood and provides clear, simple explanations to becoming an ally to them.