Breanna Stewart

April 23, 2018

Working with Families around Gender Issues: Unit 11

In today’s age, there are many different changes happening within our society that

involves different updates needed to happen in our day to day lives. Gender issues are one of

many different changes within our society that is still evolving today. As a teacher during these

changes in society, we need to stay neutral in our beliefs. It is important to make sure that each

student feels welcome in our classroom no matter their gender identity. In order for this to

happen, we as teachers, need to ensure that we are accepting of all of our students and make sure

that they are feeling welcome in their educational environment.

Unfortunately, many students are going to be different in their views of accepting others.

Different opinions in our students are going to come straight from their families and

surroundings that they have come accustomed to at home. Although we cannot change what is

thought and taught at home, we can make set rules for our classrooms. The old saying “if you

don’t have something nice to say then don’t say anything at all” really speaks the truth,

especially in a classroom setting. It is surprising how much we stereotype our gender roles as

male and female. Between the clothes we wear, the toys children play with, the sports/activities

we take part in, and even the friends we have, we are characterized to fit into a certain mold from

the minute we are born into this world based on our identified sex at birth. Because of the

assumption that everyone is supposed to go with the gender their sex identifies them with, we

have created problems due to that expectation. It is not the “norm” to be identified the gender
that is your sex, because there are many different ways to classify your gender that may not

match up with your sex. Your sex is based on your genitals given to you at birth and your gender

is what you choose to define yourself as. There are many different classifications in gender like

male, female, gay, lesbian, transgender, and many others.

As a teacher, how can we ensure that each child is able to identify themselves as they

wish and not just based on societal standards? In order to display acceptance and understanding

of the way students wish to identify themselves, we must ask the students’ parents before school

is in session. In doing this, we can make sure that both the parents and students are aware the

diversity in the classroom. Knowing the students gender before the school year starts allows the

teacher to be aware of their wanted pronouns. It can also be offensive to some if they are called

something other than what they wish to be defined as. In assuming someone’s gender, you are

assuming you know who they are just by their physical presentation. This s exactly what we need

to rule out in our classrooms today. As the textbook stated, “what many people don’t think about

when they accept traditional gender roles as a given is how narrow and confining these roles can

be to children, who grow into adults molded into a role they may not fit at all” (Gonzalez-Mena,

2017). Mena really captured the reasoning as to why we shouldn’t be so narrow minded with our

children. A way to be aware of this in the classroom is to have a mandatory form filled out in the

beginning of the school year. This way students and their parents can both identify their genders

freely. This solution will also eliminate any judgements or need of assumptions towards others.

Of course, there will be parents and families that wish to not share and that should always be an

option as well. To make sure there is an option there would have to be an “I wish to not disclose”

option. This way, parents and students are not forced in giving information they are not

comfortable with giving.

 Children are forced to attend schooling simply because it is the law, but it is up to us to

determine the lessons they are able to take from us. An article stated, “Because classrooms are

microcosms of society, mirroring its strengths and ills alike, it follows that the normal

socialization patterns of young children that often lead to distorted perceptions of gender roles

are reflected in the classrooms" (Gender Bias in Education, n.d.). Making sure there is no

distorted perceptions of gender roles is very important in order for a student to be able to express

themselves freely without any standards in the way. As stated in an article, “A gender inclusive

environment affirms all children and allows them to express their interests and find confidence in

their strengths” (Human Rights Campaign, n.d.). Making sure your classroom is gender neutral

will not only help your students, but it will ensure that everyone is treated equally no matter their

orientation.
 References

Gender Bias in Education. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://www.edchange.org/multicultural/papers/genderbias.html

Gonzalez-Mena, J. (2017). Child, family, and community: Family-centered early care and education.

Pearson.

Human Rights Campaign. (n.d.). Affirming Gender in Elementary School: Social Transitioning |

Welcoming Schools. Retrieved from http://www.welcomingschools.org/pages/affirming-gender-

in-elementary-school-social-transitioning/