Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/795366
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE 'GENDER LIBERATED'? By Sam DeMuro M any cisgender people (those whose gender iden- tity matches their biological sex) live their lives without questioning or thinking about their gen- der. Yet today there is increasing discussion about gender equity, challenging gender stereotypes and roles, and gender liberation. What does it mean to be "gender liberated"? Some of us believe that the way we wear and style our hair, the clothes we choose, the way we walk, speak or act is biologically determined. Many sociologists, psychologists and gender theorists argue that it's important to see a difference between what is biological and what is a social construction. When we talk about biology, such as chromosomes, hormones, internal and external sex organs, we're talking about sex. Gen- der, on the other hand, is a social construction we place upon people, comprising the characteristics, norms and roles that our society deems as feminine or masculine. The more we learn of people of trans experience, and talk with those who express gender differently and challenge soci- etal norms, the more we realize that gender is more fluid and diverse than just simple feminine and mas- culine categories. Cisgender people are also challenging gender norms. Many women are the breadwinners in their homes. Some dads are staying home to have a more active role in rearing children. Some of us may feel con- strained by only two gender options, especially if those options limit how we're able to express ourselves and live our lives. Restrictive gender norms affect us all. Adults, families, educators and peers all play a role in rein- forcing these norms. Using phrases like "Boys don't cry," "Be more ladylike," "Boys will be boys," "Man up!" and "Girls don't do that" may seem harmless, but can have a real impact on how a child expresses emotion and develops a sense of self. Gender norms and expectations can have harmful effects on children. Research at the University of Warwick in 2014 found that placing unnatural gendered expectations on kids is a detriment to their physical and mental well-being. Young girls expressed feeling they had to downplay their own abilities, and had to pretend to be less intelligent and less interested in sports for fear of being "unfeminine." Young boys expressed feeling they had to constantly prove their masculinity and power over others, such as by suppressing their emotions to appear strong and picking fights. When there are strict gender norms in place, kids are likely to bully others who do not fit into the gender "box." The truth is, kids have much more open-minded ideas about gender. No one wants to feel constrained by their gender, and adults talking about it with kids at a young age will help them recognize when something is limiting their potential. To be gender liberated, then, is not neces- sarily to erase gender, but rather to expand our ideas of what gender can look like and how it's expressed, and allow the space to define it for ourselves. Someone who is gender liberated is not confined by gender stereotypes and roles, but instead chooses to express their gender in ways that feel comfortable to them. As educators, we can create gender liberated spaces by welcoming all the diverse ways to express gender, and not lim- iting what girls and boys can do in the classroom. We can still celebrate our differences and acknowledge challenges, but be open to new ideas of gender expression. Free resources to learn more and spark conversations about gender can be found at CTA's Social Justice Toolkit (cta.org/forallstudents). #WeAreCTA YOU be YOU H A V E T H E R I G H T T O his brother Anthony is a student there, so he has a built-in support system. L a st summ er h e ann oun c ed h e wa s transitioning from female to male. His mother, a math teacher and member of the Benicia Teachers Association, and his father, Mark Maselli, a teacher in nearby P i tt s b u rg a n d a P i tt s b u rg E d u c a t i o n Association member, met with an admin- istrator and a counselor before school began to share what was happening. "Teachers here haven't had much experi- ence with this, so we wanted to make sure things went well," says his mother. " The important thing for transgender students is that they should not stand out or be treated differently. All parents want for their kids is to find joy in life and to know they are loved for who they are." e student, who does not want a facial photo or first name published, Download posters for your classroom or school, including the one at left, at CTA's Social Justice Toolkit at cta.org/forallstudents. (Take the pledge to support public education while you're there!) 25 March 2017 As educators, we can create gender liberated spaces by welcoming all the diverse ways to express gender, and not limiting what girls and boys can do in the classroom.