Introduction
In our world today, various groups of people experience discrimination due to their race, religion, or gender. Dealing with such discrimination on a daily basis is a hurdle that can make the easy become difficult and the simple become increasingly complex. People in minority groups can experience discrimination to the extent where others’ negative actions toward them can cause them serious and lasting psychological and physical damage. The experience of discrimination and bias in any form can make school extremely difficult for students (Amoroso, Loyd & Hoobler, 2009; Asher, 2007; Steffens, Jelenec & Noack, 2010). Discrimination, while unfortunately experienced by many groups, is often experienced by those who do not conform to society’s specified gender roles, whether these individuals consider themselves to be transgender, homosexual, or simply gender-nonconforming (Gagne & Tweksbury, 1996; Good & Sanchez, 2010; Harry, 1983). While discrimination against gender-nonconforming adults is a well-known occurrence, only a small amount of research has focused on studying the experiences of gender-nonconforming children and their families. In the present research, the role of the elementary school teacher in the experiences of gender-nonconforming children is investigated. It is hypothesized that primary school teachers will show an unconscious bias toward more gender-conforming students that would result in less positive and welcoming relationships with students who are more gender-nonconforming. We will be determining this by examining both the teachers’ and the students’ perceptions.
The Power of the Teacher
In addition to families and peers, teachers pay a pivotal role when it comes to the psychological...
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...lence as well as happy families.
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“Men are from Mars, women are from Venus” as the famous saying of John Gray goes. It is believed men and women are nothing alike in almost every aspect. In Deborah Tannen’s essay “Gender in the classroom: Teacher’s Classroom Strategies Should Recognize that Men and Women Use Language Differently” she focused on how men and women differ when it comes to communicating, with emphasis on how it effects to how men and women behave in the classroom.
Many transgender people lived in dysfunctional families when they were young. The support becomes vital for the wellbeing of kids. In her book Redefining Realness by Janet Mock, recaps the importance of support from Michelle his cousin, who kept in secrets of gender dysphoria of Charles (Keisha) by saying “‘Pinkie –swear you won’t tell your mom’…She’d keep the secret my secret because I was her favorite cousin” (Mook 76). Michelle, kept Keisha’s secret by allowing her to use her swimming clothes. Michelle shows the importance of support from relatives. This is a fundamental factor that might help with the development of her gender identity. Many transgender people may feel a relief at the time to disclose their identity. When transition is in progress the support from friends and families becomes important because, many transgender people might suffer if they lack support. Many transgender people seem depressed because they are rejected by society. Janet Mock, relates how Wendi, support Charles, by making him feel comfortable, saying “Wendi and I grew inseparable trough middle school, a bond that would link us for the rest of our lives. Through association, my class –mates learned that I was like Wendi-who hadn’t yet adopted any labels to describe her shifting self” (Mook 107). In most cases transgender people’s acquaintances can be referred as transgender people just by friendship. The association makes transgender people to gain confidence about their gender identity. The support from groups or friends makes transgender people feel that they are accepted and not alone. Support from friends might urge transgender people to come out the “closet” and reveal their gender identity to gain respect among society. The support from friends is important, but family support seems to be the most important. When families do not support transgender people it causes a hostile environment that may suppress
He uses this fictional character to illustrate how students who do not identify within the gender binary still do not have adequate recognition. He notes that most of the terms that these students use stem from scholarly beliefs that gender falls on a spectrum, and that refusing to accommodate these students’ silences and oppresses their “deeply and strongly” felt feeling of not fitting the binary. He compares denying non-binary students rights and services to denying “redheads or people who live in Wyoming” rights, and he cites other countries such as Sweden and Nepal who have already changed policies to accommodate these students. He argues that we need at least five genders recognized, although with the present situation, it might be best to work for
Mental illness in the classroom has become an issue that is important for teachers, not just parents, to look out for. According to Cinda Johnson, “Studies indicate that 1 in 5 adolescents have some sort of serious emotional, behavioral, or mental health problem”(Johnson). When adolescents spend half of their days in school, it is important that their teachers take the time to notice unusual signs their students may be showing them. Teachers have the opportunity and the influence to help students work toward a better future. In Graziano’s article, however, the teacher’s influence was spun the wrong way and led to mistreatment of the six-year-old boy and his learning disability. Johnson explains, “Effective teachers are “responsive to students’ problems and…emphasize reciprocity and the value of their students’ perspectives and feelings”(Johnson). The issue of disability in the classroom coincides with the issue of teacher and student trust in the classroom. In both articles there...
Almost immediately we are faced with the conflict of everyday life for Brittany, and as she enters the main setting of the story and a place that should be a safe environment she is immediately besieged. The author, using simple diction, describes another morning at school for Brittany where we see how her classmates attack her verbally with derogatory terms such as “Dyke” and “Whore”(Erdly 253). Because of this and other more physical bullying we see a safe setting become a source of anxiety and fear, and instead of combating the problem the school district does nothing. In clearly understandable writing Erdely deciphers the situation and relates to us how the school district passed a regulation effectively stating that staff “shall remain neutral on matters regarding sexual orientation” (Erdely 264). Effectively preventing children in need of guidance and role models from reaching out. The author uses an easily relatable setting, common vernacular, a clear point of view and familiar events to highlight the issues in this essay. Those issues detail the conflict that LGBTQ children face from people that don’t empathize with them, and understand that just because of who they are doesn’t mean that they aren’t still children in
Sending a child to a gender based school, is a very big decision to make. The decision is so big, that looking at what research has to say about the topic could alter one’s decision to send their child to a gender based school. “Educators must apply different approaches in teaching make, and female students” (Gurian). This is said by Gurian, because he also believes that boys and girls learn differently. “Social pressures can be gentler and your child can learn at his own pace” (Kennedy).
Imagine living in a time when your only role is to get married, bear children, and take care of your house and husband. Adrienne Rich proposes an ulterior idea in her essay “Taking Women Students Seriously” Women should not only question the gender standards but discuss the gender norms that society has created; by discussion and attention to the matter we can eliminate it all together. Women are not represented in school curriculums enough and have a large misrepresentation in society. Rich draws attention to: What women have working against them in education, how women are perceived in the world by the media and advertising, and the gender roles that society pressures young children to contort to. By striking up a discussion
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As a child grows and conforms to the world around them they go through various stages, one of the most important and detrimental stages in childhood development is gender identity. The development of the meaning of a child’s sex and gender can form the whole future of that child’s identity as a person. This decision whether accidental or genetic can effect that child’s life style views and social interactions for the rest of their lives. Ranging from making friends in school all the way to intimate relationships later on in life, gender identity can become an important aspect to ones future endeavors.
Most students are against the same school. They want to flirt with the cute guy in math or ask the shy girl in history for a pencil, even if they already have one. Same-sex classrooms provide a multitude of benefits, because they promote better behavior, higher grades, improved self-esteem, and are able to cater to a student’s needs. The same classes make it possible for teachers to cater to student needs in a more efficient way. In general, boys benefit from hands-on learning, but girls benefit from calm discussions (Mullins 3).
There are many reasons that parents, students and administrators look down upon single gender education. One of the largest of these reasons is the issue of stereotypes. According to Kim Gandy, presi...
Baker, Jean M. How Homophobia Hurts Children: Nurturing Diversity at Home, at School, and in the Community. New York: Harrington Park, 2002. Print.
Everyone knows that when it comes to making a difference in a child’s academic and life achievements, their teachers play a large role. A teacher’s ability to relate to their students, and teach them to achieve both socially and academically contributes to how effective they are. What does it mean to be an effective teacher? Overall there seems to be an emphasis on teacher effectiveness related to how well their students are performing on standardized testing. As teachers we know there is more to being an effective teacher then just teaching our students based on tests. This paper will identify different definitions of an effective teacher along with how to assess teachers on being effective.