Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Researching Gender Identity

I don't mean to make my blog about Gender Identity, but the subject is on my mind right now. I went to talk to a middle-school counselor at Boltz Jr. High yesterday and was told I would have to talk to the principal about such a subject. My appointment is Friday. So, here is what I still want to know:
1. What resources to local schools use to communicate to students, parents, and teachers about gender-identity issues?
2. How are anti-bullying programs designed to include information on gender-identity issues?
3. What responsibilities does a school have to transgender children? How far do they have to go in making accommodations? Gym class?
4. From where does a Student’s Bill of Rights come? Federal, State, District,or Individual Schools? Does the Student Bill of Rights cover gender-identity?
5. How does having a transgender kid in a classroom affect the learning environment?
6. At what age is talking to children about gender-identity appropriate?
7. How can we approach our children about subjects in which we feel uncomfortable, or which go against our religious beliefs?
8. Why are children “coming out” at younger ages?
9. What anti-bullying programs are already out there which deal with gender identity?
10. What are the different phases of gender-identity and exploration, and how can we help students (our children) through the different phases?
11. What are the different stages of “coming out,” and what does each stage mean?
12. What is the drop-out rate of GLBT students?
13. What is the suicide/murder rate of GLBT students?
14. What is the Kinsey Scale?
15. How do children with non-gender normative behaviors suffer from bullying?
16. Are children on same-sex parents more prone to bullying?
17. Do children of same-sex parents have a greater chance of turning out gay?
18. Why do we have to talk about someone’s sexual orientation? Isn’t that a private matter?
What are your thought and/or experiences?

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