Gender, Gender, Identity, and Sexual Orientation
Gender identity is a person’s private sense, and subjective
experience, of their own gender. This is generally described as one’s private
sense of being a man or a woman, consisting primarily of the acceptance of
membership into a category of people: male or female. Some children may learn
at an early age that their gender does not correspond with their sex. And that
is exactly what the two families in “Two families Grapple with Son’s Gender
Identity” are struggling with in the audio segment of this week’s resource. I
know it is difficult for these two families to come to terms with what their
children are trying to manifest as it concerns their gender identity.
Homophobia and heterosexism permeate the world of young children
through books, movies, toys and culture in our society today. Most of the
movies, books and toys all have overt messages on what is accepted when it
comes to sexual orientation. Most families
think that being a homosexual or transgender you will be able to infect their
children, so as a defense mechanism so they try as much as possible to avoid transgender
and homosexuals from taking care of their children. I feel the best way to
avoid this is to let this families understand that if a transgender or
homosexual takes care of their children that does not mean that their children
will eventually become a transgender or a homosexual.
This journey of diversity development and becoming an anti-bias educator creates room
for us to embrace diversity in whatever context we come across it, be it
ability, sexual orientation, believes and culture. My greatest fear is my
discomfort when it comes to sexual orientation that is different from mine, how
do I beat all the odds and accept a sexual orientation that is different from
mine.
Reference:
Audio: Spiegel, A. (2008). Two families grapple with sons
gender identity.
Patience,
ReplyDeleteI too have wondered this but when you actually experience someone struggling with the issue you can tell. I knew right away my nephew was gay even at a year old and he did not come out until he was a freshman in college but I was supportive all along his journey. HE struggled but you just treat them the same and expect the same.
Jill
Patience,
ReplyDeleteSomeone having a different sexual orientation than myself also makes me uncomfortable. With same-sex marriage law passed, I think we will see more same-sex couples especially on television and out in public. People are starting to feel comfortable with their sexual-orientation. I think the more we are exposed to seeing people with different sexual-orientations, we will learn to accept it better. We may not agree, but we will learn to accept it.
Patience,
ReplyDeleteI don't have a problem with someone having a different sexual orientation than myself. I have witnessed it first hand in my family we have several individuals that have chose the same sex. We have some older family members that do not agree with their sexual orientation but they are learning to accept that they are with the same sex. I can say they do respect the family as a whole and don't show affection or any other ways when they are around us.
Kristal
We owe it to your children to embrace differences and not be judges of their diversity.
ReplyDeletePatience,
ReplyDeleteI also have noticed that I feel uncomfortable with individuals that have a different sexual orientation. One of my personal goals is to learn about others who are homosexual and accept them for who they are. Education is the best way to overcome uncomfortable situations.
Salesha