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Asked by anon-269711 to Simona, Parise, Madeleine on 16 Nov 2020.
Question: Do you find there are differences in the way a transgender student would be encouraged in a classroom to a cisgender student? Would a teacher be more likely to encourage them to follow the pattern dictated by their gender or biological sex?
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Parise Carmichael-Murphy answered on 16 Nov 2020:
I think that the way that school environments and systems are set up can impact negatively upon transgender students’ experiences. For example, the way that bathrooms are often split into two genders and how school registers often assert that students are called by their birth name are just two obvious and visible examples of difficulties encountered by transgender students. These kinds of issues could impact upon their levels of enjoyment and engagement in the classroom if they are treated differently or made to ‘stand out’ as a result of this.
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Simona Skripkauskaite answered on 16 Nov 2020:
I hope that teachers would not so much shape their teaching approaches to students’ gender (cis or trans) but rather to strengths and weaknesses of that individual student (it’s true there are some gender based differences between people on average, but that should not be directly applied to expectations of each person). Sadly, many people including teachers still hold strong stereotype based believes about gender and thus are probably likely to encourage students based on their biological sex. Hopefully, this is becoming less and less common.
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Madeleine Steeds answered on 16 Nov 2020:
I think it depends on the teacher. Some teachers are very understanding when you come out to them and put in the effort to be accepting of your gender and others are less understanding. That attitude would then effect how the student was treated and encouraged. I think as well knowing the student before they come out can lead to teachers taking longer to act towards them in a way in keeping with gender.
I don’t think students should be treated differently no matter their gender or biological sex. I think boys, girls and non-binary people should be encouraged equally and in the same way. I think that treating people differently based on their features is a slippery slope even if it is well intentioned so everyone should be treated the same.
Comments
Katie commented on :
I recently did teacher training and there was a whole day dedicated to talking about acceptance, diversity, and how to create an environment where students feel comfortable (no matter what gender or ethnicity they are… and no matter if they have additional needs). We’re also taught not to assume anyones pronouns, and be mindful of the language we use. I think things are definitely heading in the right direction, in terms of inclusivity.
Madeleine commented on :
Yeah training is definitely heading in the right direction but just personally i think gender is still treated as too rigid. My pronouns change and I’ve yet to see the fluidity of gender be acknowledged which can get awkward. Definitely much better than it was though!!
anon-269711 commented on :
Do you believe even one teacher in a school making the effort to use the correct pronouns could have a positive effect on a students mental health, even if others teachers don’t make the same consideration? And do you think teachers who started teaching before mental health, sexual orientation and gender identity became widespread topics should undergo more training, to help update their opinions and perspectives, so they can provide the best support for all types of students regardless of personal bias.
Madeleine commented on :
Even just one person supporting you and respecting you can make a world of difference. Feeling like you’re not alone is very important. I would hope that teacher would also support the student and ask other teachers to support them too.
I think training should be repeated. Going through training once doesn’t mean a refresher course isn’t helpful even if you consider yourself to be quite informed about diversity. Also our understanding of these issues is still developing so it’s important to try and keep all staff as informed as possible.
anon-269711 commented on :
Do you also believe teachers should be reprimanded if they dont make an effort to provide lessons and support to all their students? Because as a teacher, the primary job should be to encourage, nurture, and pass on knowledge, and i would argue that any teacher who doesn’t make an effort to educate themselves, or at least provide adequate care for all students, does not fit the criteria required.
Madeleine commented on :
Yeah I think that there need to be consequences for discriminatory behaviour and not respecting people’s gender is discrimination. I try to be tolerant about it because I know it can be hard to change your thinking so the first time I think informing teachers they are doing wrong and pointing them towards resources to help them understand is appropriate. But if a teacher is refusing to try and be better and actively discriminating then 1) they should lose their job and 2) discrimination is illegal so if the student wants to take it to a legal place, the school should support them in that.
Kai commented on :
Another way to think of your question is that teachers’ approach could be focused on how they respond to individual students, rather than how they can respond to trans vs cis students.
As raised in other responses, schools differ in their experience and knowledge around trans issues and unfortunately this can mean some students experience a very difficult and negative environment at school. With more awareness around trans issues and simple ways we can all make a difference e.g. normalising introducing our name and pronouns, the hope is that schools will also be able to share their experiences and adaptations they can make in order to help trans students e.g. gender neutral toilets/changing rooms, raising awareness of LGBT+ issues within the school as a whole.
anon-269711 commented on :
Do you believe that schools should put more emphasis on raising trans awareness for students or teachers, because surely each approach would require different methods, due to generational norms? On the one hand, educating students would help to reduce bullying, and help the student to develop a solid support network. However, educating the teachers, especially older teachers, would surely minimise the risk of potentially harmful mistakes, such as misgendering someone, which other students could take as an opportunity to tease.
Kai commented on :
I think that’s a great point, but I also think trans awareness should be raised in both student and teacher populations. Even if the delivery is different according to generational norms like you said, the message of acceptance is still the same. Students who identify as trans should be treated with acceptance and respect from students and teachers alike.