Abstract
Educators and school support staff need to focus on guidelines and recommendations for supporting transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) students through inclusive and queer education. As the American political climate continues to attack our TGNC youth, this has started conversations surrounding gender identity and expression, especially in school systems. Teachers are called upon to advocate and support social justice movements that promote learning for all students. It is important to focus on the needs of TGNC youth because they experience unique and specific needs which may not be captured within a broad approach to supporting the larger (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans*/Transgender/Two-Spirit, Gender-Expansive, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Agender/Asexual/Aromantic, Pansexual/Pan/Polygender/Poly Relationship System, plus (LGBTGEQIAP+) community. This chapter aims to provide school personnel with foundational information and practical, gender-affirming, and inclusive strategies so that educators can more effectively understand and support students in the TGNC community.
TopBackground
There are numerous stories in the media, statistics, and research to show that the bullying and marginalization of Transgender and Gender Nonconforming (TGNC) youth can lead to negative outcomes, especially regarding mental and emotional wellbeing. Some researchers estimate as many as 75% of transgender people have experienced emotional abuse (e.g., name calling, shaming, controlling), 44% experienced physical abuse, and 45% experienced sexual abuse during their childhood (Meyer et al., 2021). Additionally, data from a recent study on LGBTGEQIAP+ students during COVID-19 shows that 6% of transgender students experienced serious illness or hospitalization from the virus compared to 1% of cisgender students (Conron et al., 2021). Disproportionate absences due to infections of COVID-19 may impact transgender students’ educational achievement and a sense of belonging in the classroom. Increased social isolation based on gender nonconformity may have been exacerbated by the pandemic, leading TGNC youth to experience more negative outcomes associated with isolation (Hawke et al., 2021).
When exploring the broader LGBTGEQIAP+ youth community, statistics show that this community is more than four times more likely to attempt suicide than the overall population (Johns et al., 2019; Johns et al., 2020). Looking specifically at TGNC youth (under the age of 18), they “are 2 to 2.5 times as likely to experience depressive symptoms, seriously consider suicide, and attempt suicide compared to their cisgender LGBQ peers” (Price-Feeney et al., 2020, p. 689).
Key Terms in this Chapter
Intersex: An adjective describing a person with one or more innate sex characteristics (including genitals, hormones, internal reproductive organs, and/or chromosomes) that fall outside the traditionally perceived characteristics of male and female bodies. For example, an intersex person may have ovarian and testicular tissue (IGBP, 2022 AU78: The in-text citation "IGBP, 2022" is not in the reference list. Please correct the citation, add the reference to the list, or delete the citation. ).
Gender Nonconforming or GNC: An adjective describing people whose gender expression differs from traditional expectations or roles of masculinity and femininity (Human Rights Campaign (HRC), n. d.). Not every transgender person is gender-nonconforming simply because they are transgender. A transgender person may express their identity in very traditional ways (e.g., a transgender man who wears formal suits for every occasion) (HRC, n. d. AU77: The in-text citation "HRC, n. d." is not in the reference list. Please correct the citation, add the reference to the list, or delete the citation. ). Additionally, many cisgender people express their gender identity in nonconforming ways (e.g., cis women who wear suits, cis men who have ear piercings). People of all gender identities can express their gender in whatever ways they see fit.
Sex at Birth, or Assigned Sex at Birth: Babies are assigned a sex at birth (male, female or intersex), based on their external anatomy. It is important to note that sex is not solely determined by anatomy, and there are several biological determinants of sex that are not obvious to an observer. Like gender, sex is not a binary as many may believe ( Carpenter, 2018 ).
Gender Identity: A person’s internal knowledge of their gender ( PFLAG, 2022 ).
Cisgender: An adjective describing a person who does identify as the gender they were assigned at birth ( APA, 2022 ). For example, a person assigned “female” at birth identifies as a woman.
Gender Expression: A person’s outward, or external, manifestations of gender (e.g., haircut, clothing, voice, pronouns, name, and behavior) ( GLAAD, n. d. ).
Nonbinary or Non-Binary: An adjective describing a person who experiences their gender identity or expression as falling outside the binary categories of “man” and “woman”. Not every nonbinary person considers themselves to be transgender. Nonbinary people may also refer to themselves as “enby” ( Twist & de Graaf, 2019 ).
Pronouns: The words people use to describe themselves without using their names. Examples include she/her, he/him, they/them, xe/xem/xyr and others (LGBTQ+ Pride Center, n. d. AU79: The in-text citation "Pride Center, n. d." is not in the reference list. Please correct the citation, add the reference to the list, or delete the citation. ).
Transgender, or Trans: An umbrella term to describe a person who does not identify as the gender they were assigned at birth (IGBP, 2022 AU80: The in-text citation "IGBP, 2022" is not in the reference list. Please correct the citation, add the reference to the list, or delete the citation. ).
Gender-Expansive: Umbrella term for those who do not follow gender stereotypes, or who expand ideas of gender expression or gender identity ( PFLAG, 2022 ).