Gender, Gender Identity, and Sexual Orientation

Gender, Gender Identity, and Sexual Orientation

Your response to those who believe that early childhood centers should avoid the inclusion of books depicting gay or lesbian individuals such as same-sex partnered families

If someone told me that they believed early childhood centers should avoid the inclusion of books depicting gay or lesbian individuals such as same-sex partnered families, I would have to disagree with them. All families should be equally represented and in a positive way regardless of the center’s beliefs or the beliefs of the teachers in the classroom (Laureate Education, 2010). Equal and positive representation ensures that each child’s identity is positively developed, accepted, and validated.

If you have ever used or heard homophobic terms such as "fag," "gay," "homo," "sissy," "tom boy," or "lesbo" as an insult by a child toward another child? Or, by an adult toward a child? Describe what occurred. How might these types of comments influence all children? (Note: if you have not had a personal experience, ask a family member, friend, or colleague)

I have never used these terms but I have heard them used and I have had my own children come home and tell me that they have heard these terms or have been told they are these things. My youngest daughter has been called a lesbian quite often at school because of her short hair and her athleticism. Because one of her older sisters is a lesbian, we have been able to have open and honest discussions about being gay/lesbian and that we are accepting of all of our children’s choices. We also discuss the unfairness of such prejudices and misconceptions and how to handle them. So far, she has handled these situations in stride. She also gets called a boy quite often by adults. With her peers, she sets them straight in various ways. Sometimes she lets them know that she donated her hair to children with hair loss and now likes her short hair. Other times she says she likes her short hair because she competes in jiu-jitsu. If they’re being rude, she just tells laughs them off and tells them how ridiculous their thinking is or will ask why it matters to them anyway. With adults, she doesn’t correct them. We let her guide us when it comes to correcting adults. The only time I correct an adult is when it is necessary such as when she is competing in jiu-jitsu and mistake her for a boy because the rules are different for what they can wear under the gi.

These types of comments influence all children because it gives them misinformation that divides them into groups of acceptance and unacceptance which in turn gives them a feeling of being superior over a marginalized group of people. Children absorb the prejudices and biases that surround them and begin to understand the power dynamics that come with certain social identities (Derman-Sparks & Olsen Edwards, 2010, pp. 15-16). It is sad to know that this is occurring in schools, that children are being bullied, and that some children choose to commit suicide over their struggle with their identity and the struggle of being accepted by society. ”Each episode of LGBT victimization, such as physical or verbal harassment or abuse, increases the likelihood of self-harming behavior by 2.5 times on average” and they are also five times more likely to attempt suicide than heterosexual youth (The Trevor Project, n.d.).

As early childhood educators, we need to teach acceptance, tolerance, and inclusion of all children in hopes that we can stop all instances of bullying and prejudice for a better future for our children.

References

Derman- Sparks, L., & Edwards, J. O. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Laureate Education (Producer). (n.d.). Start seeing diversity: Sexual orientation [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu

The Trevor Project. (n.d.). Preventing suicide. Facts about suicide. Retrieved from: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/resources/preventing-suicide/facts-about-suicide/#sm.000tsf8a6zb6ctt1150261l4anghx