A. Hey all, I'll be doing an "argument" analysis from woke read aloud video...the reading wasn't working for me.
B. To start, boy was that video interesting. I was surprised to see the channel titled woke kindergarten. All things considered, "woke" does not have the best societal connotation...even though it is nothing bad, but to say the least, I'm not surprised the comments were turned off. Smart of the creator.
Personally, I liked the overall message, teaching kids about pronouns, making mistakes, and respecting others. It goes about it in a diverse and informative way. Honestly, I wish kids learned about the concept of pronouns much sooner in life.
Having an understanding from a younger age that just because someone looks like a girl doesn't mean they use she/her is a message I believe kids can handle. I wish I had understood that concept sooo much sooner. It would have helped ten fold in the understanding of my own identity. However, I think learning about what that means in regards to a persons identity should come a little later when they can really grasp that. Fundamentals should be taught younger, and the deeper meanings taught as kids get older and mature...as any topic of this nature should be.
(somebody tell that to the 10,000 year old congressmen)
This is coming from the mouth of a trans guy who grew up in an ultra conservative, catholic household. I don't believe learning what transgender means early on would have been beneficial for me (and that is entirely just my personal experience). I think I would have grown up with a lot of misconceptions surrounding genderfluid identities. However, I don't think that LGBT conversations about identity should be hidden as much as they are. I can honestly and unfortunately say I was extremely intolerant in middle school because of this...and look at me now...pretty much the exact opposite of who I used to be in views AND identity.
It's sad that gender identity has become so polarizing. I worry about my future and the future of others in the community everyday, but unfortunately in the world we live in, there is no "easy" answer when we live in a society so extremely against accepting change.
C. What do you think could be done to properly start the conversation?
(Broad I know, but frankly there really is no other way to start this dialogue)
I'm attaching RI's "statement/guide" on transgender and gender non conforming students
We live in a society that has so much diversity -race, disability, language, and gender - yet many persist in resisting it and focusing on a homogeneous society that is not reality. The diversity is normal, yet it is outside the comfort zone of so many. If we were able to talk about it, as Johnson recommends, we could resolve the different views and attitudes.
ReplyDeleteHi Rey! You have a very natural way of speaking through your blogs and it makes reading them feel like we are having a conversation, which really helps emphasize your points and personal experiences :)
ReplyDeleteRey, I like what you said about the fundamental parts of peoples' identity that should be taught to younger students, and the deeper meanings can grow with them. I think something as small as teaching kids to be aware of when and where they see pronouns can start the dialog of identity in school. For example, noticing the pronouns of book characters.
ReplyDeleteHi! I agree with how pronouns should be taught from earlier ages. I think if the education on topics of identity started younger us as a society would become more tolerant and accepting of one another. Open dialogue is necessary, no matter how hard it may be, for change to happen.
ReplyDeleteRey, I had similiar experiences in my childhood, however, my family introduced me to queerness and gender identity, just in a disrespectful way. It wasn't until I grew up, educated myself, my sister came out, and we educated the rest of my family, that there was really much of a conversation regarding the community. I think that it is okay to explain what sex, gender, and gender identity is to kids at a young age because then they will learn about it in a better way versus how I was initially introduced, very informally and very incorrect.
ReplyDeleteHi Rey! I really like how you spoke up about your personal experience in this blog. I agree with you that the message is very important and should be taught at a young age!
ReplyDeleteHi Rey, thank you for sharing your personal experiences as a part of this blog! I also grew up in an environment that was not very accepting of different gender identities. This topic needs to be introduced at a younger age and it is extremely important!
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