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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to think RSE lessons should be separated by sex not gender identity?

185 replies

Ljcrow · 17/07/2026 11:49

My daughter's in Year 4 and had her first proper RSE lesson this week, covering puberty: body changes, periods etc. Girls and boys were separated apart from one boy who wears his hair long, dresses in what most people would view as "girls' clothes" and who likes to be referred to by female pronouns.
Besides the blatant ridiculousness of it- the fact that this child is never going to go through female puberty, I'm uncomfortable with the fact that girls are already being given the message that anyone can self identify into girlhood/womanhood and I worry about the precedent that this sets.
What complicates matters is that my child is really good friends with this boy and I'm friendly with his parents, although not super close, not enough to feel comfortable broaching the subject with them.
I've no problem with them being friends, my worry is that the school is reinforcing a potentially dangerous falsehood: that anyone who says they are the opposite sex, is.
Myself and my husband have always talked to our daughter about how there's more to being a girl than having long hair and liking pink or unicorns and how people can dress how they want and like whatever they like, but somebody's biological sex doesn't change.
As long as we're consistently giving this message is that enough or do I raise my concerns with the school?
Am I being unreasonable to be concerned about this?

OP posts:
Ljcrow · 17/07/2026 12:33

Katesyd · 17/07/2026 12:28

Presumably this child’s parents have stated in which group the child should be for this. Mind your own business

Presumably they have, but it's the wider message it sends that concerns me.

OP posts:
Ljcrow · 17/07/2026 12:32

4Lightz · 17/07/2026 12:18

I think you should stop referring to your daughter’s friend as he, if they have made it clear they prefer she. Unless your daughter is an idiot she will be well aware that trans and non binary people are not biologically the same as cis people. There is no “dangerous falsehood”, just bigotry.

And I agree with the previous poster, everybody should attend lessons about both boys’ and girls’ puberty. Just because you won’t experience it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t learn about it, so you can understand what is happening to the people in your life who are going through it.

I won't be referring to a biological male as a she.

OP posts:
Ljcrow · 17/07/2026 12:32

Rizzz · 17/07/2026 12:22

I'm friendly with his parents, although not super close, not enough to feel comfortable broaching the subject with them.

If this story is true, it's the school you should be taking it up with anyway.

Of course it's true!

OP posts:
pleuo · 17/07/2026 12:31

The reason for separating them is that often kids this age will not feel comfortable asking questions in front of the opposite sex. It's plainly ridiculous to have him in the girls' group, both for his own sake and for the girls'.

ToWhitToWhoo · 17/07/2026 12:28

I don't think they should be separated at all. It's important that all children learn the basics with regard to both sexes.

Katesyd · 17/07/2026 12:28

Presumably this child’s parents have stated in which group the child should be for this. Mind your own business

SaySomethingMan · 17/07/2026 12:25

At this age, they should be doing it together.
You’re doing the right thing by teaching your DC at home. That’s what is within your power.

Rizzz · 17/07/2026 12:22

I'm friendly with his parents, although not super close, not enough to feel comfortable broaching the subject with them.

If this story is true, it's the school you should be taking it up with anyway.

4Lightz · 17/07/2026 12:18

I think you should stop referring to your daughter’s friend as he, if they have made it clear they prefer she. Unless your daughter is an idiot she will be well aware that trans and non binary people are not biologically the same as cis people. There is no “dangerous falsehood”, just bigotry.

And I agree with the previous poster, everybody should attend lessons about both boys’ and girls’ puberty. Just because you won’t experience it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t learn about it, so you can understand what is happening to the people in your life who are going through it.

Sux2buthen · 17/07/2026 11:50

Unreasonable to separate them at all for any of it