Scottish schoolkids to be taught to ‘choose their own gender’ in class

If the utterly illogical, stupid, dangerous idiots leading this nonsense movement can't and won't explain what a girl is, what a boy is, and how you know the difference, how in the everloving heck do you expect a 5 year old to know either?

I can't tell you what a girl is, children, but you will just know, like magic.

I am coming perilously close to hating people who are advocating this pure bilge upon children.

If you believe yourself intelligent enough to educate a child then you must challenge yourself to actually educate yourself.
If you yourself possess no knowledge of any definition of girl or boy that you can offer, then you have no business trying to impart knowledge and guide a child.

In relation to education I mean. It went plenty far enough in terms of ignoring and eroding girls right to privacy, dignity and safety.

I think this is new- the previous guidance was about supporting transgender young people in school rather than specifically about indoctrinating all children to know the light and the glory of gender identity. Although the previous guidance did touch on making transgender identities more visible in the classroom, it did not go anywhere near as far as this seems to.

I'm so incensed by this sexist rubbish.

What possible reason would a child have for claiming the opposite sex?

Toy/clothes/lifestyle preference.

Then what???

Are they told no, you're wrong. You can like all that stuff but you're still a girl/boy?

Or are they told they're trans?

It's unbelievable. There can't be this many stupid people, surely?

I have one child who couldn't care less and at the moment seems immune to this stuff (but I need to keep strong, because he's already emo-hood-bound, so kinda the target market), and one who's a little barbarian who likes pink and sparkles, mixed with black and flames - and who takes no nonsense.

I hope I'm innoculating them with my puzzled looks and 'but colours are for everybody' repeated whenever they come home with some new gender-based rule from school - Christ knows what'll happen if they're told this shit by teachers though, we're still reeling from the healthy-eating talks the oldest had, and trying to give him a bit more nuanced understanding than fat == bad, fruit == good.

Story is also in the Scotsman and Edinburgh Evening News. Comments seem to be universally negative.

This is beyond ridiculous if true. I will have to speak to school about it and find out what my kids are being told

Primary school kids are just too young to wrap their heads around this stuff, at that age it's indoctrination rather than exploration.

If anyone finds the actual document please will they link here? Thanks

Igneococcus fuck. I’m more inclined to believe the Times than the Sun, and there’s a quote from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde too.

Looks like I’m just going to have to prepare DD for this shite, and hope it doesn’t sink in.

What do I say in response to her if she asks? Any ideas? She’s 5.

I desperately wanted a Scalextric aged nine. I used to wish for one every birthday (never got one)

I had one. Hadn't realized till now that this means that my parents recognized my inner bloke identity!

Short article in the Times today:

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/five-year-olds-to-choose-their-gender-26m3x2frt?shareToken=88691da1832d9f43bfe1eda5d21efaba

Exactly. We all relate differently to femininity & masculinity in different ways at different times as well as not relating to these norms, roles and traits imposed on women and men, in different ways at different times, because gender isn't fixed and is not innate. There is nothing essential about gender.

We are in the position where we have to challenge this on the level of ideology and directly. Women's orgs and children's orgs are parroting the same line that the only way we dismantle gender stereotypes is by taking on an ideology that says gender is innate, it's just not always determined by sex. It is not only not true, but it's incoherent as a position on gender and as we all know here only serves to further entrench stereotypes. Where I take heart is in the fact that feminists win this debate hands down, there is literally no basis for gender identity/innate gender, or indeed the idea that if gender is social, the way to dismantle that is to pretend it is innate (!).

It's a pointless waste of time to forcibly categorise people based on their preference over toys and clothes.

It also assumes preferences are fixed forever! How many kids do we all know who loved e.g. football at seven but can't give a toss about it at 12? Who spent every waking minute nursing a doll at 3 but wouldn't know one end of a baby from the other at 13? My cousin was a gaming freak at 15 - but hasn't touched a console seriously in 20 years. What utter bollocks.

As far as I know, every school currently has a policy about challenging stereotypes, encouraging girls in STEM subjects, etc. Everyone please download and keep a copy of this, because the new guidance will completely contradict it!

Oh dear God, thank goodness I'm retiring soon as I'd be fired for sure.

OldCrone

I've read a lot of shit about this. But that one really, really got me.

Teach kids the backwards, bonkers concept gender, so you can tell them they're wrong.

Utterly cruel and insane.

This has reminded me of this thread from a few months ago:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3101245-NHS-Transgender-guidance-for-schools

where this document was discussed:
www.centralsexualhealth.org/media/8009/guidance-for-schools-trans-gender-variance.pdf

Here's the advice for indoctrinating children with Additional Support Needs:
Please note: by age 2 or 3, a child starts to develop a sense of being a male or female. Some children with a learning disability/additional support needs, however, may not develop gender awareness at the same age and stage as their peers. It is important that children with ASN are actively taught gender identity so that they understand the gender assigned to them at birth.

Conversely, this often requires blatant ‘boy/girl’ activities. However, once a child understands the gender assigned to them at birth, teaching and practice can diversify to include non-stereotypical approaches and allow the child to explore their True Gender identity.

What do you give ‘I feel like a girl’ meaning without reinforcing gender stereotypes?

Exactly. Unless you identify, say, 10 genders (not the ones online, because almost all relate to sexual preference and you have sex with, when and how often).

So these 10 genders are, what? Likes football? Likes long hair? Pink?

Let's assume yes, something along those lines. And all those genders are named.

Presumably, wanting to be neutral, it will be something non-judgemental, like 1 to 10.

Then what?

Little Tommy is a three, because he likes football. Sarah is a five because she likes long hair. Joshua is a 10 because he likes football and long hair.

Then what?

It's a pointless waste of time to forcibly categorise people based on their preference over toys and clothes.

So what is the point? It must be to pigeonhole people into male or female. Depending on their preference.

Backwards, damaging, stereotypical claptrap.

But "choosing" your actually biological sex is an impossibility. Its a 1 time deal at birth, and to say otherwise is a fiction.

If the Sun say so it must be true.

Actually I would endorse telling kids they can choose their gender identity or rather remove gendered roles (yes I'm of the boys can wear dresses and like pink if they want mentality).