What can teachers and other professionals do to create a more gender free environment in our schools?

[SarahCarer]

As my dd is autistic and, as a result, Gender non Conforming (GNC) I thought I would share some thoughts about how to de-gender our schools.

Firstly, teachers need to find a way to address groups of children without saying "girls" or "boys" . This is commonplace in some schools and puts an unnatural focus onto a person's sex which is of no relevance at all in the context.

Secondly every school should have at least one unisex toilet which any pupil can use without special permission.

Thirdly school staff should avoid using the terms "good girl" or "good boy" Again the sex is of no relevance and the statement risks implying that they are being good because they are behaving in a way consistent with femininity or masculinity.

Fourthly ALL sexism and homophobia should be robustly challenged

Fifthly sex ed should not have gendered content

Sixthly there should be no organising of classes with reference to sex except in PE or for sex ed.

Any thoughts on these suggestions or suggestions for others?

These are some of the ways we can protect our autistic children from gender dysphoria (GD)

Saw something on Facebook on this
Interested .+++

Watching with interest!

Why would we want gender free environments in schools?

Expectations.

They need to be the same. No more " boys will be boys" when they are charging round the playground knocking people over . No more "girls are just bitchy" when being mean about people.

Stop making girls Buffer zones between disruptive or harder to manage boys. It's putting the role of carer and peace keeper onto predominantly girls. It doesn't go unnoticed.

Much of what you suggest is utter rubbish and you make some huge assumptions about schools being almost blunt weapons that contribute to stereotyping and discrimnation.

Uniform should be jogging bottoms/shorts, relaxed skirt/dress, t shirts/jumpers and trainers.

School shoes marketed for girls are often terrible for warmth, keeping water out and running in.

Why would we want gender free environments in schools?

Because gender stereotypes limit children's potential.

I doubt that the vast majority of parents want schools to be gender free. Being free of gender stereotypes does not mean we have to be free of gender.

What is gender without the stereotypes though?

In the secondary schools I have worked in, the school, the governors and staff have worked incredibly hard to not stereotype children in any way. There are differences between the sexes in how they behave- many occur from cultural expectations and customs children experience from birth in all aspects of their lives.

Most people do not want gender free environments. We like being women or men. What we want is not to be stereotyped or treated badly or unequally because we are women or men. Schools, in my experience, try really hard to do that. They might not be perfect but they are extremely aware of the issues and try hard to get it right.

Fifthly sex ed should not have gendered content
So how would that work?
And yes, I do know the difference between sex and gender.

Sex ed should have content that is tailored for each sex, whilst also ensuring children learn about the opposite sex.

Schools are not vacuums. They exist as part of a whole society.
I certainly would not want unisex toilets in a secondary school.

You just know we’d end up with everyone in trousers being referred to as ‘guys’.

Shame that challenging sexism and homophobia is only 4th on the list, that would have the most impact.

Anything else that schools and teachers should do? For fuck's sake! We're already expected to sort out all of society's ills and do the paperwork!

You seem to want a sex free environment rather than gender free. What is wrong with calling a girl a girl and a boy a boy? The issue is when we expect/reward/sanction certain behaviours because of their sex.

Im A teacher and things I do are:
Teach a unit on feminism
Challenge gender stereotypes whenever they are used by students or staff
Running a feminism club
Regularly bend the Head's ear on issues of sexism I come across.

I'm.intrigued what you think of as 'gendered content' in sex education? The anatomical and social differences between men and women are pretty important to sex education!

Doesn't 5 and 6 sort of contradict each other?

Gender is so important in sex education in the current environment and it is dangerous to eliminate that to protect the feelings of a small tiny minority.

I don’t think schools are gendered environments. I think that they pay the absolute minimum attention to sex differences and that, for the rest, they are fantastically egalitarian.

I'd be more keen on an environment where boys and girls both flourish, where teachers are aware of and not complicit in encouraging the stereotyping of children on the basis of their sexes, where sexism is challenged and gender non conformity (including for older children same sex attraction) accepted.

Calling groups of children 'boys and girls' is not something I see as in the least problematic. They are boys and girls. As an adult I'm often in groups addressed as 'ladies and gentlemen' and I've never thought that meant anyone was thinking particularly about my sex in some sort of intrusive way. I don't really like 'good boy' / 'good girl' but that's more because it's the sort of phrase I'm more likely to use for my dog so doesn't seem right for children. Plus it's the intention and context that matters. So long as children are treated as individuals and praised when they put effort into their academic or social behaviour then that's great.

No idea what you are on about regarding sex ed. I'd like kids to be taught about biology, consent and being generally nice to each other without taking any shit because they think they should. Some of that needs to refer to sex and some of it needs to allow discussion about gender roles and expectations.

Good schools do all this already.

I don’t think schools are gendered environments. I think that they pay the absolute minimum attention to sex differences and that, for the rest, they are fantastically egalitarian.

As someone actually working in a school, I couldn’t agree more.

And I have no idea what “gendered content” there is in sex education - could you provide examples, OP?

So you want the entire school to change for your child?

And I’m failing to see the connection between autism and gender non conformity. Most autistic children I know find it very difficult. They don’t understand why they shouldn’t refer to this man as he or woman as she simply based on how they are dressed.

My girls hate sexism, but like being girls. I don’t want schools to be more gender neutral. I want girls and boys to have equal opportunities and treatment.

In my DD’s secondary school, all sports are mixed and girls play football as much as boys do dance. The very idea that there is any gendered content is ludicrous.

Why is your child's gender non conforming as a result of having autism? Seems a very odd thing to say. They aren't related.