Discrimination Against Transgender Youth in Schools By Jessica Hardy

Key Terms Transgender: An umbrella term for people whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. Gender Identity: One’s internal sense of being male, female, neither of these, or both. Gender Expression: the physical manifestation of one’s gender identity through clothing, hairstyle, voice, body shape, ect.

My Claim: Imagine being a child again and feeling the anxiety of going to school on the first day, wanting people to like you, and trying to make new friends. Now, imagine being a transgender child, knowing you are not like the rest of your classmates and knowing it is going to be immensely harder to make friends than the average kid. They fear rejection from classmates and teachers which ultimately affects their future and their ability to get an education. Detrimental repercussions later in life, originating from constant animosity as a child, will decline if educators are properly taught how to manage transgender adolescents in a classroom setting.

82% of transgender youth report that they feel unsafe at school Bullying Statistics 90% of transgender students heard derogatory remarks, such as “dyke” or “faggot,” sometimes, often, or frequently in school 82% of transgender youth report that they feel unsafe at school 44% of transgender youth have been abused physically (ex. punched, shoved, kicked, etc.) at school 1/3 of transgender students heard school staff make homophobic remarks, sexist remarks, and negative comments about someone’s gender expression 49% of transgender students have been a target for cyber bullying, harassment via text messages, Facebook, etc 64% of transgender youth had their property stolen or destroyed at school

discrimination against transgender children low levels of self esteem decrease in educational aspirations discrimination against transgender children increase in school absences depression suicidal thoughts/suicide

Discrimination Affects Academic Success 46% of transgender students missed at least one day of school in the past month because they felt uncomfortable and/or unsafe. If students are not attending school to avoid hurtful experiences, they are not learning, which ultimately sets their education off track and puts them behind. When transgender students feel comfortable in school and believe that school staff cares about their well being and academic success, “they may then have greater academic motivation and higher academic achievement” (Greytak).

Teachers: the first step to decreasing discrimination in classrooms Teachers who are silent on the topic of transgender are the ones who make transgender students feel like an outcast. Transgender youth are an asset to the classroom, not a problem to be solved. They provide other students with the opportunity to grasp and first-handedly educate themselves on a topic that is so culturally prevalent in society. However, in order for teachers to properly educate students on the topic of transgenders, they must be properly educated themselves.

Educating Teachers Supportive relationships are imperative to adolescent development and help reduce the risk of self-harming behaviors. It is the educator’s job to challenge their own gender assumptions and create a more gender inclusive space where students are free to be who they are. Requiring teachers to watch the television show “I Am Jazz” will help expand their knowledge on transgender students and help them understand what a transgender student is going through. In every episode, Jazz and her family discuss her daily struggles and how it impacts her; watching how harsh words and rejection affects Jazz can potentially open the eyes of educators and show them the urgency for change.

A Child That is Not Supported Does Not Flourish The effect of students who experience hostility and rejection over years of schooling can be detrimental and long lasting. Adolescents, who are challenging the belief that one must be either male or female, deserve the opportunity to show us who they are rather than making assumptions based off a name, clothing, or other attributes that are associated with gender. Helping teachers and students become more knowledgeable on transgender issues opens doors for creating a safer, more welcoming school community.

Work Cited http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/10/13/First-transgender-suicide-hotline-overcomes-growing-pains.html https://www.theodysseyonline.com/the-importance-of-safe-spaces http://www.seventeen.com/life/school/news/a40405/jazz-jennings-thanks-obama-for-trans-students-bathrooms-rights/ https://heiscomingblog.wordpress.com/2015/04/21/not-so-jazzed-in-maine-school-lands-in-hot-water-for-lgbtq-indoctrination/ http://www.algbtical.org/2A%20GENDER%20VARIANCE.htm http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/would-you-feel-comfortable-sending-7854692 http://www.tcss.net/Page/16582 https://edexcellence.net/articles/making-teaching-teachable http://www.welcomingschools.org/