This is a very competitive and well regarded title for
many highschool girls in America and, as it is a stereotypically feminine
position, both the school and Campbell’s peers have recognized her true gender
identity; despite any negative criticism received by people whom Campbell
deemed as “ignorant”[1].
As such, this momentous event for Orange County serves as a good example of how
the notions surrounding gender identity and Trans students can be incorporated
into the wider educational community. However, I believe that there are many
things teachers can do on the classroom level in order to make education more “accessible”[2]
to Trans students and to combat “judgemental”[3]
attitudes. This is an opinion shared by David Spade, and in the remainder of
this post I will attempt to discuss how such strategies can be implemented and
how they combat negative attitudes towards Trans students.
The majority of the criticisms directed towards Campbell
focused on the fact that she was not, in the opinion of some, a “real girl”, Campbell herself stating
that “…I don't know why they have to be this way….It
just hurts so bad because I feel just as much of a girl as all of them do...
Everyone is just so ignorant”[4];
and it is obvious that such complaints have stemmed from students stereotypical
views of gender itself, as being binary. It is extremely important that we, as
teachers, be aware of these limited views of gender and try to correct them not
only within our students but within ourselves, as Spade suggests that many of
our unconscious actions could propagate an ideal of gender that does not
encompass Trans students “Think about how gender norms, or ideas about what men
and women should be like, might be being enforced in your classroom…How might
we be enforcing gender norms on ourselves or our loved ones with well-meaning advice
or guidance?”[5]. If we think of
this question in a practical sense, it suggests that we must be aware of how
gendered language is used in our teaching methods, and be prepared to re-word
common phrases and information to accommodate different notions of gender. For
example, if I were to be teaching a sexual education class about menstruation,
instead of saying “On average women will experience a period once a month” I would
instead say “On average people with vaginas will experience a period once a
month ”; achieving a more inclusive and gender neutral tone.
It is also important to note that teachers can recognize the gender
identity of Trans students within the classroom on the most basic level
possible, by being aware of students preferred pronouns and by calling them their
preferred name in class. Not only does this directly “validate” the gender
identity of Trans students in the eyes of the educational community but, by
encouraging the rest of the class to also use appropriate pronouns and names in
addressing transgendered students, it helps build a “respectful environment”[6]
which may spread into the outward community and lead in a decrease of discrimination
and “hate speech”.
It is thus apparent how many simple strategies can be used within the
classroom to create a sense of belonging amongst students, regardless of sex
and gender identity; and I hope that in the future more schools will follow the
example of Marina Highschool, developing an accepting and Trans friendly
environment.
[1] Cassidy
Lynn Campbell, quoted in “Cassidy Lynn Campell, Transgender Teen, Named
Homecoming Queen”, The Huffington Post,
September 21, 2013, accessed October 25, 2013, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/21/transgender-homecoming-queen_n_3968729.html
[3]
Cassidy Lynn Campbell, quoted in “Cassidy Lynn Campell, Transgender Teen, Named
Homecoming Queen”, The Huffington Post,
September 21, 2013, accessed October 25, 2013, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/21/transgender-homecoming-queen_n_3968729.html
[4] Cassidy
Lynn Campbell, quoted in “Cassidy Lynn Campell, Transgender Teen, Named
Homecoming Queen”, The Huffington Post,
September 21, 2013, accessed October 25, 2013, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/21/transgender-homecoming-queen_n_3968729.html
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