We speak with Dr. Elizabeth J. Meyer of the University of Colorado about ensuring that K-12 schools are welcoming and safe for students with non-normative gender identities and expressions. Dr. Meyer found that these students thrive in schools that center student-directed learning and interdisciplinary exploration as opposed to schools that replicate society’s toxic hierarchies. Generally, students are much more comfortable talking about issues related to gender diversity than their teachers or parents.
Overview
00:00-00:40 Intros
00:40-02:23 Title IX coordinators and their challenges
02:23-03:32 Equity directors and their challenges
03:32-05:55 Equity directors: race, class, and gender and sexuality
05:55-07:05 Race as entry point to conversations about other marginalized groups
07:05-08:38 “Gender-creative”—what it means and why use it
08:38:11:01 Impact of school structures on creating comfortable environments
11:01-12:08 Schools as gender-policed spaces
12:08-13:59 Student-led gender audit
13:59-16:29 Transgender students and sports
16:29-17:46 Students are generally more comfortable in conversations about gender and sexual diversity than adults
17:46-19:04 Texas governor’s ban on gender-affirming health care
19:04-22:00 Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill
22:00-23:11 Teacher ed and leadership ed programs
23:11-24:42 How principals can become proactive before a crisis
24:42-26:28 Book banning and “curriculum transparency” bills
26:28-27:04 Life and death situations—“Why aren’t we talking about this in our school?”
27:04-28:05 Comparisons with other countries
28:05- Outro
Transcript
Click here to see the full transcript of this episode.
References
Click here to go to Dr. Elizabeth Meyer’s website.
Soundtrack by Poddington Bear
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