Topic 7: Gender
As a teacher, one thing that I plan to do is use inclusive language. This is a very broad topic that extends to my entire classroom and not just to myself. For example, ensuring that all of my students are being inclusive to everyone, regardless of their gender or gender expression. I think one thing that I can do, under the broad category of inclusive language, is use gender-inclusive pronouns. I learned about the gender-inclusive pronouns this year, in both this class and 2 of my other classes, and I think it is a good way of being inclusive of all gender-types. I have attached the gender pronouns chart below. By using non-gender specific terms to interact with the class, such as saying "Hello Folks" or, "Hello Everybody", it is also contributing to making a more gender-inclusive environment. I think really being careful and thoughtful about what you say is important as a teacher.
It is also important to provide support for all of your students. Sometimes, it is beyond the classroom that students are being impacted by bullying and/or conflict. Adolescents either internalize or externalize their emotions, making it difficult to deal with these issues that arise, which is why it is important for us as teacher to be informed and ready with resources. For example, as discussed in the lesson on Thursday, we talked about how on many occasions, young adolescent boys do not have the support they need due to social culture and cultural pressure, which may put them at risk and under more stress than girls (Cormier, 2015). I have included the Wiseguyz video below that could serve as a helpful resource for teachers who are looking to make their classroom a more comfortable and incusive place, and as a way of providing support to adolescent boys.
I have also included some resources from ISMSS, the Istitute for Sexual Minority Studies and Services at the University of Alberta. These could help give tips and pointers on making our classrooms a more inclusive place for all genders.
This image is provided from the ISMSS Centre at the University of Alberta. It is meant to help people to understand the differences between many gender-based terms, while also showing you the spectrum on which they fall. It shows the diversity that exist within a person and between people.
This is a slide taken from Dr. Cormier's Class Notes on Topic 7. It is used on this site to remind us (all Alberta teachers) that we are obliged to teach students and to treat students with respect and to not discriminate based on several factors, including gender-expression.
This video and website was provided to us to review and watch in preparation for this week's class. It talks about the WiseGuyz program that was talked about in class and in my post, what it is about, and how you can support it as a teacher.
This is a chart that shows a list of pronouns that a teacher can use to create a more gender-inclusive classroom. Different people use different pronouns to address themselves, so being aware of these can really help us make a welcoming environment. This chart is brought to us by The Landing, a student service available to promote Safe Spaces here at the University of Alberta.
Resources:
Alberta Teachers Association. (2015). ATA Policy. http://www.teachers.ab.ca/About%20the%20ATA/UpholdingProfessionalStandards/ProfessionalConduct/Pages/CodeofProfessionalConduct.aspx
Calgary Sexual Health Centre. (2015). WiseGuyz. Video. http://www.calgarysexualhealth.ca/programs-workshops/wiseguyz/
Cormier, D. (2015). Class Notes on Topic 7. University of Alberta. Unpublished.
Institute for Sexual Minority Students Services (ISMSS). (2015). University of Alberta.
McMahan, I. & Thompson, S. (2015). Adolescence: Canadian Edition. Toronto: Pearson.
The Landing. (2015). Gender Pronouns. University of Alberta. Print.