Gender,
Gender Identity, and Sexual Orientation
I
have a friend that has a son and he doesn’t like to play soccer, and he has
trouble walking because it has an ankle problem. But their friends didn’t know
that, they just said words like you are a gay, you walk funny, and you don’t like
to play soccer. Sometimes their friends begin to punish him, and begun to bullying
him. They laughed at him, and they make pee in their backpack. He feels really bad,
and he didn’t want to return to his school because their friends said to him
that they hate gays. Is sad for me to hear about this story in this case the
mother of this child talked to the teacher, and principal of the school but
they didn’t did nothing. The mother had to change his son to another school because
she wanted to protect to him.
Children could play
with dolls and cars even if they are girls or boys, it doesn’t matter, and not
for this reason they are different from others, and think that they are gay or
lesbian.
I think that the inclusion of books about
gays and lesbians in early childhood centers need to have this material to show
to the kids that people will be able to love anyone; no matter what sex the
importance is that that person will be a good human being that love and have
good feelings for everyone. Also women’s will be able to work whatever jobs
they want, and people will wear whatever clothes they wish, there will be no
gender roles. “It also may be very useful to initiate activities that enable
the whole group to explore feelings of conflict when what they like to do differ
from the prevailing gender norms or what a child thinks is the norm.”( Louise
Derman-Sparks. 2010. Pag
93)
If a parent said to me that he did not want anyone who is perceived (or self-reported)
homosexual or transgender to be caring for, educating, and/or interacting with
their child, I said to him that in my school : everybody belongs, plays, and
helps each other learn with love, respect each other’s, and their differences. We
are people and each of us has feelings, and we are good persons. “We need to
support human and civil rights for all people, including gay men and lesbians, we
also believe that children nurtured to appreciate diversity.”( Louise
Derman-Sparks. 2010. Pag 122)
I
heard one day in the school when I worked, that there was a boy that prefers to
talk with girls instead of boys, and he use tight pants, and move his hands in
a weird way and his friend begin to say to him you see like a gay.
This boy grew in a family of three sisters, and his mother without his
father, so he played all the time with his sisters, and also he has 4 cousins. For
this reason, is easier for him to talk to girls.
“THE WORDLD IS NOT DIVIDED INTO SHEEPS AND GOATS. NOT ALL THINGS
ARE BLACK NOR ALL THINGS ARE WHITE. IT IS A FUNDAMENTAL OF TAXONOMY THAT NATURE
RARELY DEALS WITH DISCRETE CATEGORIES.ONLY THE HUMAN MIND INVENTS CATEGORIES
AND TRIES TO FORCE FACTS INTO SEPARATED PIGEON-HOLES.THE SOONER WE LEARN THIS
CONCERNING SEXUAL BEHAVIOR THE SOONER WE SHALL REACH A SOUND UNDERSTANDING OF
THE REALITIES OF SEX.”Alfred Kinsey, Sexual behavior in the human male 1948.
References:
Louise Derman-Sparks. 2010.Anti-Bias Education for young children
and Ourselves.
Maria,
ResponderEliminarVery good point, what you stated, "books about gays and lesbians in early childhood centers need to have this material to show to kids that people will be able to love anyone" (2013, http://mariablog1476.blogspot.com/). I believe that everyone should know they are valued; especially, children and families of children. Not promoting the value of a person because you don't like their life style is wrong. A child needs to feel secure in their identity and their identity comes from their family. The beginnings of identity awareness is the most crucial and can be detrimental in development if the child is treated as if they are not being valued or their family is not being valued experts say (Derman-Sparks & Olsen/Edwards, 2010 - Pelo, 2008, and Bailey, 2001). For example, I heard on the radio, back in the early 1980's that a young Christian Couple - Ministers in CA., were actually harassed and urine was thrown on them and their children when they came out of their church one Sunday morning for the topic the father spoke on that morning. I can only imagine what those children were thinking and what that did to them emotionally. I know when I heard the story the wife was relaying the instance and she was crying for help for the sake of her children to the Christian Community. I wept with her as I listened. Know one should be treated that way (WZZD - Philadelphia). To devalue a child's family is to devalue them. The focus must come from a mature outlook, in every instance, and what is healthy (emotionally, spiritually, cognitively, physically) according to experts. All people are valuable, and their needs must be met. This is civil law.
Sincerely,
Kimberly Orlando
Maria,
ResponderEliminarI enjoyed reading your post. I think young children should learn about other people differences. I think professionals in the early childhood field should have materials, books, magazines and any other type of resources available to discuss with young children and families. It is best for a child to know while growing up than not to know. I feel bad for the little boy that was bully in school by all his friends. I hope that calling him names want interfere with his boy hood as he grow and develop.
Ida!!
Maria,
ResponderEliminarI enjoyed reading your blog post! How sad that your friend's son has to go through ridicule and even more sad that adults are not hearing those conversations of the other children using negative connotations and attempting to have conversations with all of the children involved.
You bring up some great points through your thoughts and pictures about how children are not going to become gay simply because of what they play with.
Thank you for your insightful blog post!
Nicolette
Maria,
ResponderEliminarThanks for sharing your experiences. Children can be so cruel to other children. It is important to teach our young children to have respect for others. I have learned some valuable information about anti-bias education through our readings and discussions. I am going to take the information that I am learning and apply it in my own life, especially with raising my children. I want them to be free to be themselves. Thanks for your post!
Amber