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Transgender in High school in the US
History OF Transgender
Gender-variant people had been previously ignored or vilified. But at the start of 1990s these people established a more inclusive community and started using the word transgender as a collective term to define their identity (Shultz311). The development of social and political organization in the last thirty years promoted social identities for transgender people, establishing a distinct community that deserves social justice and civil rights. This movement defies former opinion of transgender identity and expression as a mental disorder. This movement now reframes the flaws observed in transgender people as the sequelae of discrimination not the symptoms of a mental problem. In addition to that, the acts of resistance staged by drag queens in Los Angeles (Cooper Donuts) in 1959, Compton’s Cafeteria in 1966, and the Stonewall riot of 1969 played a major role in the history of transgender community (Shultz 320).
Until 1950s, transsexualism was not considered distinct from transvestism. Surgical and hormonal treatments remained core to the consolidation of transsexual diagnosis and identity. Harry Benjamin considered that if psychotherapy treatments could not alter the mind of transsexuals to the body, then the transsexual’s body had to be adjusted to fit the mind. Transsexualism played out with Christine Jorgenson’s case, who desired to become a female. Jorgensen visited Christian Hamburger who conducted psychiatric evaluation, hormone therapy and surgery to get rid of Jorgenson’s male genitalia. Jorgenson returned to America as a woman.
Transgender in High School
The gender identity of transgender people differs from the assigned sex at birth. According to Bockting et al (944), transgender identities cover female-to-male and male-to-female transsexuals, transvestites and cross-dressers. Schools are challenging places for transgender youth as they frequently encounter harassment, name calling, discrimination and bullying. In a survey done by Kosciw et al (5), 33 percent of the surveyed gender non-conforming students reported hearing anti-transgender stereotypes. They also reported high levels of verbal and physical harassment by fellow peers. These bullying and harassment have cumulative negative impact on academic achievement for transgender students (Kuklin 56).
Transgender people are subject to widespread discrimination, social stigma, sexual and physical abuse. Students in high school in particular are exposed to harassment, discrimination and physical abuse in their school environment (Pryor 445).
Controversies associated with transgender students often surface at district and individual schools across the nation. States, such as Nevada, Florida, Texas, Minnesota, and Kentucky have attended to sponsor bills that require transgender students to adhere to anatomical conventions when utilizing gender-segregated bathrooms and other school facilities. Only 12 states across the country have laws in place that protect transgender students against prejudice and discrimination due to their gender expression (Movement Advancement Project, 22). On several occasions, the Department of Education has come out in support of lesbians, bisexuals, gays and transgender by clarifying that the prohibition of Title IX on sex discrimination covers discrimination based on stereotypes and gender identity.
In 2016, the Department of Education clarified that sexual discrimination includes prohibiting students education privileges based on their gender expression like denying them equal access to locker rooms and bathrooms. In the same year, the Fourth circuit Court of Appeals interpreted Title IX that all learners must be afforded equal access to educational facilities that match their gender expression and identity. In so doing, the Circuit Court reversed the dismissal of Title IX claim by transgender student who had been denied access to boys’ restroom and bathroom by the local school board (Grimm v. Gloucester County School Board 2016).
Transgender Cultural Norms and Values
There are values, beliefs, ideologies and attitudes guiding transgender people. Transgender persons have their own social norms and cultural spaces. They often claim proper transgender spaces. In addition to that, there is a standard or threshold for being transgender. To be a transgender, one must fall into the gender binary of female/male. Originally, transgender people had to have to clothe in certain ways and to be stealth but now gender inclusivity and diversity are welcome. Diversity is not welcome. One is not considered a transgender person if the threshold is not met. For example, cisnormativity is not welcome and being cis-passing is shunned (). There are many ways to be transgender, irrespective of someone’s gender expression or body. Regardless of what box one wants to put oneself into, there exists a spectrum.
Transgender-centered events have a significance, function and impact for the transgender community. Events like Trans Day of Celebration and Trans Day of Remembrance. Drag events, and cross-dressing social serve important function to transgender community. Transgender etiquette requires that transgender individuals introduce themselves by writing or declaring the pronouns and names they use. Singular pronouns “they” and “them” are used to refer to a person. Members are required to respect and accommodate one another. For instance, it is wrong to out transgender persons in inappropriate circumstances.
Transgender is an umbrella term representing many different groups. There are transsexual women (become women through reassignment surgery), transsexual men (become men through reassignment surgery), trans-men, trans-women and cross-dressed people. Some transgender people do not identity with any specific trans-culture. Some transgender people out their gender identity and others do not. The latter do not want to reveal their assigned gender identity as they wish to live their preferred gender expression.
Social Controls
Incentives to the person who comply with the norms and values of this subculture rest with the status they provide for compliance and the power they utilize for non-compliance. In rare cases, these are real rewards and sanctions, such as show of gratitude or reprimand. In most cases, the impact of experiences is internalized or felt as deservedness (pride) and shame when an individual has failed to comply.
Stereotypes
Stereotypes refer to learned expectations which uncritical generalizations are regarding persons who identify with a particular group. Negative stereotypes serve to psychologically threaten an individual, which in turn affect a student’s engagement, performance and wellbeing (Kuklin 44). In high school, stereotypes can negatively affect social and academic experiences of transgender students. Stereotypes influence the nature of discrimination and prejudice aimed at the transgender youth. Transgender students face pervasive harassment and discrimination in high schools across the country (Pryor 443).
While a lot has improved, single-sex schools still continue in most places and teachers often use gender expressions that strengthen gender categorization. Sex education also tends to reinforce gender binaries. Bathrooms and playgrounds are demarcated along gendered lines. Other challenges that transgender students encounter in schools include bullying, harassment and ant-transgender slurs. Sissy boys and tomboys are persecuted in schools
Symbols
A popular transgender symbol, employed to identity transsexuals, and transvestites, often comprise of a modified gender symbol incorporating elements from both female and male symbols. It originates from a drawing by Boswell and portrays a circle with the female symbol and male symbol projecting from the bottom and top-right respectively. The two symbols are joined by additional arrow strike. Transgender Pride Flag is another symbol used by transgender people. The flag comprises of five stripes arranged horizontally: two pink tripes and two blue tripes separated by a white stripe. It embodies the transgender community. The blue color represents baby boys, pink baby girls and white represents those who consider themselves transitioning or having undefined gender.
Structure and hierarch of Transgender Culture
The structure of transgender subculture is differentiated and hierarchized. Transvestites and transsexuals are described as those who do not identify with the gender of opposite sex. Consequently, they are more or less women or men.
Gender roles
Gender role refers to the expression of masculinity or femininity. Gender role impacts personality, appearance and behavior. Gender role is socially dictated and reflects one’s gender identity. People express gender roles through clothing adornment habits, social interests, voice inflection, grooming and mannerism. Gender role diversity may be enacted by individuals who identify as transgender. It has also been enacted by women who are masculine and men who are feminine. Many transgender people are confortable expressing their femininity or masculinity without social punishment.
Improving Communication
Whenever individuals encounter someone, they notice differences and similarities. The differences are the most highlighted and are the ones that result in communication troubles. One way to improve communication between the dominant culture and transgender culture is to relate to each other interpersonally, including sharing stories and life experiences.
Future Prospective Although there are still many barriers, transgender people have achieved many gains in the last two decades. More and more persons are identifying with gender identities outside the binary of male/female. The term transgender now encompasses many different groups of people who are not cis-gender. Social and legal changes have produced a more open avenue for promoting the rights of transgender people. Institutions are taking necessary measures to comply with laws that ban discrimination of transgender pe………..
