Gender and Schooling

Ending bullying and harassment, and promoting sexual diversity in schools.

by Elizabeth Meyer, Ph.D.

Bullying Intervention Programs: Where Have We Gone Wrong?

A school in Canada addressed bullying by essentially assigning a 'bodyguard' to a student. This is emblematic of how many schools make mistakes in their reponse programs. This post presents 5 common mistakes and suggestions for how to avoid them. Read More

High Standards for Low Pay: Teachers, Facebook & Community Values

NPR’s Talk of the Nation recently hosted a show to discuss the limits of teacher expression. Can teachers be disciplined for out of school behaviors? Is it fair to hold them to a higher standard than average citizens? In the world of Facebook, can we expect any privacy? Read More

All the Cool Girls Are Lesbians: T-Shirt Controversies in Schools

A high school student was asked to cover up her t-shirt that read: "all the cool girls are lesbians." Can schools limit student speech. If so, when? What are the consequences? Read More

Models for addressing gender diversity in K-12 schools

There are some great new resources out there for parents and teachers who want to be more supportive of gender equity and diversity. This blog entry provides a summary of some great places to start! Read More

Hate Speech: Is a Higher Standard Fair for Teachers?

"Homosexuality is a perverted spirit...I know sin and it breeds like a cancer." Should a teacher be reprimanded for expressing such views publicly, but out of school? Read More

Gender Creative & Transgender Kids in Schools: What's the Big Deal?

With Chaz Bono's public transition recent media attention to transgender issues has been heightened, but what are the impacts on families who have gender creative and transgender youth? What can be done to make schools more inclusive spaces for these kids? Read More

Schools Victimizing Students: Rapes and Suicides Must End

What can parents do when their children are suffering from extreme violence at school? This blog post details two recent incidents at schools in California and Missouri and offers suggestions and resources for parents and educators to prevent tragedies from occurring at school. Read More

Blogging for LGBT families

This week there was media backlash about lessons on gender and sexual orientation in elementary schools. What is the controversy? At what age is this appropriate information? Read More

Homophobia in Schools: Is It Getting Better?

May 17 is the International day against Homophobia and this seemed like a good opportunity to reflect on what the current realities are for students and educators working in schools. I’ve blogged about this a lot here – it is one of the main themes of this space. New research gives shocking updates on what is and isn't getting better. Read More

What Can We Learn from Hollywood’s “Happily Ever After?”

Feminism and Hollywood's "happy endings" - are these impacting how today's youth see themselves and others? How can parents and educators talk about gender equity, sexual diversity, and healthy relationships through popular teen media? This post addresses these issues and offers some ideas to get you started. Read More

Lessons on gender & sexuality at “Hollywood High”

Movies and TV shows about high school present scripts and expectations for teen relationships and high school life. The stories and characters contribute to the lessons on gender and sexuality at “Hollywood High.” What are the lessons being taught and how can you talk about them with your kids? Read More

Stopping bullying: why gender matters

Recent controversies in California over anti-bullying programs show the resistance there is to talking about gender and sexuality in schools. Generic anti-bullying programs don't work - we need to specifically name gendered forms of bullying that happen between students to have any impact. Read More

Feds protect gay youth thanks to pioneering activist-mom

This blog post is written to thank Carolyn Wagner for the changes she initiated and to inform schools about their legal responsibilities to prevent and respond to incidents of sex discrimination.

What can schools due to ensure a safe learning environment while respecting students' rights to free speech in cases of alleged cyberbullying? Read More

Rape at school: Title IX and school violence

A high school cheerleader was forced to cheer for her rapist. What messages are schools sending when they hide behind criminal investigations and shirk their responsibilities to their students? Read More

It Gets Better: Helping or Hurting?

Dan Savage's "It gets better" campaign to reach out to youth in order to reduce suicide has exploded on the internet. There are submissions from politicians, TV stars and musicians. Can a video from a stranger prevent suicide? Or is it just lip service? Read More

Punished for crossing gender lines

Today is the Transgender Day of Remembrance. A day set aside to recognize and honor the lives lost to transphobia. Transphobia happens in many ways and impacts many folks in addition to transgender people. This post will discuss some recent examples as well as some interesting educational interventions to help challenge limiting gender stereotypes. Read More

Homophobia & Suicide: A Wake Up Call for Parents and Educators

The recent spike in homophobia-related suicides are helping bring this crisis to the attention of the national media so now is the perfect moment to demand that our schools do a better job. But what can be done? Read More

Back to School: Christian group against anti-bullying efforts

Focus on the Family, a conservative Christian group, is using the back-to-school time to advance their anti-gay message by taking a vocal stance opposing anti-bullying campaigns. They are speaking out against programs that include messages of tolerance and acceptance for students who are disproportionately targeted for violence in schools: bisexual, gay, lesbian, queer, transgender, (BGLQT) and gender non-conforming youth, as well as children who have BGLQT parents and family members. But why? Read More

Teaching sexuality: How much can we expect from classroom teachers?

What can be done to improve educators' knowledge and awareness of issues related to gender and sexual diversity? Is it worth risking the public controversy to do so? Should teachers be expected to address these issues? What can be done to initiate these changes? Read More

Kids of BGLQT families – how do they fare in school?

A recent study published in the highly respected journal, Pediatrics, has been making a splash all week in the blogosphere. Headlines range from "Children Raised by Lesbian Parents Have Excellent Outcomes" to "Children of Lesbian Parents Do Better than Their Peers". One of the lesser reported findings of this 17-year study is that children who have been targeted for bullying and harassment because of the sexual orientation of their parents had more behavioural problems. So are children from bisexual, gay, lesbian, transgender, and queer (BGLTQ) -headed families really thriving at school? Or are they also targets for bullies who struggle for acceptance and academic success? What can schools do to support students from BGLQT-parented families? Read More

Sex ed: Too much, too soon?

Recently, the province of Ontario found itself in a public relations battle over the content of its new sexuality education curriculum. Some parents and conservative religious groups were opposed to discussions about gender identity and diverse family structures at Grade 3 and didn't want discussions of oral and anal sex to be included in the Grade 7 classes on safer sex and transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Read More

Sexual harassment in school: From South Hadley to TV’s Glee

I must confess that I am a true "Gleek"! I particularly loved this week's Madonna-themed episode. Not only did it have fantastic music and dancing, it took on the very important topic of empowering young women and educating young men to be more sensitive and respectful of their female peers. Read More

Gender, Class, & Proms: High school rites of exclusion

Well, ‘tis the season of limos, corsages, gowns and tuxedos. Many of you may have already heard about the recent controversies surrounding a prom in Mississippi. The school cancelled their annual event rather than give permission to Constance McMillen to bring her girlfriend. They also did not want to allow her request to arrive in a tuxedo instead of a ball gown. Read More

Olympics and Gender Empowerment Through Sport

What a great time to reflect on the importance of sport in shaping girls' experiences throughout their lives. Read More

Hazing and high school – gendered rites of group membership

This week, two new stories of extreme hazing in high schools went before the courts. Both of these cases involved male football teams sexually assaulting the new, younger members of their teams: one in California, and one in New Mexico. These are examples of the most severe and criminal versions of hazing, but why do such rites persist in high schools and colleges? Contrary to popular belief, hazing is not limited to male groups, or sports teams and fraternities only. What can parents and educators do to help youth learn to challenge these rites and interrupt the repetition of these "traditions"? Read More

‘Sexting’ and Suicide

A study was just released yesterday that indicates the practice of ‘sexting' (sending sexually suggestive text messages and photos) is on the rise among U.S. teens. One researcher was quoted as explaining this phenomenon as follows, "These images are shared as a part of or instead of sexual activity, or as a way of starting or maintaining a relationship with a significant other, and they are also passed along to friends for their entertainment value, as a joke or for fun." This "fun" is actually sexual harassment and can have tragic consequences. This year two cases of suicide have been attributed to sexts gone viral. What can we do to help educate teens about safe texts?

Recent school controversies around the country demonstrate how parents, administrators, and other school officials are harming students and teaching homophobia and intolerance. In Mississippi the issue is a female student who wore a tuxedo instead of the “drape” designated for female students for her yearbook photo. Read More

High school teacher suspended after assigning an article on homosexuality in animals

Yesterday, Mr. Delong, a 10th and 12th grade Honors English teacher in Piasa, IL was suspended for assigning an article about homosexuality in the animal kingdom to his students. Should teachers ask their students to read about controversial topics? Should we allow parents veto power over the curriculum? Read More

Cross-dressing student forced to drop out of school

I was horrified to read the latest news story about a high school student who is being denied access to an education because he doesn't dress "manly" enough. 16 year old Jonathan Escobar transferred to a high school in Georgia's Cobb County from Miami, FL and lasted only three days before dropping out because they were requiring him to adhere to gender-specific dress codes. Read More

Elizabeth Meyer, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California.

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About Gender and Schooling

This blog focuses on current issues relating to bullying and harassment, youth empowerment, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender issues, and promoting respect for gender and sexual diversity in schools. I explore issues relevant to: parents, teachers, administrators, counselors, and students: everyone involved in the community of the school.