Sunday, March 18, 2012

Dealing with gender based biases

As I looked at my chooses for this week blog and what was going on around me as a teacher I am choosing to write about books and terms used towards a child. 

I realized that the books I have in my collection have some diversity but fail in showing same sex couples or even two older children may even teens that are dealing with being gay or lesbian.  I also realize that there are parents out there who may and will not accept this life style choice.  I would first question them about what they know about this life style and then proceed to tell them by not saying anything at all about same sex couples they are deny what could be a fact of life of many people their child may encounter as they grow older.  We then reinforce the stereotypes and fear that people who are different or very different than themselves are "bad" when in reality they maybe a good or great person. But before in include books on this topic I would look for one that are sensitive to topic and show families that are love and that may happen in different ways; through divorce and/or adoption. I would let my families preview them and let them know I was planning on teaching about families and in the inclusion of families which would mirror what I have here; tradition, blended and adopted, I would also include same sex families because they might encounter this type of family in their own neighborhood or elementary school (I know they will at school).  We would also talk about being respectful to all types of families and that no one type of family is the right type of family but your family is is just right for you. 

This week I has been a week for one little boy I care for.  He has tried out lots of  phrases that are demeaning and hurtful to most people. The boy is in elementary school so some of what might be said at my child care might come from the playground but they other day on the way home from school he said "that is so gay"  to my two younger boys as they held hands walking home from school.  This was fine by me because I know they are best of friends, have known each other since the youngest one came here for child care.  When I turned around to ask him what he meant by that he reply was, " Oh nothing they're just holding hands." I then explained that what he said was hurtful and that he needed to rethink his words before he talks.  His reply was, "Jenny's son says it".  "Jenny's son is not here for me to care for but it is hurtful to people and not right. To used it that tone of voice or way at my house.  Understand?",  was my reply to him. With this his sister chimed in with the other meaning of gay and I said yes that is one meaning but the word has two meaning and the other could be taken as being mean if the tone of voice is wrong.  She goes on to say I like the one that means happy I agreed with her because she was not ready to learn about the other meaning yet when I asked her.         

1 comment:

  1. I work in a first grade class, and I hear so many derogatory statements all day long. Most of these are from kids that have older siblings and say things in front of the younger ones. I also blame song lyrics for children learning these phrases. Many times kids repeat things and don't even know what they mean.

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