EP: 127 HELP! Gender is a MESS at My School--For Teachers, Counselors & Administrators

Adolescence is a natural time for identity exploration. In this episode, Sasha and Stella address the challenges schools face when dealing with students questioning their gender identities. They focus on strategies for finding a balanced approach, honoring students' self-expression, preserving opportunities for further developmental progress and discovery, and respecting family dynamics. They highlight the pressure on schools to quickly respond and adopt policies, often without sufficient evidence of their effectiveness. They discuss the misconception that social transition is the only solution, questioning the long-term efficacy of this intervention and its potential for unintended psychological consequences. The conversation also touches on the fear of suicide, internalized homophobia, and common comorbidities including autism, ADHD, anxiety, and depression that could be contributing to the students' experience. This episode offers valuable insights intended to empower educators to provide a nuanced approach, seeking a balance between offering guidance and respecting the multifaceted journey of identity discovery during the adolescent years.


Links:

Suicide by Clinic-Referred Transgender Adolescents in the United Kingdom
Biggs M. Suicide by Clinic-Referred Transgender Adolescents in the United Kingdom. Arch Sex Behav. 2022 Feb;51(2):685-690. doi: 10.1007/s10508-022-02287-7. Epub 2022 Jan 18. PMID: 35043256; PMCID: PMC8888486
https://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/35...

Sasha Shares About Her Experience Working as a Middle School Counselor
   • Snapshot Episode: "How we got here–Sasha's...  

A Clinical Guide for Therapists Working with Gender-Questioning Youth
http://www.genderexploratory.com/wp-c...

School Policy: Gender Identity (USA)
https://genspect.org/comprehensive-ge...

School Policy: Sexual Orientation And Gender Identity (Ireland)
https://genspect.org/school-policy-se...


Brief Guidance For Schools
https://genspect.org/guidance-for-sch...


Brief Guidance On Social Transition
https://genspect.org/guidance-on-soci...

The Secret Gender Files - Substack for Malcolm Richard Clark
https://substack.com/@malcolmrichardc...


For more information about Sasha’s & Stella’s parent coaching membership groups:
Sasha Ayad: https://inspiredteentherapy.com/paren...
Stella O’Malley: http://www.stellaomalley.com/parent-c...



If you liked this episode, more episodes you might find interesting:
Gender & Schools | GWL Episode Playlist
   • Gender and Schools  
We encourage you to bookmark the playlist for future reference as more episodes are added.

Episode 2 - Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria
   • EPISODE 2 - Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria  

Episode 7 - Collective Collusion
   • EPISODE 7  - Collective Collusion  

Episode 40 - Social Transition: A Powerful Psychosocial Intervention
   • EPISODE 40 - Social Transition: A Powerful...  

Episode 34 - Gender Dysphoria and Suicide
   • EPISODE 34 - Gender Dysphoria and Suicide  

Episode 45 - Helena Part I: Social Justice, Fandoms & FTM Gay Boys
   • EPISODE 45 - Helena Part I: Social Justice...  

Episode 46 - Helena Part II: Advice for Parents from a Former Trans Kid
   • EPISODE 46 - Helena Part II: Advice for Pa...  


Pre-Order When Kids Say They’re Trans: A Guide for Thoughtful Parents
https://whenkidssaytheyretrans.com/

When Kids Say They’re Trans: Weekend of Workshops | September 21-24, 2023
https://whenkidssaytheyretrans.com/we...

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To learn more about our sponsors, visit:
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Genspect: https://genspect.org/

Chapters
00:00 How to join our free webinar!
01:45 Sasha and Stella catch up
06:07 What should teachers do when faced with the gender quagmire?
09:29 An overview of conflicting theories about gender
12:30 The social affirmation to medicalization pathway
17:30 The immense pressure on teachers to play multiple roles
21:30 The best response usually lies in the middle
26:20 Sasha talks about her experience as a school counselor
39:40 Social transition is a psychosocial intervention without an evidence base
49:00 So much pressure on schools to "just do something" even if the "thing" isn't proven to help
01:00:00 How teachers can loop in the parents
01:04:30 Sometimes a trans identity is a result of internalized homophobia