What are challenges, opportunities, and experiences that you’ve had teaching expansive (and accurate!) framings of sex, gender, and sexuality in your contexts? Are there tools, strategies that either constrain or support your work? by Veronica Cassone McGowan

Teaching reproductive systems

2025-04-23 23:42:22 UTC

Students were very uncomfortable when we talked about biological sex, the myth of sex as binary, as well as trans individuals. Looking for better ways to teach this.

challenges

tzouct — 2025-04-23 23:42:57 UTC

Current anti-science and anti-trans sociopolitical times. Only make it even more important to think about how to teach these topics well

Teaching biological sex in Biology

2025-04-23 23:43:39 UTC

was able to discuss with students how it more complex than X & Y chromosomes and had some interesting and open conversations

One on One Conversations

2025-04-23 23:43:53 UTC

I have not taught about sex in my class but it comes up more so in one on one conversations with students. Since I am queer, students will often come out to me or want to tell me about their lives. In the class, when a student says something not inclusive (like there are only two genders) I immediately correct it, but would like to have better responses for when that happens.

Context

vmcgowan1 — 2025-04-23 23:44:01 UTC

My comfort levels shift depending on context and it's kind of 'reading the room' Some groups feel very open and amenable and others not as much. I'm not always open about my own orientation with different audiences.

2025-04-23 23:44:32 UTC

I use "Dr. Tatiana's Sex Advice to All Creation" in my class, and it's a great tool as it's a humorous, non-targeted way to teach about sexuality. It is old, though, and some of the terms are a bit outdated. I've been wondering about switching over to "queer ducks" but when I read it once, but it starts right out with same-sex whereas the other one works toward that.

What are facts...?

2025-04-23 23:44:33 UTC

The biggest challenges come from the clash of values/beliefs with the community members' abilities to accept what facts are and their lack of knowledge holding them back from being able to allow inclusive education to happen.

Intersex

2025-04-23 23:45:37 UTC

great video https://www.ted.com/talks/kristina_turner_ori_turner_intersex_is_awesome

More frightening

2025-04-23 23:45:51 UTC

At the college level, it seems like for many individuals it is a whole new way of looking at sex. Students have come up to me afterward either feeling very seen or have a new understanding even if their religious teachings are different. I haven't taught since the upheaval starting this past January, and now I predict I will feel defensive or quickly assume a defensive stance. It seems more frightening.

I am always trying to "unlearn" myself and bring that to my AP Bio classes. Currently, I am working on embedding examples of organisms where the female does the courting (E.g., Mexican boulder spiny lizards the females have red gular regions/throats to attract males while the males are yellow-throated), I am open to more examples along these lines whether appearance or behaviors! :)

2025-04-23 23:45:56 UTC

Challenge

2025-04-23 23:46:02 UTC

One challenge I’ve faced is uncertainty about how much I can say, especially in more conservative school environments. It can feel risky to go beyond the "basics," even when students are ready. A big opportunity has been using examples from the natural world - like same-sex behavior in animals - which makes the topic less personal and more grounded in science. Tools like data visuals and books like Queer Ducks really help. What supports me most is having spaces like this to reflect, get language, and share strategies with others doing the same work.

Increasing need for advocacy

2025-04-23 23:46:32 UTC

Our team has seen an increase in pushback around teaching gender and sexuality with the current administration.

Great resource/podcast

2025-04-24 00:00:58 UTC

This queer-friendly podcast has a great episode on homosexual behavior in animals.