What If School Was a Many-Gendered Thing? Exploring Teacher Candidate Views of Gender Diversity

• In Event: Sheraton Roundtable Session 30
  In Roundtable Session: Promoting Critical Awareness of Diversity in Teacher Preparation

Abstract

Increasing visibility of transgender children and youth in elementary school is forcing educators to grapple with issues of gender diversity in ways not previously expected of them. We investigated teacher candidates’ knowledge about gender diversity, the specific challenges and needs of transgender students, and protections available to them under different laws and policies. Further, teacher candidates’ feelings and beliefs about sexual and gender minority students were explored. Our results indicate wide variability in teacher candidate knowledge as well as varying levels of comfort with gender diversity. Competent and caring teachers need to know about a wide array of educational and social inequities and learn strategies to help all students with marginalized identities achieve academic success and psychological and emotional wellbeing.

Author

• Tracy Thorndike, Western Washington University