bringing gender back into peer education

iheartbeingagirl.blogspot.com

Nicki Minaj

Gender = a construction(that does not have to be awful)

“Gender is not physical at all, but is altogether insubstantial. It is soul, perhaps, it is talent, it is taste, it is environment, it is how one feels, it is light and shade, it is inner music, it is a spring in one’s step or an exchange of glances, it is more truly life and love than any combination of genitals, ovaries, and hormones”

Jan Morris Conundrum

The paradox of femininity

“One thing I’ve noticed is that universally there are a lot more options for being fabulous if you’re feminine, no matter what kind of body you inhabit. It’s a double standard that’s endlessly fascinating to me. Like if you’re a boy dressing up—no matter how REAL you are—you’re still ‘fierce.’ But if you’re a trans guy passing as a dude, you just kind of disappear. And if you’re flashy, like drag king-style, it tends to be a joke—like fashion-wise it’s not as respected or something.”

Wu Tsangwutsang.com

Gender as play

“People of all sexes have the right to explore femininity, masculinity—and the infinite variations between—without criticism or ridicule.”

Leslie Feinbergtransgenderwarrior.org

what does this have to do with peer education?

everything!

Peer education is a tool for transmission of knowledge.

And skills.

And it’s also one that builds capacities and attitudes.

You, peer educator*, are a role model.

What you say, matters.Your attitudes matter.

Pay attention on what and how you say.You have the power.

*youth worker, youth focal point, fellow volunteer, etc.

There are countless ways how gender comes into peer education:

.

the topics you work with, the methodology, how do you appear to identify yourself gender-wise, how you treat people depending on their gender, how you talk about sex and gender, what you wear, examples from life you give, pop-culture references you mention, words you choose, the color coding you assign to exercises, the pronouns you use, if you divide the audience by gender,if you flirt with your audience, the things you choose not to bring up…

please, pay attention!read a lot

think about yourself, tootalk with like-minded people

talk with different-minded peopleread some more

experiment

rethink your ways apologize, if needed

changestay aware