The Equal Classroom Life-Changing Thinking About Gender

How much thinking have you done about gender?

What does it feel like to be gay, trans or non-binary at school?

How unbiased, safe and inclusive are our teachers, our schools and our systems, and what can we do about it?

The time is ripe for a re-think, and the issues are pressing. Our pupils are grappling with challenges around gender and sexuality, and they need our well-informed support. Providing evidence, prompts and the space to explore the implications, restrictions and constructs of gender, this book is here to help every teacher reflect on issues around gender roles and expectations in their class.

In this challenging and potent book, experts, academics and campaigners join forces to contribute important perspectives to complement Rycroft-Smith?s own accessible and often provocative explanations of many facets of gender and sexuality, including media, literature, toys, clothing, sexism, expectations, sexuality, gender roles, harassment and consent. Humour and anecdotes are thoughtfully intertwined with fascinating insights into biological and cultural perspectives and societal norms, highlighting why it?s so vital to teach pupils about gender issues, as well as modelling consent, good quality relationships and tolerance to children at all ages and stages of their school career.

Providing clear, practical policy recommendations in an accessible and engaging way, The Equal Classroom is an essential read for any teacher or education professional who wants to ensure their school is a place where all pupils feel truly welcome and able to flourish, comfortable and safe in their emerging identities.

Acknowledgements

List of Contributors

Introduction

Chapter 1 Gender identities: social and cultural

Chapter 2 Expert view: teaching gender

Kath Tayler

Chapter 3 Gender identities: brains and biology

Chapter 4 Expert view: gender from an early age

Jayne Osgood

Chapter 5 Gendered expectations

Chapter 6 Toys

Chapter 7 Expert view: let toys be toys

Jess Day

Chapter 8 Sexism and sexual harassment

Chapter 9 Clothing and uniform

Chapter 10 Expert view: gendered clothing

Francesca Cambridge Mallen

Chapter 11 Language and the media

Chapter 12 Trans people, trans issues

Chapter 13 Expert view: trans pupils and the early years

Deborah Price

Chapter 14 Sexuality and sexualities

Chapter 15 Relationships and PSHE education

Chapter 16 Sports and physical education

Chapter 17 Sex, touch and consent

Chapter 18 Books, games and literature

Chapter 19 Expert view: gender in classroom texts

Roussel de Carvalho

Chapter 20 Conclusion

Index

Lucy Rycroft-Smith is an education researcher and writer working at Cambridge University. Lucy is co-editor of Flip the System UK: A Teachers’ Manifesto (Routledge, 2017).

Graham Andre is a primary school teacher and was involved with the BBC2 BAFTA nominated documentary No More Boys and Girls: Can Our Kids Go Gender Free?