Psychology project, transgender as my topic?

[LatrellHK]

Okay I need help on if I should, and if so how, do my psych project on transsexualism? Basically in psychology, our final is a powerpoint to the class on a certain topic we went over, whether briefly or every page/word in the book deep. Now I thought on doing autism, because my little brother is autistic, but I then thought about doing mines on transgenders. The reason is because people know what autism is and stuff but at my high school, I say transgender its a hilarious joke and its funny or something stupid. Or, if they're not stupid, they don't know what actually goes on in a transgenders head and assume it's just "confusion, don't know what they want, can't decide, probably molested, etc." OR they don't know how it works and assume its just crossdressing forever and surgery isn't real... Kids at my high school are, for lack of a better word, uneducated or inexperienced in that sense.

So I decided, why don't I try helping some students understand? I identify as male, but am biologically female, so basically I am in fact a transgender person. I have no problem whatsoever letting these students know who I am, what I identify as, and why I dress like a male (in case you're wondering, we get extra points for real-life examples and I basically am a standing example!) I have a reliable resource AKA Susans, if possible, and it's different from hearing people talk about sleep disorders, mental disorders, the brain, puberty, babies, and all that stuff. I doubt ANYONE will talk about transgenders but me.

So the reason I am worried is because of the subject itself actually. We are supposed to educate them on either something well-known or something we studied on. We barely, I mean like five minutes barely, went over ->-bleeped-<- because people were getting offended, saying its wrong/weird, they can't study this bc of their religion, even homosexuality got groans and moans out bc its wrong to them. And everyone knows I'm a lesbian, atm, so they all glared at me. Like I can feel the tension towards me I was extremely uncomfortable. Now thats in that class btw, other classes don't care and some actual claimed "its cool knowing a transgender" cause guys feel safe talking guy stuff with me and girls feel comfortable asking me questions about how guys think. But seriously I'm worried I may be overstepping some boundaries but I am getting so offended by the way students in that class in particular talk about transgenders. It's offensive and I think directed towards me and I told the teacher who told the class who had students who bluntly said, maybe you should rethink your life then. Like what the hell??? Oh and what did the students do? Many of those ->-bleeped-<-s agreed! I left out so pissed but at least five people didn't agree. The five out of thirty I talk to.

So should I even do my project on transgenders or play it safe and do it on autism. We also get extra points for doing something unlike everyone elses which is another motive for me to do it. But also educate these students about it and maybe teach them something!

[invisiblemonsters]

i'd stick with doing your project on being transgender. if people don't like it, that is their own fault. you shouldn't just not do something because others don't like it. if we all had that mind set we wouldn't be where we are in terms of the LGBT+ movement right now, you know? educate them, use yourself as an example. don't let people walk all over you though if they come up with dumb questions that are invasive and none of their business (ex: how do you have sex? do you have a penis?) educating and going along with their crap are two different things.

besides doing this stuff will not only educate them but if they take away anything from it, they could educate others. that or if they come across someone else who is trans, it won't be such a shock and they won't be so ignorant (but if they aren't cool with it, they will still probably be a douche). there are so many benefits of doing things that no one else has done or would think of doing. you'll get a lot of bonus marks too it seems because you have the real life experience, etc.

[stephaniec]

Ideally yes, but you know your classmates ,if you feel safe go for it and give a brief  review of federal law that protects people from discrimination, it might help.

[beaver]

It sounds like you would really love to do it, and I say go for it, as long as you feel SAFE in the environment that you are in. Since people are getting offended from just talking about the topic, perhaps you should be extra careful putting yourself out there. It would of course be amazing for you to take this chance to educate people, but only if your own safety is assured. Good luck!

[Orangaline]

you should do it anyways!

if people get offended thats their problem, dont back down and get an A!

[blink]

It is a potential safety issue, I can't advise whether or not you should do the presentation about being transgender/transgender people. That's a personal decision only you can make.
If you do decide to do it, I'd recommend utilizing online FAQs meant for educating the general cisgender public, such as the ones on Matt Kailey's website (RIP Matt Kailey): http://tranifesto.com/transgender-faqs-and-info/  and directing them to such a website as part of the presentation. If you're going to do it, make sure you're very well prepared, is all. Being trans, in itself, doesn't necessarily prepare one for explaining the condition to others who don't have it. Just for starters it would mean covering how it has long been considered a psychological issue, but has in more recent years been declared a medical condition by the American Medical Association and others.

[NathanielM]

I didn't really understand the part about your teacher. Did you mean that your teacher is also very negative about transgenders? If I got that wrong, maybe you can go to your teacher and ask if he/she thinks it's a good idea to do the project on transgender. Having your teacher's support will probably get you a long way.

[skin]

While it would be great if you can educate some of your classmates, you should feel no obligation to do so at the expense of your own safety.  If worst case scenario is you offend some people, absolutely go for it.  If you feel like doing so would put you at risk for something worse, then i is not worth it.

[Jess42]

I really admire you Latrell. Stick to your guns. We are not jokes, let them know. We are not abominations, let them know. We are anything but confused. Let them know that to. We probably know more about ourselves and our Psyches than most anyone else in "normal" society. I really can't believe Psychology students think as stupidly as the way you portray them. But yeah I can too.

Anything you need from me anyway. Just ask. I admire your bravery and confronting something that most of the rest of your class probably won't. Just educate them on something they may be too afraid to even think about.

[AdamMLP]

I echo everyone else really.  Your safety is paramount here.  If you think there's going to be trouble that will put you in danger then perhaps it would be best to go with autism, or something else.  If you think the most you're going to get is people moaning but doing nothing else, then go for it.  It might make it better if you make it less about yourself, and more about other trans people.

[pianoforte]

I'd go for it, but I grew up in a pretty safe/liberal city.

If you feel safe and you wanna, then do it!

If you educate even one person and plant the seeds of compassion and empathy instead of derision and hate, it can feel so worthwhile.

Granted, there is no guarantee of that, and if there could be dangerous backlash you need to take care of yourself of course.

But it seems like it would be a rewarding topic for you, and teachers tend to reward well-researched "outside the box" topics.

[aleon515]

It's a good topic. Do a good job and I'll give you an A+ (I was an easy grader. LOL)
I don't usually help students with these things, but this might help you with your task. It explains the difference between gender identity, sexual orientation, sex your were born as (or sex assigned at birth), and gender presentation. I think actually this should be part of the curriculum. (Dream on.)

This thing did exist before and there are other versions. This can be freely distributed and copied.

http://itspronouncedmetrosexual.com/2012/03/the-genderbread-person-v2-0/


--Jay

[pianoforte]

Love the Genderbread Person! It was part of the (optional for some reason) LGBTQ sensitivity training offered to faculty and staff at my university.

This whole topic reminds me of how blessed I was to have a class in high school that taught that gender is a social construct. That was a moment that blew my mind!

Latrell, if you do this project I hope someone in your class gets their minds as pleasantly blown as mine was.

[LatrellHK]

Well thanks everyone and I decided to go and do it cause of some bull->-bleeped-<- I endured today regarding my lifestyle. (high school students can be stupid!)

Now I know being transgender doesn't mean I automatically am "all-knowing" but I believe it gives me an advantage in a sense of understanding this topic as not a point of life I've passed/haven't met, but everyday living especially with bathrooms (should I tell a few bathroom stories?  )
Anyhow, we're doing an essay in my creative writing class and in that class I've had many classmates come up asking me, what's it like being transgender, what do you tell people, how is it on all the girls sports teams, what do you tell chicks, etc... I literally wanna write this final essay as a strong release for myself, emotionally. My teacher even asked if that could be my topic.

So many trans related stuff with me at my school lately! It's no wonder everyone knows who I am lol

By the way, I do feel safe physically but not emotionally if you get me. Like I doubt I'll get jumped or something, but I highly doubt I will get a quiet or gentle response.

[Orangaline]

im glad that you wont be put (hope fully) in any physical danger, (and sorry for being a little ignorant on that in the beggining) but i think now is the time to make sure that you can handle whatever people decide to throw at you, which im sure you know may be alot.

best of luck,

~o

[beaver]

Glad you decided! It takes courage, I really admire you for having this gutsy move.
On the other hand, if I may throw in my two cents, is that you could try to explain it in a way that relates to your classmates. For example, I'd lead them to think about personal uncomfortable situations, that are potentially embarrassing (teenagers experience a lot of these), maybe someone making fun of them during puberty, then talk about how I feel the same, except on an even deeper level, because the physical changes themselves felt wrong, and I felt embarrassed or ashamed by my own body. Embarrassment, shame, anger, conflict, angst, fighting with parents are probably experienced by all teenagers.
By using feelings and analogies they can relate to, you can help make this issue come to life, after all, you are human like them.
(These are just my own thoughts, you don't have to take the advice if this is not the direction you are going towards)
Anyway, let us know how it goes!

[LatrellHK]

Good ideas and suggestions from all. Now I will promise to post how it goes but it'll be some time. We know of the project and are getting information now but the project itself won't be until next month or January probably. Making it relate sounds like a kickass idea! This class seems to only understand if you can make it relate to them.