Gender and School Assignments

[gaywizkid]

I've recently had the great pleasure (read: Dysphoria) of having to do two heavily gendered assignments in school. One of them having me directly interact with my image and how I present myself. How should I approach my teachers about my gender to avoid any future discomfort.

[Roll]

Are you "out" at school (even if not definitively stating you are trans, but even just presenting as non conforming) or is this something you want to keep very private? I think the dynamic may change a bit.

Regardless, if you have a good counselor, I feel like that addressing the issue with them first might be a good step, particularly if you want to keep things quiet since they are bound by greater confidentiality whereas teachers are not. They may also in general be able to act as an advocate. Assuming of course you have a good one at your school.

[punky_glitter]

I would say that maybe your non cis identity could give a new perspective and educate people a little better! UNless you feel that you would be unsafe, then I would ask for an alternative assignment or ask to make it private. I hope everything goes okay!

[Dena]

Welcome to Susan's Place. If the class is gender based you may have few options other than dropping the class or coming out to the instructor. Tell the instructor your status such as your aren't ready to come out of the closet and see what the two of you can work out as an alternative.

If the class isn't gender based, the question is why did this come up in the first place. For an instructor who isn't dealing with gender based instruction, there are limits as to how personal the subject matter should be.

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[Roll]

Many health classes deal with the issue now actually, so may not even be explicitly a gender studies type class, my core curriculum "Healthful Living" course had quite a large section on it. (Actually was weird timing on it too, literally right after I came out to myself. I felt very strange having just admitted it to myself and sort of dishonest speaking about the issue as if it didn't effect me.)