Gender Segregated School Activities Can Be Harmful to Students
Published: October 18, 2011
Gender segregated school activities place transgender and gender nonconforming students at risk for harassment, violence and increased stress, which can affect their ability to achieve academically and participate fully in school activities. Some examples of gender segregation in school include:
• Segregated gym and sex-ed classes
• Requiring gender-specific attire for prom or graduation
• Dividing students up by gender for lines, teams, or other activities such as ‘Battle of the Sexes’
Read stories from students about how these situations impact their opportunities and environment for learning and academic achievement.
Segregated gym classes and sports teams
Syd
“In eighth grade PE the boys and girls were separated to play baseball and softball, respectively. Being forced to play softball with the girls was offensive to me, I did not enjoy the assumption of my gender or the prevailing sentiment that softball is “easier” or “gentler” or “less competitive.” If my school had a sensible policy that took transgender students like me into account, PE sports would not be segregated by gender ever.”
Trent
“If there were a stricter, more defined nondiscrimination policy then students like me who do not fit into the gender binary could enjoy each day in school and feel safe.”
Battle of the sexes
Benji
“Every year, my high school holds a ‘Battle of the Sexes’ pep rally, when students enter the pep rally, they are forced to choose a side, either females or males. Since I am transgender and identify as male, I want to sit on the male side, but I cannot for fear that my safety will be threatened and I will be harassed. If I choose to sit on the female side, I will feel very uncomfortable and be subject to ridicule and harassment. School activities like this place gender nonconforming students like me at an increased risk of harassment. I decided to make an appointment with the Principal and explain to him why ‘Battle of the Sexes’ week made me feel uncomfortable. He agreed with the reasons that I set forth and proceeded to tell the student body it would be replaced with another week of activities. Because I spoke up and he listened, students like me will no longer feel unsafe at that event.”
Trent
“If a student does not sit with their biological sex, they risk being removed from the event or getting sent to the office. This is very intimidating and threatening. As a straight ‘A’ student, I would like to be allowed to enjoy myself, just as my peers do, at any and all school functions without threats of hate because of how I was born.”
Graduation
Nik
Nik, a transgender student, was forced by his school to wear female attire for his graduation photo and ceremony. “Unfortunately, it turned what should have been an otherwise celebratory event into a nightmare.”
Isobel
“One event that I did enjoy for its gender-inclusivity was my high school graduation. Everyone wore black robes, regardless of sex, unless you were graduating with some kind of honors (as I was), then you graduated in gold. It was a great feeling not to be lumped into the guys’ pile for once. I actually felt like I had school pride.”
Impact on academic achievement
Gender segregation often forces students to choose between being themselves and being safe. For many, this impedes their ability to focus on academics. Bullying and harassment at school that is bias-motivated (i.e., based on gender non-conformity or sexual orientation) has lasting negative consequences on students. School bullying is linked to academic failure and health problems (GLSEN, 2008; O’Shaughnessy, Russell, Heck, Calhoun, & Laub, 2004). Hear from students how harassment impacts their ability to learn and achieve success in school.
Nik
“My grades were impacted by this so much; I went from being a straight ‘A’ student to failing every single class. It gave me the worst attendance record, and I was marked as a truant student. It was horrible. I wasn’t able to learn the curriculum or ask questions in class for fear of getting hurt physically or mentally, and once I stopped going, I would just get zeros on all my assignments bringing my GPA down from a 3.0 to a 0.5. When I was in class I would never speak up or raise my hand. I'd try my hardest to blend in and just hide in the back. I knew that if I raised my hand attention would be on me and people would realize I was in the room and start to yell things or make comments about my appearance. “
Isobel
“Transphobia at school sometimes made me doubt my future as well as higher education. It made me wonder if things would actually change as I moved on to college, and whether I'd be able to find a career of my liking even with a degree. I often just felt awkward during class discussion. I was quiet to begin with, but I didn't like to speak up in one specific class in which the teacher used the slur “that’s so gay” himself.”
Providing Support
These stories provide a glimpse into the learning environments some students in California are experiencing. For more information on how to provide a safe learning environment for all children, please click here.
We would like to thank t. aaron hans, former Advocacy Program Manager at Gay-Straight Alliance Network, and the students who shared their stories, for contributing to this edition of Link to Learning: Healthy Students, Ready to Learn.